Betsworth, "Children in the Gospels"

THE BIBLE AND INTERPRETATION:

Children in the Gospels

Often, 21st century people think that Jesus is saying that we need to become innocent like children or just have faith like children. But his first century audience would have thought about the vulnerability, dependence, and marginal status of children in their world. They wouldn’t have thought of an idealized view of children and childhood, but rather that Jesus was telling them to become among those of low status.

See Also: Children in Early Christian Narratives (London: Bloomsbury, 2015).

By Sharon Betsworth
Director of the Wimberly School of Religion
Oklahoma City University
September 2015