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Proverbs 22:6 – Promise or Proverb?
Is Proverbs 22:6 a promise or a proverb? Here’s the text: “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NASB).
A promise is a guarantee. A proverb is a general observation. If this is a promise, God is promising when parents do their job right, God guarantees the child will become and stay faithful. Problem #1 – This would be the only promise in the Bible of “once saved always saved.” Problem #2 – This would cancel out the child’s free will. Problem #3 – The name of the book is Proverbs, not Promises!
Proverbs are observations, or generalities. No better examples are found in 26:4,5, where one says to answer a fool and the other not to. Which one is correct?
Proverbs 3:1-2 says listening to your parents leads to long life. Is this an absolute guarantee?
Proverbs are also what ought to be even when it is not: “Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.” (16:12). Have all kings detested wickedness? Have the majority?
Proverbs teaches the righteous will prosper and sinners will not (13:22). But then we get to Job and the righteous is suffering. Job’s friends, however, apparently looked at sayings such as in Proverbs as promises and guarantees. When Job prospered, he was righteous. When Job suffered, he must be a sinner.
Let’s not make their same mistake with Proverbs 22:6. There are no guarantees that good parenting leads to guaranteed faithfulness; anymore than bad parents force children to become evil. Parents often feel guilty because they’ve been told they must have messed up if Junior is unfaithful.
Proverbs 22:6 is teaching a general principle, what should happen, not an absolute truth.
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