What does the Bible say about our responsibilities as parents?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that parents are to lovingly provide for, instruct, discipline, and nurture their children in the fear of the Lord, relying on God’s grace rather than mere human effort. Ephesians 6:4 calls fathers especially to avoid provoking their children and to raise them in the Lord’s discipline and instruction, while Colossians 3:21 warns against discouraging them. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 presents faith as something parents diligently teach in ordinary daily life. Proverbs 22:6 encourages wise, intentional training, though it is not a mechanical guarantee of a child’s future faith. First Timothy 5:8 also stresses the duty to care materially for one’s household. Parents plant and water faithfully, but God alone gives spiritual life and growth.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ephesians 6:4 15 votes
You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Colossians 3:21 14 votes
Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.
- Proverbs 22:6 9 votes
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 8 votes
[6] These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; [7] and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. [8] You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates.
- 1 Timothy 5:8 6 votes
But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
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