The Principle Approach - Implementing The Four R’s Is there a Biblical method of teaching?

Unique among teaching methods today is the one that was used by our Founding Fathers and the writers of the Bible which depends on the Scriptures for its methodology. Paul is the best example of one who used this method.

As a child he was given an excellent education like all Jewish boys. (Jewish boys still have to memorize long passages of (Old Testament) Scripture as Paul did. I remember hearing Jewish boys reciting Scripture to their teacher while we were on a camping trip one time!) Paul subsequently studied law under the great lawyer, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). But after Paul was born again of the Spirit (I Corinthians 15:8, Galatians 4:29), as he journeyed to Damascus, (Acts 22:14) the first thing he did was retire to the desert (Arabia, Galatians 1:15-17) because he wouldn’t ask advice of men but of God. The result of this time alone with God was his gaining the great insights he later expounded regarding the fulfillment of the Old Testament teachings concerning Christ, (Romans 1:1-6).

His life-long research of the Scriptures (O.T.) which he reasoned through regarding God’s many doctrines and principles led to his logical expositions. These he wrote about to churches and individuals showing how the Word relates to our lives and how it is to be applied-always appealing to the Spirit who resides within the hearts of all believers.

A good example of the Biblical method of education is I Corinthians 2:9-16. Here, as in all of his teaching, Paul appeals to the Spirit within, telling us that the things of which he’d been speaking are "spiritually discerned." (Do we include God’s input in regard to the subject matter we are teaching? As Paul knew, we are not simply physio-psychological beings as the evolutionists would have us believe. No, we also have a spirit that must be addressed as well as the mind.) A brief outline of the above passage in I Corinthians gives us the four ingredients mentioned above: research, reasoning, relating, and recording.

Verse 9: "It is written." God recorded thousands of words, thoughts, ideas, truth (as right here in these verses).

Verse 10: "The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

Verse 13 and 15: "...the Holy Spirit teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual"(showing how they relate to one another and, as well, how the Scriptures relate to ones life.) (Vs. 15) "He that is spiritual judgeth (exercises judgment in) all things" to discover how these relate to the truth contained in the Word..

What happens when the Holy Spirit is included in the classroom, when the child’s spirit is appealed to as he is being taught? Is he inspired? (Notice that inspired is two words: in and breathed, a word used of the Holy "Spirit" same word). Does his appreciation of God increase? What other benefits accrue when teacher and pupil are inspired by the Holy Spirit in regard to the subject matter at hand? Actually, education becomes exciting. I’m excited right now. God’s truth makes any subject "come alive."

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Posted 02/02/2004 by Ben G "History Buff"

Sounds like someone has studied with FACE (Verna Hall / Rosalee Slater). Well developed. I would add a few details-- Teach from the grand to the detail (ie. always create a context for the next point. "In the beginning- GOD!" (Had God created the cow before the meadow creates an interesting word picture for kids.) Teach from cause to effect. (An adjunct to "context.")

Posted 04/07/2004 by Suzanne L

Good article!

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