Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of a "school" as we understand it today did not exist in the same formalized manner. However, education and the transmission of knowledge were highly valued in ancient Israelite society, particularly in the context of religious instruction and the passing down of the Law.
Old Testament ContextEducation in ancient Israel was primarily centered around the family and religious institutions. Parents, especially fathers, were responsible for teaching their children the commandments and accounts of God's dealings with His people. This is evident in
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 : "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."
The role of the Levites and priests was also significant in educating the people, particularly in matters of the Law. They served as teachers and interpreters of the Law, ensuring that the Israelites understood God's commandments and statutes. In
2 Chronicles 17:9 , we see an example of this: "They taught throughout Judah, having with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people."
Wisdom LiteratureThe wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs, also emphasizes the importance of education and learning.
Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This highlights the belief that true knowledge and understanding begin with a reverence for God.
New Testament ContextBy the time of the New Testament, Jewish education had become more structured, with synagogues serving as centers for learning. Jesus Himself was often referred to as "Rabbi," meaning teacher, and He frequently taught in synagogues and other public places. In
Luke 4:16 , it is recorded, "He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read..."
The Apostle Paul, a well-educated Pharisee, also emphasized the importance of teaching and learning within the Christian community. In his letters, he often instructed believers to teach one another and to hold fast to the teachings they had received. In
2 Timothy 2:2 , Paul writes, "And the things you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
Role of Education in the Early ChurchThe early Christian church placed a strong emphasis on teaching and doctrine. The apostles and early church leaders were committed to educating new believers in the faith, ensuring that they understood the core tenets of Christianity.
Acts 2:42 describes the early church's devotion to teaching: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
ConclusionWhile the formal institution of a school as we know it today was not present in biblical times, the Scriptures clearly demonstrate the importance of education, particularly in the context of religious instruction and the transmission of God's Word. The biblical model of education emphasizes the role of family, religious leaders, and the community in teaching and learning, with a focus on understanding and living out the principles of God's Law and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Topical Bible Verses
Acts 19:9But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Topicalbible.orgJohn 7:14-16
Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A shoal; a multitude; as, a school of fish.
2. (n.) A place for learned intercourse and instruction; an institution for learning; an educational establishment; a place for acquiring knowledge and mental training; as, the school of the prophets.
3. (n.) A place of primary instruction; an establishment for the instruction of children; as, a primary school; a common school; a grammar school.
4. (n.) A session of an institution of instruction.
5. (n.) One of the seminaries for teaching logic, metaphysics, and theology, which were formed in the Middle Ages, and which were characterized by academic disputations and subtleties of reasoning.
6. (n.) The room or hall in English universities where the examinations for degrees and honors are held.
7. (n.) An assemblage of scholars; those who attend upon instruction in a school of any kind; a body of pupils.
8. (n.) The disciples or followers of a teacher; those who hold a common doctrine, or accept the same teachings; a sect or denomination in philosophy, theology, science, medicine, politics, etc.
9. (n.) The canons, precepts, or body of opinion or practice, sanctioned by the authority of a particular class or age; as, he was a gentleman of the old school.
10. (n.) Figuratively, any means of knowledge or discipline; as, the school of experience.
11. (v. t.) To train in an institution of learning; to educate at a school; to teach.
12. (v. t.) To tutor; to chide and admonish; to reprove; to subject to systematic discipline; to train.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SCHOOLskool (schole).
SeeTYRANNUS.
Greek
4981. schole -- leisure, hence disputation (that for which leisure......school. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: schole Phonetic Spelling:
(skhol-ay') Short Definition: leisure, a
school Definition: leisure, a
school...4746b. Stoikos -- Stoic, ie belonging to the Stoicschool of...
... Stoikos. 4747 . Stoic, ie belonging to the Stoicschool of thought.... Word Origin
from stoa Definition Stoic, ie belonging to the Stoicschool of thought....
3807. paidagogos -- a trainer of boys, ie a tutor
... From pais and a reduplicated form of ago; a boy-leader, ie A servant whose office
it was to take the children toschool; (by implication, (figuratively) a...
Library
With Christ in theSchool of Prayer
With Christ in theSchool of Prayer. <. With Christ in theSchool of Prayer
Andrew Murray. Table of Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. FIRST LESSON....
The Boy and the SundaySchool
The Boy and the SundaySchool. <. The Boy and the SundaySchool
John L. Alexander. Produced by Curtis Weyant, Thomas...
TheSchool
... TheSchool. Gerhard Ter Steegen Matthew 18:3. Where is theschool for each and all,.
Where men become as children small,. And little ones are great?...
TheSchool of Obedience
TheSchool of Obedience. <. TheSchool of Obedience Andrew Murray. Table of
Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. I. Obedience: Its place In Holy Scripture....
The PublicSchool and the Boy
The Boy and the SundaySchool. <.... II THE PUBLICSCHOOL AND THE
BOY. Of the primary institutions that are cooperating in...
A NeglectedSchool
... Chapter 16. Windsor Park; Wesley as Art Critic; Glasgow and Perth; At 70, Wesley
Preaches to 30,000 People A NeglectedSchool. Thursday...
The Relation of the SundaySchool to Community Organizations
The Boy and the SundaySchool. <.... XXII THE RELATION OF THE SUNDAY
SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. The churchschool...
The Boy and the SundaySchool
The Boy and the SundaySchool. <.... V THE BOY AND THE SUNDAYSCHOOL.
There are two factors in the above subject"the factor...
School Life
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITESSchool Life. [1386]365 O Thou whose feet have
climbed life's hill [1387]366 We build ourschool on thee...
The Rural SundaySchool
The Boy and the SundaySchool. <.... XXI THE RURAL SUNDAYSCHOOL. The problem
of the rural Sundayschool is its size and equipment....
Thesaurus
School (3 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A shoal; a multitude; as, a
school of fish.
2. (n.) A place for learned intercourse and instruction
...School-master (2 Occurrences)
School-master. Schoolmaster,School-master. Schools . Multi-Version
ConcordanceSchool-master (2 Occurrences). Galatians...
Schoolmaster (3 Occurrences)
... pedagogue (shortened into the modern page), ie, one who was intrusted with the
supervision of a family, taking them to and from theschool, being responsible...
Stoics (1 Occurrence)
... LITERATURE 1. Origin and Propagation: The name was derived from the Stoa Poikile,
the painted porch at Athens, where the founders of theschool first lectured....
Tyrannus (1 Occurrence)
... Prince, a Greek rhetorician, in whose "school" at Ephesus Paul disputed daily for
the space of two years with those who came to him (Acts 19:9). Some have...
Gymnasium
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A place or building where athletic exercises
are performed; aschool for gymnastics. 2. (n.) A...
Galatians (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE. " I. THE AUTHORSHIP
1. Position of the DutchSchool 2. Early Testimony II....
First (4693 Occurrences)
... ko-rin'-thi-anz: I. AUTHENTICITY OF THE TWO EPISTLES 1. External Evidence 2. Internal
Evidence 3. Consent of Criticism 4. Ultra-Radical Attack (DutchSchool) II...
Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... of its course. The views of Paul's opponents of thisschool may therefore
be gathered from the teaching of Epicurus. 1. Social and...
Corinthians (3 Occurrences)
... This is one of the epistles the authenticity of which has never been called in question
by critics of anyschool, so many and so conclusive are the evidences...
Resources
What is Vacation Bible School? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about Sunday school? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the school of prophets? | GotQuestions.orgSchool: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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