What does the Bible say about growing up?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that growing up involves increasing in wisdom, faith, love, and responsible maturity under God’s gracious care. Jesus Himself grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people (Luke 2:40, 52), showing that human development belongs within faithful dependence on the Father. Parents are called to train children in the Lord’s instruction without provoking them (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4), while believers are to continue in the Scriptures learned from youth (2 Timothy 3:14-15). Christian maturity means leaving childish ways behind and growing into Christlike love, truth, and unity through the church’s ministry (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:11-16). This growth is lifelong, as God calls His people to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-15
[14] But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. [15] From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
- Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Ephesians 4:11-16
[11] He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; [12] for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; [14] that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; [15] but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; [16] from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
- 2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
- Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- Ephesians 4:15-16
[15] but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; [16] from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
- 1 Samuel 2:26
The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.
- Ephesians 6:4
You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Luke 2:40
The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
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