Did Early Christians Teach Children to Obey Their Parents?
Early Christian writers taught that children should obey, honor, and respect their parents. Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, and Tertullian say this plainly, and they connect it to Bible passages like Ephesians 6:1 and Exodus 20:12. They also said parents should raise children with care and not provoke them to anger. The teaching is clear, repeated, and spread across several early writers.
122 early-church witnesses · 181 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about children obeying their parents?
Early Christians clearly taught that children should obey, honor, and respect their parents. Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, Tertullian, and the Apostolic Constitutions all repeat this duty, and they often link it to Scripture such as Ephesians 6:1-4 and Exodus 20:12. The teaching is broad across the second and third centuries and is not limited to one writer.
Some texts also add that parents should train children well and not provoke them, so the command is usually part of a larger family ethic. The main evidence is direct and consistent, though a few nearby passages are only about parental honor in general rather than the child’s obedience itself. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Ignatius, Clement, Theophilus, and Tertullian all tell children to obey or honor their parents.
- Ephesians 6:1-4 and Exodus 20:12 were key Bible passages behind this teaching.
- Early Christian teaching on the family also told parents to train children well.
- The evidence is broad and direct, not just a few isolated lines.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians teach children to obey their parents?
Yes. Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, and Tertullian all say children should obey, honor, respect, or be subject to their parents. These writers treat that duty as normal Christian teaching, not as a side point.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching
...simple and sincere for a while longer. For this is holy, not only with God but also among men: that children should obey their parents with simplicity and without deceit. But if it is right for children to be subject to their parents, how much more should they be subject to the God and Father of all things? Besides, it is not fitting for children in infancy to be wise beyond their years. For just as a person grows in height by an orderly process, so also he grows in wisdom. And when a law commands a person to keep away from something, and he does not obey, clearly it is not the law that causes punishment, but the disobedience and transgression. For a father sometimes orders his own child to keep away from certain things, and when the child does not obey his father's command, he is beaten and punished because of the disobedience. In that case, the things themselves are not the cause of the blows, but the disobedience brings punishment on the one who disobeys. In the same way, for the first man, disobedience brought about his expulsion from Paradise. Therefore, it was not as if there were any evil in the tree of knowledge. Rather, from his disobedience man drew, as from a fountain
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Direct teaching
...g that which is better, not for the reproach of wedlock, but for the sake of meditating on the law. Children, obey your parents, and have affection for them, as workers together with God for your birth into the world. Servants, be subject to your masters in God, that you may be the freed-men of Christ. Husbands, love your wives, as fellow-servants of God, as your own body, as the partners of your life, and your co-workers in the procreation of children. Virgins, have Christ alone before your eyes, and His Father in your prayers, being enlightened by the Spirit. May I take pleasure in your purity, as that of Elijah, or as of Joshua the son of Nun, as of Melchizedek, or as of Elisha, as of Jeremiah, or as of John the Baptist, as of the beloved disciple, as of Timothy, as of Titus, as of Evodius, as of Clement, who departed this life in perfect chastity. Not, however, that I blame the other blessed saints because they entered into the married state, of which I have just spoken. For I pray that, being found worthy of God, I may be found at their feet in the kingdom, as at the feet of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; as of Joseph, and Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets; as of Peter, Paul
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching
Husbands, love your wives; and wives, your husbands. Children, respect your parents. Parents, raise your children with the nurture and instruction of the Lord. Honor those who remain in virginity, as the priestesses of Christ; and the widows who maintain seriousness in behavior, as the altar of God. Servants, serve your masters with respectful fear. Masters, give orders to your servants with kindness. Let no one among you be idle; for idleness leads to need. I do not command these things as a person of any importance, though I am in bonds for Christ; but as a brother, I remind you of them. The Lord be with you!
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
...ng one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be wise, following God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also has loved us. Let wives be subject to their own husbands, as to the Lord. And let husbands love their wives, just as Christ also has loved the Church. Let those who are joined together love one another as their own bodies. Children, obey your parents. Parents, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Servants, obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with sincere hearts, as to Christ, serving with good will from the soul. And you masters, treat your servants well, and stop threatening them, knowing that both their Lord and your Lord is in heaven, and with Him there is no partiality.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
he was bound rather to annihilate Him. Children should obey their parents.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Direct teaching
Children, obey your parents, and have an affection for them, as workers together with God for your birth [into the world].
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching
Ye children, reverence your parents. Ye parents, “bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Honour those [who continue] in virginity, as the priestesses of Christ;
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching
For this is holy, not only with God, but also with men, that in simplicity and guilelessness subjection be yielded to parents.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
But if it is right that children be subject to parents, how much more to the God and Father of all things?
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching
...om they have been united according to the will of God. You parents, provide a holy training to your children. You children, "honor your parents, that it may be well with you."
What Bible passages did early Christians use for children obeying parents?
The main Bible texts are Ephesians 6:1-4 and Exodus 20:12, with Colossians 3:20 also saying children should obey their parents. Early Christian writers also appeal to the command to honor father and mother as the basis for this duty.
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Ephesians 6:1 Direct teaching
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
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Colossians 3:20 Direct teaching
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
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Exodus 20:12 Direct teaching
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
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Ephesians 6:2 Direct teaching
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
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Deuteronomy 5:16 Supporting witness
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
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Matthew 15:4 Supporting witness
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
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Mark 7:10 Supporting witness
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Did early Christians also tell parents how to raise children?
Yes. Early Christian writings also tell parents to bring children up in the Lord, give them holy training, and not provoke them to wrath. That means child obedience was linked to careful parenting.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...th sharp stripes, and make them obedient from infancy, teaching them the Holy Scriptures, which are Christian and divine, and handing on to them every sacred writing. Do not give them such freedom that they gain the upper hand and act against your judgment. Do not allow them to join with their equals for feasting. For in this way they will be turned to disorderly ways and will fall into fornication. And if this happens through the carelessness of their parents, those who begot them will be guilty concerning their souls. For if the offending children come into the company of corrupt people through the negligence of those who begot them, they will not be punished by themselves alone, but their parents also will be condemned because of them. For this reason, when they are of an age fit for marriage, make every effort to join them in marriage and settle them together, lest in the heat and fervor of their age their way of life become lawless, and you be required by the Lord God to give an account on the day of judgment.
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness
Ye parents, impart a holy training to your children.
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Ephesians 6:4 Background
Fathers, "bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; " and teach them the holy Scriptures, and also trades, that they may not indulge in idleness.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
Children, be obedient to your parents. Parents, provoke not your children to wrath;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
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Ephesians 6:4 Direct teaching
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
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1 Timothy 5:4 Supporting witness
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
Did early Christians connect obedience to honoring parents?
Yes. Several writers explain that obeying parents is part of honoring them, and some even say children should show affection and reverence to their parents. Origen and Clement also connect this duty with the command to honor father and mother.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
And God said, Honour your father and your mother, Exodus 20:12 teaching that the child should pay the honour which is due to his parents.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Of this honour to parents one part was to share with them the necessaries of life, such as food and clothing, and if there was any other thing in which it was possible for them to show favour towards their own parents.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Ministerial service is rendered to parents by children, to rulers by subjects.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
In other passages also, Paul, embracing the promises of the law, says, Honour your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with promise;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Background
And therefore, the Scripture says, "These words the Lord spoke to all the assembly of the children of Israel on the mount, and He added no more;" for, as I have already noted, He needed nothing from them. And again Moses says: "And now Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul?" These things indeed made man glorious by providing him with what he was lacking, namely, the friendship of God; but they did not benefit God, for God does not need man's love. The glory of God was lacking in man, which he could gain only by serving God. Therefore, Moses says to them again: "Choose life, that you may live, and your descendants, to love the Lord your God, to hear His voice, to hold fast to Him; for this is your life, and the length of your days." Preparing man for this life, the Lord Himself spoke directly to all with the words of the Decalogue; and so, in the same way, they remain with us permanently, receiving extension and increase through His coming in the flesh, but not being abolished.
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Justin Martyr, The Martyrdom of Justin Martyr Background
But from my parents also I learned to be a Christian.” Rusticus the prefect said, “Where are your parents?” Euelpistus said, “In Cappadocia.” Rusticus says to Hierax, “Where are your parents?” And he answered, and said, “Christ is our true father, and faith in Him is our mother;
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Aristides, The Apology Supporting witness
They honour father and mother, and show kindness to those near to them;
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Wisdom of Sirach 3:8 Supporting witness
Honor thy father and mother both in word and deed, That a blessing may come upon thee from them.
Common Questions
Did the early Christians teach children to obey their parents?
Yes. Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus of Antioch, and Tertullian all repeat that children should obey or honor their parents.
Which Bible verses did early Christians use for this teaching?
They commonly pointed to Ephesians 6:1-4 and Exodus 20:12, and also to related honor-your-parents passages.
Did early Christians also teach parents how to treat children?
Yes. They also told parents to train children well and not provoke them to anger.
Source Index for Children obeying their parents
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 139 ranked source links from 181 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 139 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 122
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Unknown, Unknown Work
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Ephesians 6:4
Bible Passages 59 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:3