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Teaching Children and Youth About God's Sovereignty in Scripture

Teaching children and youth about God's sovereignty is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational instruction in divine truths. The Psalms, for instance, explicitly call for this instruction, stating, "Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh" (Psalm 34:11). This verse, also rendered as "Come children, hearken vnto me: I will teache you the feare of the Lord" in the Geneva Bible, highlights the direct and intentional nature of this teaching [1, 4].

The concept of God's sovereignty encompasses His supreme authority, power, and control over all things. The Bible describes Christ's power as supreme, unlimited, and extending over all flesh and all things, as seen in passages like Ephesians 1:20-21, 1 Peter 3:22, and John 17:2 [2]. This power is further demonstrated in creation, upholding all things, and salvation [2]. Christ's excellency and glory are presented as God, as the Son of God, as one with the Father, and as the image of God, among other attributes [9]. Understanding this comprehensive control and majesty of God is foundational to grasping His sovereignty.

Scripture consistently mandates that parents and elders instruct younger generations in God's ways. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 states that children "who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God." This instruction is not merely for intellectual understanding but for the cultivation of reverence and obedience [7]. Proverbs 22:6 advises to "train up a child in the way he should go," suggesting a deliberate and formative process [3]. The early ages saw much of this instruction occurring within the family, with parents teaching children during leisure hours, especially on Sabbaths and festival days [8]. After the Babylonian captivity, schools became more prevalent, often connected with synagogues, underscoring the communal commitment to religious education [8].

The content of this teaching includes the "testimony" and "covenant" of God, as mentioned in Psalm 132:12, where the promise is made that if children keep God's covenant, their descendants will also rule [6]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interprets Psalm 78:4 as a commitment to "faithfully publish and declare" God's works and truths to future generations, including "the praises of the Lord" and "all other truths of the Gospel" [14, 15]. He further notes that this instruction aims for children to "know them," not just notionally but "spiritually and experimentally," through the Spirit's work alongside the word [18, 19]. This implies that teaching about God's sovereignty is not just about conveying facts but fostering a deep, personal understanding and experience of God's character and actions.

The importance of early instruction in the Scriptures is highlighted in the example of Timothy, who "from a child... hast known the holy Scriptures" (2 Timothy 3:15). John Gill notes that Jewish tradition encouraged teaching children the Scriptures from as young as five years old [12, 13]. The Scriptures themselves are described as "given by inspiration of God" and are referred to as the "Word of God" and "Holy Scriptures," emphasizing their divine authority and foundational role in teaching [5]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [5].

Teaching children about God's sovereignty involves explaining His role in predestination, redemption, and effectual calling, all of which redound "to the praise of the glory of his grace" [14, 15]. John Gill also highlights that David was taught "from his youth" about the "corruption of human nature," the "weakness and impotence" of humanity, and the "need of continual strength and grace from Christ" [10, 11]. This suggests that understanding God's sovereignty also involves recognizing human dependence on Him for righteousness, strength, and salvation [10, 11].

Calvin, a key figure in Reformed theology, emphasized the duty of parents to diligently communicate what they have learned from the Lord to their children [22]. He viewed this as a means of propagating God's truth, ensuring that knowledge is not kept for private use but used to "edify others" [22]. This perspective underscores the communal and intergenerational responsibility in transmitting theological understanding, including the doctrine of God's sovereignty.

The instruction of children is not limited to parents but extends to spiritual leaders. Paul's instruction to Timothy, "These things command and teach," refers to the doctrines of godliness and the promises of God, encouraging believers to labor and suffer for Christ [20, 21]. This implies that the teaching of divine truths, including God's sovereignty, is a continuous process involving both familial and ecclesiastical instruction. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, notes that Christ's teaching in the temple aimed to stir people to inquire about Him, emphasizing that true knowledge of Christ comes from Him alone [16, 17]. This highlights the need for divine revelation and guidance in understanding God's sovereign nature.

Sources

  1. Psalms “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  4. Psalms “Psalms 34:11 (Geneva1599) — Come children, hearken vnto me: I will teache you the feare of the Lord.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  6. Psalms “If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.” -- Psalms 132:12”
  7. Deuteronomy “and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.” -- Deuteronomy 31:13”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Schools — (In the early ages most of the instruction of young children was by the parents. The leisure hours of the Sabbaths and festival days brought the parents in constant contact with the children. After the captivity schools came more into use, and at the time of Christ were very abundant. The schools were in connection with the synagogues, which were found in every village of the city and land. Their idea of the value of schools may be gained from such sayings from the Talmud as "The world is preserved by the breath of the children in the schools;" "A town in wh”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 71:17: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,.... The corruption of human nature; the weakness and impotence of it, to everything that is spiritually good; and the need of continual strength and grace from Christ, to go to him for righteousness and strength, life and salvation, and to walk by faith on him; the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the insufficiency of his own; the will, ways, and worship of God; and all the duties of religion, prayer, praise, &c. and whoever were the instruments, or whatever were the means, of teaching David these”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 71:17: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,.... The corruption of human nature; the weakness and impotence of it, to everything that is spiritually good; and the need of continual strength and grace from Christ, to go to him for righteousness and strength, life and salvation, and to walk by faith on him; the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the insufficiency of his own; the will, ways, and worship of God; and all the duties of religion, prayer, praise, &c. and whoever were the instruments, or whatever were the means, of teaching David these”
  12. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:14: And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,.... And therefore must know that the doctrines he had learned were agreeable to them; and so is another reason why he should continue in them. The Jews very early learned their children the holy Scripture. Philo the Jew says (w), "from their very infancy"; a phrase pretty much the same with this here used. It is a maxim with the Jews (x), that when a child was five years of age, it was proper to teach him the Scriptures. Timothy's mother being a Jewess, trained him up early in the knowledge of these writing”
  13. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:14: And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,.... And therefore must know that the doctrines he had learned were agreeable to them; and so is another reason why he should continue in them. The Jews very early learned their children the holy Scripture. Philo the Jew says (w), "from their very infancy"; a phrase pretty much the same with this here used. It is a maxim with the Jews (x), that when a child was five years of age, it was proper to teach him the Scriptures. Timothy's mother being a Jewess, trained him up early in the knowledge of these writing”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:4: We will not hide them from their children,.... The children of the Jewish fathers, but faithfully publish and declare them, as Christ and his apostles did; or the children of God and Christ, their spiritual seed and offspring: showing to the generation to come; and so in all successive ages, by the ministration of the word, and the Spirit attending it; see Psa 22:30, the praises of the Lord; what he has done in predestination, redemption, and effectual calling, which is to the praise of the glory of his grace, Eph 1:6, and so all other truths of the Gospel, which ”
  15. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:4: We will not hide them from their children,.... The children of the Jewish fathers, but faithfully publish and declare them, as Christ and his apostles did; or the children of God and Christ, their spiritual seed and offspring: showing to the generation to come; and so in all successive ages, by the ministration of the word, and the Spirit attending it; see Psa 22:30, the praises of the Lord; what he has done in predestination, redemption, and effectual calling, which is to the praise of the glory of his grace, Eph 1:6, and so all other truths of the Gospel, which ”
  16. Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 12:35: Here, I. Christ shows the people how weak and defective the scribes were in their preaching, and how unable to solve the difficulties that occurred in the scriptures of the Old Testament, which they undertook to expound. Of this he gives an instance, which is not so fully related here as it was in Matthew. Christ was teaching in the temple: many things he said, which were not written; but notice is taken of this, because it will stir us up to enquire concerning Christ, and to enquire of him; for none can have the right knowledge of him but from himself; it is not t”
  17. Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 12:35: Here, I. Christ shows the people how weak and defective the scribes were in their preaching, and how unable to solve the difficulties that occurred in the scriptures of the Old Testament, which they undertook to expound. Of this he gives an instance, which is not so fully related here as it was in Matthew. Christ was teaching in the temple: many things he said, which were not written; but notice is taken of this, because it will stir us up to enquire concerning Christ, and to enquire of him; for none can have the right knowledge of him but from himself; it is not t”
  18. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:6: That the generation to come might know them,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become effectual when attended with the Spirit and power of God: even the children which sho”
  19. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:6: That the generation to come might know them,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become effectual when attended with the Spirit and power of God: even the children which sho”
  20. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:11: These things command and teach. What are to be commanded, command, and what are to be taught, teach; command to refuse and reject all profane and fabulous doctrines, and exhort to the exercise of true godliness, and teach the profitableness of that, and declare the promises made unto it, and assert the truth and acceptableness of them; command, order, and encourage believers to labour and suffer reproach for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, in hope of enjoying the said promises, and teach them to trust in the God of their lives, and the Saviour of all men; and w”
  21. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:11: These things command and teach. What are to be commanded, command, and what are to be taught, teach; command to refuse and reject all profane and fabulous doctrines, and exhort to the exercise of true godliness, and teach the profitableness of that, and declare the promises made unto it, and assert the truth and acceptableness of them; command, order, and encourage believers to labour and suffer reproach for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, in hope of enjoying the said promises, and teach them to trust in the God of their lives, and the Saviour of all men; and w”
  22. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.18: to posterity and that they may deliver the knowledge received through us, from hand to hand, (as we say,) to their descendants. Wherefore, it is the duty of parents to apply themselves diligently to the work of communicating what they have learned from the Lord to their children. In this manner the truth of God is to be propagated by us, so that no one may retain his knowledge for his own private use; but that each may edify others, according to his own calling, and to the measure of his faith. There is however no doubt, that the”
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