S4 E28 | Understanding Childhood In The Early Church

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the view of childhood in the ancient world and how the gospel message shaped the idea of children and childhood. They explore the challenges of understanding children in the first century, including the lack of information and the differences in cultural assumptions. They highlight the importance of education in the early church and how it challenged the Roman status quo. The conversation also emphasizes the value of children and the need for their education and spiritual growth within the church.

Key Takeaways: 

• The ancient world had a different view of childhood compared to modern Western society.
• Children in the ancient world were expected to work and develop self-control from a young age.
• Education was important in the early church and challenged the Roman status quo.
• The church saw children as individuals with inherent value and offered them an eternal inheritance.
• Children's ministry in the church is a form of theological education and should be valued and prioritized. 

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction and Focus of the Conversation
05:25 - Understanding Childhood in the Ancient World
15:51 - The Importance of Education in the Early Church
36:15 - Children as Individuals with Inherent Value
46:12 - The Significance of Children's Ministry

Episode Resources: 

The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity  

Episode Sponsor:  

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology. Learn more about The Center for Women in Leadership at: https://www.leadershipwithoutapology.org/.