Children in the Hebrew Bible and Childist Interpretation

Abstract

This article traces the rise of research on children in the Hebrew Bible (HB). While early contributions to the field provided foundational insights, this area of scholarship has gained significant ground over the last ten years. This article begins by reviewing seminal points for studying children in the HB. I explain why this study is critical for our understanding of the Bible, and clarify how we discern who is a child in the text and the ancient world. Since the word ‘childist’ is still new to many in the academy, I discuss the origin of this term, define it, and urge its adoption. Most of the article assesses scholarship on children in the HB, with an emphasis on publications that have emerged recently as well as works forthcoming (at the time of publication). The conclusion sketches some of the many areas in this scholarly field that are ripe for further exploration.

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

“…Recently, biblical scholars have begun to place intentional focus on children and childhood in reading the Bible, using the term 'Childist Theology' (Parker 2019;cf. eds.…”

Engaging studies of children in the Bible: What is going on and why you should care

“…Early in its development, biblical studies adopted Wall's positive sense of ‘childist’, seeking to call attention to child characters (Parker, 2013, 16–18; see also 2019b, 135–139). Initially the term was applied to literary studies and defined as “interpretation that focuses on the agency and action of children and youth in the biblical text, instead of seeing them primarily as passive, victimized, or marginalized” (Gallagher Elkins & Parker, 2016, 425).…”

“…This lag may be due to publishers' reluctance to use a term perceived as unclear to a potential market. (There is, however, a recent special issue of an academic peer‐reviewed journal with ‘childist’ in the title, Garroway & Parker, 2020). This discrepancy, however, may serve the biblical field as it joins with a wider childism movement focused on advocacy for children.…”

“…An intentional, analytical, research emphasis on children—a childist approach—is relatively new in biblical studies (for overviews see Aasgaard, 2019; Garroway, 2020c; Parker, 2019b). The field's genesis can arguably be traced to 2008 with the first meeting of the Children in the Biblical World section of the Society of Biblical Literature and the publication of The Child in the Bible (Bunge et al, 2008).…”

Assessing the Role of Parents in Ensuring Child Welfare: Integration of Basic Needs, Education, and Christian Family Values in Indonesia

“…Flynn refers to the analyses of Blenkinsopp and Aries, stating that some concepts are unclear and lack focus on the conception of childhood in these writings. 5 Flynn emphasises that this assumption is rooted in broader studies from the 1960s, asserting that the concept of childhood is largely a modern construction, and periods before the 19th century did not pay sufficient attention to childhood as it is considered crucial today. 6 Flynn's analysis is further reinforced by Parker's view, emphasising that attention to children is a necessity, and children have equal importance as adults as integral members of their society.…”