Families: should be Taught the Scriptures
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The family unit holds a central place in the biblical narrative, serving as the primary context for spiritual instruction and growth. Scripture emphasizes the importance of teaching God's Word within the family, ensuring that each generation understands and adheres to the divine statutes.

Biblical Mandate for Teaching

The Bible explicitly commands parents to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 states, "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 underscores the continuous and intentional nature of scriptural education within the family, highlighting the responsibility of parents to integrate God's commandments into daily life.

Role of Parents

Parents are depicted as the primary educators in spiritual matters. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This proverb suggests that early and consistent instruction in the Scriptures lays a foundation for lifelong faithfulness. The parental role is not merely to impart knowledge but to model a life of obedience and devotion to God.

Intergenerational Faithfulness

The transmission of faith from one generation to the next is a recurring theme in Scripture. Psalm 78:4-7 declares, "We will not hide them from their children, but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He has performed. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, to arise and tell their own children, that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments." This passage highlights the communal responsibility to ensure that each generation is equipped with the knowledge of God's works and His laws.

The Example of Timothy

The New Testament provides examples of families who faithfully taught the Scriptures. Timothy, a young leader in the early church, is noted for his sincere faith, which was nurtured by his mother and grandmother. In 2 Timothy 1:5 , Paul writes, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." This illustrates the powerful impact of familial instruction and the enduring legacy of faith passed down through generations.

The Role of Scripture in Family Life

Scripture serves as the foundation for moral and spiritual guidance within the family. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." Families are encouraged to rely on the Bible as the ultimate authority for teaching and shaping character, ensuring that each member is prepared for a life of service and devotion to God.

Conclusion

The biblical mandate for families to be taught the Scriptures is clear and compelling. Through diligent instruction and faithful living, families are called to cultivate a legacy of faith that honors God and impacts future generations.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Deuteronomy 4:9,10
Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them your sons, and your sons' sons;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Preface to the Reader.
... in choosing, there do not follow any disquiet in the families where they ... and
mortification, &c., it is very requisite that souls should be taught, as soon ...
/.../a preface to the reader.htm

Instructions to Converts.
... 6. Young converts should be taught to do all their ... an offset for neglecting that."
They should never rest ... every kind, in relation to their families, the church ...
/.../lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xix instructions to converts.htm

Search the Scriptures
... food chosen for us: we claim that we should have the ... if we dare to come forth from
our families, and join a ... heard any preacher, or had never been taught by a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/search the scriptures.htm

History of the Mt. Byrd Church. When Established. Where. Charter ...
... Should objections be made to any one, which are ... is obtained than when given only
by heads of families. ... people form one class, and are taught the Scriptures by ...
/.../chapter xiii history of the.htm

Measures to Promote Revivals.
... understood that it is the duty of families to have ... Young men in some theological
seminaries are taught to look ... upon the "evils of revivals." I should like to ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xiv measures to promote.htm

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice ...
... His disciples to pray, as John also taught his disciples. ... was a good duty to exhort
our families, it was ... exhort one another to follow Christ, I should sin still ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/here is the sum of.htm

Were Christ and the Apostles Mistaken?
... promised Abraham: "In thee shall all families of the ... and the temple service, which
taught the fundamentals ... to complete the symbolism that should represent the ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/iv were christ and the.htm

Letter xv. Social and Relative Duties.
... after the fall, was, that her husband should rule over ... This principle was carried
out in the families of the ... The same principle is repeatedly taught in the New ...
/.../letter xv social and relative.htm

The Broken Fence
... whether they believe that anything is taught in the ... we have enjoyed the evening fireside:
we should thus put ... I know that very many Christian families neglect it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the broken fence.htm

The Great Duty of Family Religion
... and good; and the more they are taught their duty to ... following the text, "God forbid
that we should forsake the ... let me exhort all governors of families, in the ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the great duty of family.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about Christian blended families? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian consider foster care? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for a Christian family to use hospice? | GotQuestions.org

Families: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Families

Families and Work

Families Broken

Families of Saints Blessed

Families: Deceivers and Liars should be Removed From

Families: Good: Abraham

Families: Good: Cornelius

Families: Good: Crispus

Families: Good: David

Families: Good: Jacob

Families: Good: Jailor of Philippi

Families: Good: Job

Families: Good: Joshua

Families: Good: Lazarus of Bethany

Families: Good: Lois

Families: Good: Lydia

Families: Punishment of Irreligious

Families: should be Duly Regulated

Families: should be Taught the Scriptures

Families: should Live in Mutual Forbearance

Families: should Live in Unity

Families: should Rejoice Together Before God

Families: should Worship God Together

Families: Warning Against Departing from God

Related Terms

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Genealogical (26 Occurrences)

Merar'i (32 Occurrences)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Registration (17 Occurrences)

Military (44 Occurrences)

Births (34 Occurrences)

Records (50 Occurrences)

Kohathites (18 Occurrences)

Gershonite (14 Occurrences)

Gershon (23 Occurrences)

Merari (38 Occurrences)

Is'sachar (40 Occurrences)

Merarite (8 Occurrences)

Kohath (30 Occurrences)

Zeb'ulun (41 Occurrences)

Warriors (75 Occurrences)

Allotted (54 Occurrences)

Grouped (7 Occurrences)

Thirteen (16 Occurrences)

Clan (96 Occurrences)

Clans (120 Occurrences)

Grass-lands (42 Occurrences)

Encamped (115 Occurrences)

Mahli (11 Occurrences)

Mushi (8 Occurrences)

Shuhamites (2 Occurrences)

Shuhamite (2 Occurrences)

Shu'hamites (2 Occurrences)

Pasturelands (42 Occurrences)

Villages (106 Occurrences)

Counted (122 Occurrences)

Threescore (87 Occurrences)

Peoples (305 Occurrences)

Distribution (32 Occurrences)

Issachar (40 Occurrences)

Twenty (282 Occurrences)

Zorathites (2 Occurrences)

Belonged (105 Occurrences)

Generation (150 Occurrences)

Forty-five (15 Occurrences)

Territories (12 Occurrences)

Reubenites (37 Occurrences)

Makir (17 Occurrences)

Merar'ite (2 Occurrences)

Merarites (7 Occurrences)

Machir (20 Occurrences)

Polls (5 Occurrences)

Census (24 Occurrences)

Alliance (12 Occurrences)

Abiezer (7 Occurrences)

Suburbs (75 Occurrences)

Southward (42 Occurrences)

Simeonites (10 Occurrences)

Shuham (1 Occurrence)

Westward (35 Occurrences)

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)

Sum (34 Occurrences)

Pasture (120 Occurrences)

Manas'seh (123 Occurrences)

Asher (43 Occurrences)

Record (71 Occurrences)

Encamp (108 Occurrences)

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)

Sixty (70 Occurrences)

Chiefs (227 Occurrences)

Boundary (83 Occurrences)

Several (40 Occurrences)

E'phraim (146 Occurrences)

Begat (112 Occurrences)

Pitch (25 Occurrences)

Rome (12 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Generations (148 Occurrences)

Forty (142 Occurrences)

Simeon (48 Occurrences)

Males (51 Occurrences)

Spread (257 Occurrences)

Families: should be Duly Regulated
Top of Page
Top of Page