Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that Paul did not have any specific section or passage of Scripture in mind with regard to the point that he was making concerning the instruction of children. Instead, he was saying that parents should assure that children learn (which is the root meaning of "discipline") through instruction the totality of the information that God has revealed about Himself, and about His will as to how people should relate to Him and to each other (particularly, children toward their parents) as revealed in the whole of Scripture -- in other words, a general background and orientation that will serve as a guide for future actions and decision-making on the children's part, rather than being taught according to a specific set of step-by-step instructions. 

However, the Bible also contains multiple verses addressing the proper raising of children from a Scriptural perspective, many of which are modeled after the way that God disciplines and trains us as His children, and indicating that children should be appropriately praised/rewarded for adherence, or (when necessary) reprimanded/penalized for non-adherence to, behavioral standards set by parents as their God-given guardians. These would include verses or passages such as the following:

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Psalm 78:5-8
Proverbs 3:11-12
Proverbs 13:24
Proverbs 19:18
Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 22:15
Proverbs 23:13-14
Proverbs 29:15
Proverbs 29:17
Ephesians 6:4
Colossians 3:21
1 Timothy 3:4-5
2 Timothy 1:5
2 Timothy 3:14-17

The Bible also contains verses describing the attributes of God toward humans as His children that parents should use as an example in their own child-raising, including such qualities as being slow to anger, patient, and forgiving. These include:

Numbers 14:18 
Psalm 86:15 
Psalm 145:8
Daniel 9:9
Hebrews 12:5-11

I have also found the response to a previous question on eBible.com to be useful in this regard, particularly with reference to those passages quoted above (especially from Proverbs) pertaining to the use of physical or corporal punishment of children. It is located at the following web address: https://ebible.com/questions/2947-how-should-christians-discipline-their-children-what-does-the-bible-say

October 18 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report