Should Young Children Read ALL of the Bible?

  • II Timothy 3:15 – “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

When a child is just beginning to read, and he’s beginning to read the Bible for himself, should the child be allowed to read all of the Bible? After all, there are passages like Romans 1, and the end of Judges, and Proverbs 7, not to mention the entire book of Song of Solomon! Is it okay to hand the whole Book to a small child? 

As we ask this question, one crucial fact to remember is Who it is that wrote the Bible. This Book is written by GOD. And God is holy. A holy God will not write something that will corrupt any of His creation. Over and over He declares His Word to be pure. Psalm 119:140a – “Thy word is very pure:” Proverbs 30:5a – “Every word of God is pure:” Psalm 12:6 – “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalm 19:8b – “the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” This Book will not give them a taste for corruption because it is not corrupt. Although this Book does promise to enlighten and give knowledge to the young, it also promises to give discretion to handle that knowledge (Proverbs 1:4 – “To give … to the young man knowledge and discretion.”). This Book will not expose them to harmful knowledge. His Word gradually makes wise your simple one. The Author of the Book is also the Creator of the child, and He will reveal to each child what they are ready for when they are ready for it. And what better way for a child to become acquainted with the really big questions of life, than in the context of what the Creator thinks about them? Children learn a correct and holy view of life’s more delicate and sensitive matters before the world gets a chance to corrupt and twist their thinking. And the Holy Spirit promises to personally guide them into all of this truth on their level as they’re ready for it. John 16:13a – “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:” The child will see some of this broken, fallen world’s problems while at the same time he will learn what the right way is, why the wrong way is wrong, consequences of going the wrong way, and ways to avoid the wrong way, all in one package that will not corrupt him, but rather build him. You can trust this Book one hundred percent! 

II Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All scripture is … profitable.” We cannot assume in our limited, finite knowledge to know better what is profitable for our children than their Creator does. Mama Eunice made sure that her child Timothy was in this profitable Book from his childhood, and he turned out saved and serving. He traveled the known world assisting the Apostle Paul in turning the world upside down. Yes, definitely, we should hand the whole Book to our children and trust God to do amazing things! 

On a practical note: Answer any questions that arise carefully, clearly, simply, and Biblically. Don’t go beyond what was asked. Don’t give unnecessary details, i.e.: “Mommy, what’s circumcision?” “Well, sweetie, it’s a surgery that God told the Israelite men to do to separate them from the unsaved around them.” And if that satisfies the asker, leave it at that until the next time it comes up.