How does 3 John 1:4 connect with Proverbs 22:6 about child upbringing? Setting the Verses Side by Side • 3 John 1:4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” • Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Shared Themes • Walking in the truth is the expected outcome of intentional training. • Both verses assume an invested, loving mentor—whether a biological parent (Proverbs) or a spiritual parent (John). • Joy and assurance flow from seeing the next generation remain faithful. Implications for Parents and Disciplers • Proverbs 22:6 sets the task: purposeful, consistent training in God’s way. • 3 John 1:4 shows the fruit: mature children—physical or spiritual—living out that training. • The link: obedience to Proverbs 22:6 produces the joy celebrated in 3 John 1:4. Supporting Passages • Deuteronomy 6:6-7—teach God’s words “diligently to your children.” • Psalm 78:4-7—tell the next generation “the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD.” • Ephesians 6:4—bring up children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” • 2 Timothy 3:14-15—Timothy’s childhood instruction in Scripture equipped him for salvation. Practical Steps for Training Children in Truth 1. Model the walk ‑ Live transparently in obedience to Christ so children see truth in action. 2. Saturate the home with Scripture ‑ Regular family reading, memorization, and conversation around the Word. 3. Pray with and for them ‑ Invite children into daily dependence on the Lord’s guidance and power. 4. Involve the church family ‑ Give children additional godly voices, echoing John’s spiritual-parent role. 5. Correct with grace and clarity ‑ Discipline that points back to God’s standards, not mere parental preference. 6. Celebrate obedience ‑ Affirm every step of “walking in the truth,” reinforcing their choice to stay the course. Promises and Joy: Looking Ahead • God’s design is that early, faithful training yields lifelong steadfastness. • When that design is honored, parents, pastors, and mentors taste the “no greater joy” John describes. • The cycle continues: today’s faithful children become tomorrow’s trainers, and the truth marches on unhindered. |
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