Rearing, in the context of the Bible, refers to the upbringing and nurturing of children, emphasizing the importance of instilling spiritual, moral, and ethical values according to the teachings of Scripture. The Bible provides numerous instructions and examples regarding the responsibilities and methods of rearing children in a manner that honors God.

Biblical Instructions for Rearing Children

The Bible places significant emphasis on the role of parents in the spiritual and moral development of their children. One of the foundational scriptures on this topic is found in the book of Proverbs: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). This verse underscores the importance of early and consistent instruction in the ways of the Lord.

In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, parents are commanded to diligently teach their children the commandments of God: "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" . This passage highlights the continuous and pervasive nature of biblical instruction, integrating it into daily life.

Discipline and Correction

Discipline is an essential aspect of rearing children, as it reflects God's own discipline of His people. Proverbs 13:24 states, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently" . This proverb suggests that loving discipline is necessary for the proper development of a child, aligning with the broader biblical theme that discipline leads to wisdom and righteousness.

The New Testament also addresses the role of discipline in child-rearing. Hebrews 12:7-11 compares God's discipline of His children to that of a father disciplining his son, emphasizing that discipline, though painful at the time, yields "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" .

Parental Responsibility and Example

Parents are called to be examples of godly living for their children. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers, "Do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" . This verse highlights the balance between discipline and nurturing, urging parents to avoid harshness that leads to resentment.

The apostle Paul, in his letters to Timothy, commends the sincere faith that was passed down from Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). This example illustrates the impact of a godly heritage and the responsibility of parents and grandparents to model and teach faith to the next generation.

The Role of the Community

While parents bear the primary responsibility for rearing their children, the broader faith community also plays a supportive role. The church is called to assist in the spiritual development of children, providing teaching, fellowship, and encouragement. In the Old Testament, the community of Israel was collectively responsible for teaching and upholding God's laws (Deuteronomy 31:12-13).

In the New Testament, Jesus welcomed children and emphasized their importance in the kingdom of God, saying, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). This statement affirms the value of children within the faith community and the responsibility of believers to nurture their spiritual growth.

Conclusion

Rearing children according to biblical principles involves a commitment to teaching, discipline, and example, with the goal of guiding them toward a life of faith and obedience to God. The Bible provides a comprehensive framework for parents and the faith community to fulfill this vital role, ensuring that each generation is equipped to know and serve the Lord.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Rear.3809. paideia -- the rearing of a child, training, discipline
... the rearing of a child, training, discipline. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: paideia Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-di'-ah) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3809.htm - 7k

5042. teknogonia -- childbearing
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: teknogonia Phonetic Spelling: (tek-nog-on-ee'-ah)
Short Definition: child bearing Definition: child bearing, the rearing of a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5042.htm - 6k

1431. gadal -- to grow up, become great
... 9), make his greater (1), make the great (2), make your great (1), make great (1),
makes it grow (1), more (1), promoted (1), reared (3), rearing (1), spoken ...
/hebrew/1431.htm - 7k

Whether it is against the Natural Law to have a Concubine?
... improportionate to that end. Now the end which nature intends in sexual union
is the begetting and rearing of the offspring. and that this ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is against the 2.htm

The Rash Builder
... The building of the tower represents what every human life ought to aim at, the
rearing up of a strong, solid structure in which the builder may dwell and be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the rash builder.htm

The Eclectic Philosophy Paves the Way for Divine virtue.
... And to the same husbandry belongs both planting and the operations necessary in
the nurseries, and gardens, and orchards, and the planning and rearing of all ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii the eclectic philosophy paves.htm

Whether Inseparableness of the Wife is of Natural Law?
... Objection 3: Further, the union of man and woman in marriage is chiefly directed
to the begetting, rearing, and instruction of the offspring. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether inseparableness of the wife.htm

On Marriage.
... According to the opinion of the Stoics, marriage and the rearing of children are
a thing indifferent; and according to the Peripatetics, a good. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxiii on marriage.htm

Whether it is against the Natural Law to have Several Wives?
... Now marriage has for its principal end the begetting and rearing of children, and
this end is competent to man according to his generic nature, wherefore it is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is against the.htm

The Promised King and Temple-Builder
... kingdom, but their existence showed that the time for building the Temple had not
come, and there was a certain incongruity in a warrior king rearing a house ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture f/the promised king and temple-builder.htm

Three Aspects of Faith
... shall not be confounded.' There the thoughts presented are the superposition of
the building upon its Foundation, the rest of the soul, and the rearing of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/three aspects of faith.htm

Preface
... They toiled silently for the advancement of learning, like the coral insects who
play their part beneath the waters in rearing a fair island for the abode of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/conybeare/a grammar of septuagint greek/preface.htm

Jesus Christ in his Incarnation and Work a More Imitable Example ...
... the very magnitude of which proves to be among the nations indeed a cause for rejection
of the faith, but among us its reason and rearing"proves manifestly ...
/.../tertullian/of patience/chapter iii jesus christ in his.htm

Rearing (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Rear. Multi-Version Concordance
Rearing (2 Occurrences). 2 Kings 10:6 Then he wrote ...
/r/rearing.htm - 7k

Agriculture
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Tilling the ground (Genesis 2:15; 4:2, 3, 12) and
rearing cattle were the chief employments in ancient times. ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

Rearward (6 Occurrences)

/r/rearward.htm - 9k

Nest (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl
for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young. ...
/n/nest.htm - 18k

Lap (12 Occurrences)
... part of the clothing that lies on the knees or thighs when one sits down; that part
of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing and fostering ...
/l/lap.htm - 15k

Rear-guard (4 Occurrences)
Rear-guard. Rearguard, Rear-guard. Rearing . Multi-Version Concordance
Rear-guard (4 Occurrences). ... (DBY). Rearguard, Rear-guard. Rearing . Reference
/r/rear-guard.htm - 7k

Cattle (277 Occurrences)
... To the rearing and management of them the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves
(Deuteronomy 8:13; 12:21; 1 Samuel 11:5; 12:3; Psalm 144:14; Jeremiah 3:24). ...
/c/cattle.htm - 52k

Sycamine (1 Occurrence)
... The silk-worm feeds on their leaves. The rearing of them is one of the chief industries
of the peasantry of Lebanon and of other parts of the land. ...
/s/sycamine.htm - 8k

Haggai (14 Occurrences)
... For 16 years thereafter nothing was done toward rearing the superstructure (Ezra
4:5, 24; Ezra 5:16); indeed, the Jews became indifferent, and began to build ...
/h/haggai.htm - 28k

Warfare (18 Occurrences)
... `The crack of the whip and the noise of the rumbling wheel and the galloping horse,
and the jolting chariot and the rearing horsemen; and the flash of the ...
/w/warfare.htm - 34k

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