Doing theology with children: A childist reading of the childhood metaphor in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels

Jan Grobbelaar

doi:10.4102/hts.v76i4.5637

Abstract

This article is written from the perspective of Child Theology and a childist reading of scripture. Firstly, the article deals with the links between children, childhood and Childhood Studies, as well as with Theology. Secondly, in terms of a childist reading of scripture, it explains the difference between a low and a high view of childhood. The fact that both views of childhood are present in the Bible is highlighted. Thirdly, the article discusses three texts in 1 Corinthians, where Paul used the childhood metaphor in a way that reflects a low view of childhood. Then, it investigates passages from the Synoptic Gospels as examples of Jesus’ implied high view of childhood. Finally, the article concludes with a challenge addressed to all adult theologians. Contribution: This article contributes to the enhancement of emancipatory methodologies for doing theology and research with children by exploring the different ways in which the childhood metaphor is used in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels through a childist reading of the relevant texts. Through this hermeneutical approach, which places the article clearly in the scope of this Theological Journal, it is established that doing theology with children in an emancipatory way adult theologians have to operate with a high view of childhood, as expressed in the way the childhood metaphor is used in the Synoptic Gospels.

Highlights

Doing theology with children: A childist reading of the childhood metaphor in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels
Contribution: This article contributes to the enhancement of emancipatory methodologies for doing theology and research with children by exploring the different ways in which the childhood metaphor is used in 1 Corinthians and the Synoptic Gospels through a childist reading of the relevant texts
Through this hermeneutical approach, which places the article clearly in the scope of this Theological Journal, it is established that doing theology with children in an emancipatory way adult theologians have to operate with a high view of childhood, as expressed in the way the childhood metaphor is used in the Synoptic Gospels

Summary

Corinthians 3:1–4

Paul started his rebuke in 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 with a ‘confrontational accusation’ (Ciampa & Rosner 2010:n.p), clearly pinpointing the Corinthians’ lack of spiritual maturity. Paul accused the Corinthians of failing to grow spiritually and being spiritually infants or babies, like ‘little children crying over silly squabbles’ (Mitchell 1991:213) This infantile behaviour shows that they do not understand what is truly important in the Christian life. He must feed them with milk instead of solid food, as if they had not spiritually grown since the establishment of the church. Paul is not coining fresh categories in order to classify the relative spiritual maturity of his readers; rather, he is turning the tables on the spirit-enthusiasts, placing them at the bottom of their own scale of religious achievement rather than at the top, where they suppose themselves to belong. Using the metaphor in this negative way, Paul wanted to wake them up to live like people who had received and were guided by the Spirit of God

Corinthians 13:11

Corinthians 14:20

Data availability statement