On Teaching a Child the Holy Scriptures.
THE subject of the training of children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” is a deeply interesting one to believing parents, and one upon which some have a much-exercised conscience. One of the questions which engages them is, When should they begin to impart the knowledge of the Scriptures to the little ones committed to their charge?
It seems to me that a due consideration of the case of Timothy would tend to a settlement of this important question. The words of the inspired Apostle concerning him in this respect are, “that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)). This is evidently said in commendation of the fact thus stated. No doubt Timothy was greatly blessed in the circumstances of his birth and early training; for we are told of the “unfeigned faith” both of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice: so that we may be sure that he had the advantages of the godly rearing of such a mother, and, it may be, also of his grandmother.
I suppose that it would be impossible to specify with exactness at what age a child is capable of receiving instruction in divine truth; but we should never overlook the fact that all teaching, whether to the babe or to the adult, which leads one to become “wise unto salvation,” must be by the Spirit of God; and this, to the mind that bows to the power and grace of God, simplifies the question to a great extent.
I find that there are five or six words in the New Testament which are translated by the English word “Child,” or “Children.” Some of these words are not specific as regards young children, but apply to children of any age, or are used in a still more extended sense; but the word that is used of Timothy, in the passage above quoted, is brephos. This is the same word that is used in the passages given at the close of this article, and I think the reader will agree with me that it is definitely applied to very young children, and to them only.
What, then, is the inference to be drawn, or the lesson to be learned, from the fact that from a child Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures? Clearly, I judge, that Christian parents, mothers especially, are privileged to count upon God for His blessing on the earliest attempts to convey to the minds of their children the simplest statements of His Word. No doubt, much grace and wisdom from above will be required to do this wisely and well. Still, with so blessed an instance as that of Timothy before us, there is ample room for faith in God, as to His watering the seed of His Word, sown in the heart of even the youngest child who can be induced to listen to the utterance of the name of Jesus, or who is at all able to comprehend the elements of the Gospel of the grace of God, or the unfolding of the works and ways of the Lord as detailed in the Evangelists.
T.
LIST ABOVE REFERRED TO.
(Taken from “The Englishman’s Greek Concordance.”)