Pedagogue and Christian Instruction

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

But our Instructor is the holy God Jesus, the Word, who is the guide of all humanity.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

... John 4:13-14. When we are dead, we need life. As sheep, we need a shepherd. As children, we need a tutor. And all humanity needs Jesus, so that we may not remain stubborn and sinful to the end and so fall into condemnation, but may be separated from the chaff and stored in the Father’s barn. For the winnowing fork is in the Lord’s hand, and by it the chaff meant for the fire is separated from the wheat, Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17. If you are willing, you may learn the highest wisdom of the all-holy Shepherd and Instructor, of the almighty and fatherly Word, when He presents Himself in a figure as the Shepherd of the sheep. And He is the Tutor of the children. Therefore He says through Ezekiel, speaking to the elders and setting before them a helpful picture of His wise care: “And that which is lame I will bind up, and that which is sick I will heal, and that which has wandered I will bring back; and I will feed them on my holy mountain.” Such are the promises of the good Shepherd.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...ad this people to the place I told you about." Exodus 32:33-34 Here He is the teacher of the art of teaching. For it was truly the Lord who taught the ancient people through Moses. But He teaches the new people by Himself, face to face. For look, He says to Moses, "My angel shall go before you," showing the gospel-bringing and commanding power of the Word, while still guarding the Lord's own prerogative. "In the day on which I will visit them," Exodus 32:33-34 He says, "I will bring their sins on them." That is, on the day when I sit as judge, I will repay them for their sins. For the same one who is Instructor is also judge, and He judges those who disobey Him. And the loving Word will not pass over their sin in silence. He corrects them so that they may repent. For the Lord desires the sinner's repentance rather than his death. And let us, like little children, hear about the sins of others and keep away from similar sins, because we fear the warning, so that we may not suffer in the same way. What, then, was the sin they committed? "For in their wrath they slew men, and in their impetuosity they hamstrung bulls. Cursed be their anger." Genesis 49:6 Who, then, would train us m

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...hing was, as John 1:3 says. Therefore Moses, speaking prophetically and giving place to the perfect Instructor, the Word, predicts both the name and the office of the Instructor. And by committing to the people the commands of obedience, he sets the Instructor before them. "A prophet," he says, "like me shall God raise up to you of your brothers," pointing out Jesus the Son of God by an allusion to Jesus the son of Nun. For the name of Jesus, predicted in the law, was a shadow of Christ. Therefore he adds, for the advantage of the people, "Him you shall hear," in Deuteronomy 18:15. And he warns that the man who will not hear that Prophet will face God's threat, in Deuteronomy 18:19. Such a name, then, he predicts as the name of the Instructor, who is the author of salvation. Therefore prophecy gives Him a rod, a rod of discipline, of rule, of authority. Those whom the persuasive word does not heal, the threatening may heal. Those whom the threatening does not heal, the rod may heal. And those whom the rod does not heal, the fire may devour. "There shall come forth," it says, "a rod out of the root of Jesse."

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

...of the Preacher. The proof of this must be drawn from Holy Scripture. It will be established most clearly if I can show that it is not only one book, taking the word in its more common meaning, that we find written about Christ. Christ is written about even in the Pentateuch. He is spoken of in each of the Prophets, and in the Psalms, and, in a word, as the Savior Himself says, in all the Scriptures. He refers us to them all when He says in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me.” And if He refers us to the Scriptures as testifying of Him, He does not send us to one and exclude another, but to all that speak of Him, those which in the Psalms He calls the chapter of the book, saying, “In the chapter of the book it is written of Me.” If anyone proposes to take these words, “In the chapter of the book it is written of Me,” literally, and to apply them to this or that special passage where Christ is spoken of, let him tell us on what principle he prefers one book over another. If anyone thinks that we ourselves are doing this, and applying those words to the book of Psalms, we deny that we are doing so.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Oration to Origen Supporting witness

...e sacred writings. I do not know whether God is pleased to speak with people in such a way that the divine word does not enter completely bare and open into an unworthy soul, as many souls are, or whether every divine message is actually clear by its own nature, but seems obscure and dark to us because we have fallen away from God and, through time and age, have lost the ability to hear. But whatever the case may be, if some words really are mysterious, he explained all of them and brought them into the light, because he himself was a skillful and very discerning hearer of God. Or, if none of them are truly obscure by nature, they were still not hard for him to understand. Of all the men of the present time whom I have known myself, or heard about from others, he alone has studied the clear and shining oracles of God so deeply that he could both receive their meaning into his own mind at once and pass it on to others. For the Leader of all people, who inspires God's beloved prophets and gives them all their prophecies and their hidden and heavenly words, honored this man as a friend and made him an interpreter of those same oracles. Things that He only hinted at through others,

Matthew 23:10 Background

Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Luke 6:40 Background

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...s, confirm by exhortation the one who is being tempted. He must heal what is sick, that is, cure by instruction the one who is weak in the faith because of doubt. He must bind up what is broken, that is, bind up with comforting admonitions the one who has gone astray, or has been wounded, bruised, or broken by sins and put out of the way. He must free it from its offenses and give hope. In this way he must restore it in strength to the Church, bringing it back into the flock. Bring back what has been driven away. That is, do not allow the one who remains in sins and has been cast out as punishment to stay excluded. Instead, receive that one, bring him back, and restore him to the flock, that is, to the people of the undefiled Church. Seek what is lost. That is, do not allow the one who has despaired of salvation because of the great number of offenses to perish completely. Search for the one who has grown sleepy, drowsy, and sluggish, and who is careless about his own life because of the depth of his sleep, and who is far from his own flock, so that he is in danger of falling among the wolves and being devoured by them. Bring him back by admonition. Urge him to be watchful, and

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

Therefore, although some have been found among our colleagues, dearest brothers, who think that godly discipline may be neglected, and who rashly hold communion with Basilides and Martialis, this ought not to trouble our faith. For the Holy Spirit threatens such people in the Psalms, saying, "But you hate instruction, and cast my words behind you. When you saw a thief, you consented to him, and have been a partaker with adulterers." He shows that those who are associated with the guilty become sharers and partakers in other men's sins. And besides, Paul the apostle writes and says the same thing: "Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, abusive, proud, boasters of themselves, inventors of evil things, who, although they knew the judgment of God, did not understand that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only they which commit those things, but they also which consent to those who do these things." Romans 1:30-32. Since they, he says, who do such things are worthy of death, he makes clear and proves that not only those are worthy of death, and come into punishment, who do evil things, but also those who consent to those who do such things. While they are mingled i

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

for we have not collected it by doubtful surmise, but have known it by divine instruction.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

But if ignorance is want of training and of instruction, then teaching produces knowledge of divine and human things.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

What between heretics and Christians? Our instruction comes from the porch of Solomon, who had himself taught that the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

He therefore assumed a body, and was clothed in a garment of flesh, that He might hold out to man, for whose instruction He had come, examples of virtue and incitements to its practice.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...perish from the right way, when His wrath is quickly kindled against you." And again: "But to the ungodly God says, 'Why do you preach my laws, and take my covenant into your mouth? Since you hate discipline, and have cast my words behind you.'" And again we read: "He that casts away discipline is miserable." Wisdom 3:11. And from Solomon we have received the commands of wisdom, warning us: "My son, do not despise the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He corrects." Proverbs 3:11. But if God rebukes those whom He loves, and rebukes them for the very purpose of correcting them, then brothers also, and especially priests, should not hate but love those whom they rebuke, so that they may correct them. For God also foretold this through Jeremiah, and pointed to our times, when He said, "And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, and they shall feed you with the food of discipline." Jeremiah 3:15.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...ws the wicked and unjust to become powerful, happy, and rich, while on the other hand He allows the godly to be lowly, miserable, and poor, let him read the book by Seneca called Why Many Evils Happen to Good Men, Though There Is a Providence. In that book, he said many things, not with the ignorance of this world, to be sure, but wisely, and almost by divine inspiration. He says that God looks on men as His children, but He allows the corrupt and vicious to live in luxury and comfort because He does not think them worthy of His correction. But He often disciplines the good whom He loves, and by constant labors He trains them in the practice of virtue. Nor does He allow them to be corrupted and spoiled by weak and passing goods. From this, no one should think it strange if we are often chastised by God for our faults. Yes, rather, when we are troubled and hard pressed, then we especially give thanks to our most gracious Father, because He does not allow our corruption to go farther, but corrects it with stripes and blows. From this we understand that God cares for us, since He is angry when we sin. For though He could have given His people both riches and kingdoms, as He had for

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...les. But with constancy and firmness we take counsel for our brothers and sisters, and maintain the discipline of the Church by every useful and safe means. Since the Lord speaks, saying, "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, and they shall feed you with discipline," Jeremiah 3:15. And again it is written, "Whoever despises discipline is miserable," Wisdom 3:11. And in the Psalms also the Holy Spirit warns and instructs us, saying, "Keep discipline, lest perhaps the Lord be angry, and you perish from the right way, when His anger shall quickly burn against you."

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...o to the church because of unbelievers, then you, O bishop, shall gather them in a house, so that a godly man may not enter an assembly of the ungodly. For it is not the place that sanctifies the man, but the man the place. And if the ungodly possess the place, avoid it, because it is profaned by them. For just as holy priests sanctify a place, so profane people defile it. If it is not possible to assemble either in the church or in a house, let each one by himself sing, read, and pray, or let two or three do so together. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Let none of the faithful pray with a catechumen, not even in the house. For it is not right that one who is admitted should be polluted with one who is not admitted. Let none of the godly pray with a heretic, not even in the house. For what fellowship has light with darkness? Let Christians, whether men or women, who have relations with slaves either stop, or let them be rejected.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... accomplished at all without you? You have been the inventor of laws, you the teacher of morals and discipline”—as if, indeed, she could understand anything by herself, and as if the one who gave her should not rather be praised. In the same way, he might have given thanks to food and drink, because without them life could not exist. Yet these things, while they serve the senses, give no real benefit. But just as these are the nourishment of the body, so wisdom is the nourishment of the soul.

Proverbs 9:9 Background

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Ephesians 6:4 Direct teaching

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:7 Supporting witness

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.

Proverbs 4:1 Supporting witness

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

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.

Didache, Connection to Ephesians 6:4 Supporting witness

whether he hath educated his children piously, and has "brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; "

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness

and to train up their children in the knowledge and fear of God.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...ly. On the contrary, we ought to honor it all the more. Do you think that the boy who is led by his paedagogue to the teachers of learning, when he is still very small, ought to give that paedagogue no honor after he has grown to manhood, simply because he no longer needs his service, but can go on his way without any help from that attendant to the schools and quickly find his way to the lecture rooms? Or, to take another example, would it be right for a child who was first nourished on milk, after he has grown able to receive stronger foods, then to spurn the breasts of his nurse with injury and feel horror toward them? No. Rather, he should honor and cherish them, and confess that he owes them a debt for their good service. We may also use another illustration, if you please. Once a certain man noticed an infant lying exposed on the ground and already suffering exceedingly. He picked it up and undertook to raise it in his own house until it reached youth, bearing all the toils and anxieties that usually fall on those who bring up children. After some time, however, it happened that the child's natural father came looking for the boy and found him with the man who had raised h

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

Or, to take another instance, would it be right for the child who has been nourished on milk at first, after he has grown to be capable of receiving stronger meats, then injuriously to spurn the breasts of his nurse, and conceive a horror of them?

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

but if he teach so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.

Galatians 3:24 Direct teaching

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 4:2 Supporting witness

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Irenaeus, Connection to Galatians 3:24 Direct teaching

but he has also said, that the law was our pedagogue [to bring us] to Christ Jesus.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

... the law was our guide to bring us to Christ Jesus. Therefore, let them not blame the law for the unbelief of some among them. For the law never prevented them from believing in the Son of God; indeed, it even urged them to do so, saying that people can be saved in no other way from the old wound of the serpent than by believing in Him who, in the likeness of sinful flesh, is lifted up from the earth upon the tree of martyrdom, draws everything to Himself, and gives life to the dead.

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

...at comes to childhood and is on the way to full growth, until the fullness of time is near, needs a tutor and stewards and guardians. Then, after all these things, the one who formerly differed in nothing from a bond-servant, though he is lord of all, may receive, when set free from a tutor and stewards and guardians, the inheritance that corresponds to the very costly pearl and to what is perfect. When it comes, it does away with what is in part, when a person is able to receive the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ, Philippians 3:8, having first been trained, so to speak, in those forms of knowledge that are surpassed by the knowledge of Christ. But the crowd, not seeing the beauty of the many pearls of the law, and all the knowledge of the prophets, partial though it is, suppose that they can find the one precious pearl in its fullness, and see the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ, without a clear explanation and understanding of these things. Compared with this knowledge, all the things that came before such great knowledge, although they were not refuse by nature, appear to be refuse. This refuse is perhaps the dung thrown beside the fig tree by the kee

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

For Paul says that it was given to be a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

But Abraham, knowing that they still stood in need of the paedagogue, said to him: They have Moses and the prophets.

Archelaus, Connection to Galatians 4:3 Supporting witness

And in saying this he pronounces on them as Gentiles, because they were under the elements of the world,

Irenaeus, Connection to Luke 6:40 Supporting witness

"For no disciple is above the Master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master."