Nurture
The Biblical Concept of Nurture
The English word "nurture" in biblical usage goes beyond simple nourishment or care. It encompasses the full range of activities involved in raising, training, and disciplining a person toward maturity. The Greek word paideia, translated "nurture" in some versions and "discipline" or "training" in others, describes a comprehensive approach to formation that includes instruction, correction, and encouragement. This concept appears most prominently in Ephesians 6:4.
Ephesians 6:4: The Central Text
Paul's instruction to fathers in Ephesians 6:4 provides the most important biblical statement on nurture: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." The verse contains two key Greek words. The first, ektrepho ("bring up"), conveys the idea of nourishing and raising, the tender side of parenting. The second, paideia ("discipline" or "nurture"), adds the element of training and correction.
Paul's instruction balances two poles: avoiding harsh treatment that embitters children, and providing the structured training they need to grow in faith. Nurture in the biblical sense is neither permissive neglect nor oppressive control but a loving, intentional investment in a child's spiritual and moral development.
Nurture Through Discipline
The connection between nurture and discipline is central to the biblical concept. The book of Proverbs repeatedly affirms that training involves correction: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1). "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). The writer of Hebrews extends this principle to God's own parenting: "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12:6).
Biblical discipline is not punishment for its own sake but corrective training aimed at producing righteousness and maturity. Hebrews 12:11 acknowledges that "for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
God as the Ultimate Nurturer
Scripture presents God himself as the model of nurturing care. Moses reminded Israel, "You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart" (Deuteronomy 8:2). God's nurture of Israel combined provision (manna and water), instruction (the law at Sinai), and discipline (consequences for disobedience) in a comprehensive program of formation.
Isaiah portrays God's care with nurturing imagery: "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom" (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus embodied this divine nurture, teaching, correcting, and patiently developing his disciples over three years of intimate mentorship.
The Community of Nurture
Biblical nurture is not limited to the family. The church itself is called to be a nurturing community where believers grow toward maturity. Paul described his own ministry in parental terms: "We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children" (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Older believers are instructed to teach and mentor younger ones (Titus 2:3-5). The goal of all ministry gifts is "the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith... to mature manhood" (Ephesians 4:12-13).
Nurture as a Lifelong Process
Biblical nurture does not end in childhood. Peter exhorts all believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). The nurturing process continues throughout the Christian life as God uses Scripture, community, circumstances, and the Holy Spirit to shape believers into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Biblical Context
The concept of nurture centers on Ephesians 6:4, where Paul instructs fathers in child-rearing. Related passages include Proverbs 22:6 (training children), Hebrews 12:5-11 (God's discipline as loving nurture), Deuteronomy 8:2-5 (God nurturing Israel in the wilderness), and 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (Paul's nurturing ministry). The Greek word paideia connects nurture to the broader biblical theme of divine discipline and formation.
Theological Significance
Biblical nurture reveals that God's character is fundamentally parental. He does not leave his children to develop on their own but actively trains, corrects, and guides them toward maturity. Human nurture in families and churches reflects this divine pattern. The combination of tender care and firm correction in biblical nurture challenges both harsh authoritarianism and permissive indulgence, pointing to a balanced approach rooted in love and truth.
Historical Background
The Greek word paideia was one of the most important concepts in the ancient world, encompassing the entire process of educating and forming a young person into a mature, virtuous adult. Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle wrote extensively about paideia as the foundation of a good society. Early Christians adopted and transformed this concept, grounding it not in Greek philosophy but in the character of God and the teaching of Scripture. Jewish traditions of child education, including the Shema instruction (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), provided the immediate background for Paul's teaching.