Roots of Sunday School

(Proverbs 16:20 KJV)  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

One of the contributions of believing Christians to our culture is a goal of universal literacy.  Not only have Protestant churches been on the cutting edge of higher education but they have been working to educate the masses.  Think about the Ivy League colleges.  Harvard and Princeton were started to educate ministers for the church.  Even USC was started as a church sponsored college.  The original purpose of Sunday School was to educate the children of England who were growing up illiterate because of the institution of child labor.  Sunday was the only day they had off so believers started Sunday Schools.

The emphasis was on each believer being able to read the Bible and understand for himself what God was saying.  Each was to be able to “handle wisely" (give attention NASB)” (7919a) the “word” (1697).  The NASB which gives it better than the KJV here.  It is interesting to note that the expectation of being able to read the scripture goes back to Old Testament times.

So?  Rejoice is your ability to read.  Allow that to be a channel in which the wisdom and direction of God can move through your eyes and mind to your heart.