Bible Study on Education. by Jeff and September West August 16, Sample file

Transcription

1 Bible Study on Education by Jeff and September West August 16, 2001 With Instructions for Discerning the Foundations of Subjects: How to 4-R

2 1 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Discerning the Foundations of Subjects: How to 4-R... 2 Bible Study on Engineering Define the Subject (Webster s 1828 Dictionary)... 3 Identify the Key Terms... 4 Research Purpose and Origin... 4 Reason Purpose and Goals... 6 Introduction We took the Rudiments of America's Christian History and Government course from Pilgrim Institute ( in This course taught us how to do a Bible Study using a method called 4R (Research - Reason - Relate - Record). One of the assignments was for each of us to use the 4R method of Bible study to research the topic of education. Attached is the compilation of both our studies. Pages 2-5 document the method and supporting material used to reach our conclusion. Page 6 is our conclusion reasoned from the Bible on how and why to educate our children -- our vision statement for home education. We challenge you to study out what the Bible says about education and develop a vision statement for your family.

3 Discerning the Foundations of Subjects: How to 4-R Notes taken from the above course taught by Mrs. Lynn Meier, Pilgrim Institute 2 What are the Four R s? The Principle Approach is America s historic Christian method of Biblical reasoning which makes the Truths of God s Word the basis of every subject in the school curriculum. -- Miss Rosalie Slater, Teaching and Learning America s Christian History, page 88 1) Research: studying God s word to identify basic principles of life and living and those principles that govern the how and what in teaching. 2) Reason: reasoning from Biblical principles so as to identify them for the student in each subject of the curriculum. 3) Relate: expounding to the student the Biblical truths in the subjects of the curriculum. 4) Record: the use of writing by the teacher and the student to account for and elucidate (to make clear) the way in which the principles are applied to life and living as well as the subject. What tools will be needed? 1) The Holy Bible (KJV preferred) a) Height of the English language (17th Century) b) Precise grammar See Language of the King James Bible, Gail Riplinger 2) Webster s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language a) Restores Biblical definitions b) Christian constitutional meanings restored c) Restores a grammatical standard d) I challenge you to look up the definition of the word marriage in Webster s 1828 dictionary and compare it to the definition in a modern dictionary (see link below). 3) Bible Concordance and Topical References a) Strong s Concordance b) Thompson Exhaustive Topical Reference 4) Note: Good reference material is available free online: a) Online version of Webster s 1828 Dictionary: b) Freeware Bible software: (many add-ons) What are the steps to use? 1) Define the vocabulary and the properties which constitute the rudiments of the subject. a) General definition b) Underline the key words in the definition c) Define the key words, underline their keywords, repeat as needed d) Compile the vocabulary and leading ideas 2) Research the vocabulary and leading ideas of the subject in the Bible (consider synonyms). Discern/choose verses that apply to the subject. Write out these verses. 3) Deduce the Biblical principle and purpose of the subject from the Scripture s use of the keywords. a) How has God created it for the good of man? b) What is the cause/source/origin? c) What is the Biblical end and purpose of the subject? d) What is my responsibility for the subject? e) How does God use the subject to instruct or govern man? 4) Identify the Christian history of the subject. a) Who discovered it? b) How is it used? c) How has it benefited the movement of Christianity? 5) Identify the course goals and objectives. a) Why am I teaching this? 6) Review and refine your course goals and overviews each year as your mastery of the Principle Approach to the subject develops.

4 1. Define the Subject (Webster s 1828 Dictionary) 3 EDUCA'TION, The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to the understanding, the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their s. BRING UP, To bring up, to nurse; to educate; to instruct; to feed and clothe; to form the manners, and furnish the mind with knowledge INSTRUC'TION, The act of teaching or informing the understanding in that of which it was before ignorant; information. TE'ACHING, Instructing; informing. INFORM'ING, Giving notice or intelligence; telling. UNDERSTAND'ING, n. Knowledge; exact comprehension. IG'NORANCE, Want, absence or destitution of knowledge; the negative state of the mind which has not been instructed in arts, literature or science, or has not been informed of facts INFORM'TION, Knowledge derived from reading or instruction... or from the operation of the intellectual faculties. FORMA'TION, The act of forming or making; the act of creating or causing to exist MAN'NERS, Deportment; carriage; behavior; conduct; course of life; in a moral sense. (1 Cor.15)... Ceremonious behavior; civility; decent and respectful deportment. COMPREHEND, To contain; to include; to comprise. DISCIPLINE, Education; instruction; cultivation and improvement, comprehending instruction in arts, sciences, sentiments, morals and manners, and due subordination to authority. ENLI'GHTEN, To give light to; to give clearer views; to illuminate; to instruct; to enable to see or comprehend truth; UNDERSTAND'ING, Knowledge; exact comprehension. CORRECT, To make right; to rectify; to bring to the standard of truth, justice, or propriety; TEM'PER, Heat of mind or passion; irritation. HAB'IT, A disposition or condition of the mind or body acquired by custom or a frequent repetition of the same act. YOUTH, The part of life that succeeds to childhood. In a general sense, youth denotes the whole early part of life, from infancy to manhood; FIT, To qualify; to prepare; as, to fit a student for college. U'SEFULNESS, n. Conduciveness to some end FU'TURE, That is to be or come hereafter; that will exist at any time after the present, indefinitely STATION, Employment; occupation; business. Character; state. Summary of Definition Education is intended to: 1. instruct (teach, inform) 2. (clarify understanding, knowledge) 3. the temper 4. form manners and habits (behavior, conduct) 5. prepare for s (employment, occupation)

5 2. Identify the Key Terms 4 education bring up instruction teaching informing understanding ignorance information formation manners comprehends discipline understanding knowledge temper habits youth fit usefulness future stations 3. Research Purpose and Origin Gen 18:19 For I know [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Gen 46:34 That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. Exo 18:20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Deu 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 1Ki 18:12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Psa 71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever. Pro 1:7-8 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Pro 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Pro 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. bring up, instruct,, parents (first mention) instruct, parents The need for godly instruction early in life origin, conduct instruct, parents instruct, parents instruct instruction is valuable instruct

6 Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. Pro 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. Pro 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Pro 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Pro 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Pro 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Isa 28:9-10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Education begins in infancy one point at a time, with much repetition Dr. Henry Morris 1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. instruct, instruct, instruct,, parents instruct, instruct manners 5 Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for ion, for instruction in righteousness: Tit 2:1-6 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 2Pe 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ., parents, instruct,,

7 4. Reason Purpose and Goals 6 A Christian education is based upon Biblically-reasoned methods and curriculum. The Principle Approach is the method we use to apply the truths of God s Word to every subject. This involves researching, reasoning, relating and recording using Noah Webster s 1828 Dictionary and the Bible. From these we draw our conclusions as to what God would have us to learn about each subject. For a Christian education, we should teach: 1. all knowledge comes from God (Psa 110:10) 2. it is the parents responsibility to teach the children (Deu 6:7) 3. it is the child s responsibility to hear instruction, internalize it and apply it to his life (Pro 4:1, 8:33, 23:12) 4. the Bible is our sourcebook for all instruction (2Ti 3:16) 5. education includes ing bad habits and sin (Pro 29:17) 6. developing good character - the fruit of the Spirit (2Pe 1:5-8) 7. training our children for future occupations and marriage (Pro 22:6, Tit 2) An education becomes American Christian through the teaching of American Christian character (biographies), by illustrating all ideas connected with the chain of Christianity, and by viewing our subjects through the Seven Principles. Our philosophy of American Christian education is: 1. to reason Biblically in all areas of education to instill Godly character and reasoning into our children; and 2. to place great importance and emphasis on showing God s Providence from Creation through the chain of Christianity to our place and time here in America in order to remember and restore the level of character and scholarship exhibited by our Founding Fathers. Brotherly Kindness (Cheerful Contribution) Charity (Do Good to Others) Godliness (Christian Obedience) Patience (Calm Endurance) Temperance (Moderation) 2 Peter 1:5-8 Knowledge (Truth and Fact) Faith (Godly Home) Virtue (Moral Goodness) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.... For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (Deu 6:6-7, Isa 28:10)