The right place for the Bible in education becomes clear when you recognize three things: The Bible is a very educational book. It pursues a clear pedagogical goal and is committed to the principle of holistic education.

That all this applies to the Bible is shown sufficiently by its content. In order to illustrate this in as little space as possible, we will pick out a Bible book that is a central Bible book in several respects: the book of Daniel.

The book of Daniel was written especially for the last days; for when Daniel explained his great dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, he said that God had "told unto King Nebuchadnezzar what was to come in the ages to come" (Daniel 2,28:10,14). In explaining the visions, the angel explained that he was making clear things that God's people would see "at the end of days" (Daniel 12,4:12,9). At the close of the book, Daniel was commanded "to [hide] these words, and [to seal up] this book to the last time" (Daniel XNUMX:XNUMX); "Go, Daniel, for it is hidden and sealed to the last time" (Daniel XNUMX:XNUMX).

Accordingly, the book of Daniel is especially intended for the last days and contains principles and prophecies of special significance for them, especially the pedagogical principles. These principles were given to save the people in the last days of the earth from calamities and destruction many times greater than the calamities and destruction of Babylon. Those who ignore these principles bring upon themselves so much more calamity, as global destruction is greater than local destruction, and eternal ruin than earthly ruin.

Physical and mental fitness

When Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon first conquered Jerusalem, “[he] commanded Aspenas, chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring him certain of the sons of Israel, who should be of royal seed, and of the chief young men without blemish, fair in stature, and prudent in all wisdom, discerning and knowledgeable, fit to serve in the king's palace, and to be instructed in the writing and language of the Chaldeans." (Daniel 1,3.4:XNUMX-XNUMX)

"Without blemish" and "beautiful in stature" - these required that they should be physically fit, well built and evenly proportioned.

The words translated "wisdom," "insight," and "knowledge" in verse 4, which are in Hebrew da'at, madda, and chokhma, are closely related, the second expanding the meaning of the first, and the third the meaning of the second. The word rendered "wisdom" means "knowledge, understanding, and intelligence," that is, the ability to determine what knowledge is useful and the ability and capacity to acquire such knowledge.

The word translated "insight" refers to "mind or thought" and means knowledge acquired through thought and practical application.

The word translated "knowledge" means "skill, ability, dexterity, acumen, prudence, judgment"; and is well rendered by "Science." What is meant here is selected and systematized knowledge.

King Nebuchadnezzar's selection criteria for these young men were physical health and good figure. You should be mentally agile, quickly determine what knowledge is useful. It should be easy for them to acquire such knowledge through reflection and practical application. They should also be able to link, classify and systematize the knowledge they have acquired.

sense of the practical

In addition, they should be "proficient" in all these things. What they knew shouldn't just be mere mental knowledge. Rather, the ability to observe and apply should be developed in such a way that they can apply what they have learned in everyday life. They should be so capable and so practical that they could use their knowledge in everyday life to their advantage everywhere. In any circumstance or situation they should be able to adapt so that they would be the master and not the slave of the circumstance or situation.

The detailed list in Scripture, and the rigorous and rigorous test they had to pass, supports everything we have said. These were indeed the criteria by which the king chose the young men. King Nebuchadnezzar had educational ideas of the highest standard. They were far more advanced than the educational system of even the leading colleges and universities in the United States.

Despite this high level, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were able to pass the exam successfully. Where did these young men get the education they needed? It is worth getting to the bottom of this question, especially today when we particularly need the answer; for all this was written especially for the last time.

So where did Daniel and his three companions receive the education that enabled them to stand the test of King Nebuchadnezzar? Where did they receive an education that would make them “wise in all wisdom, understanding, and knowing” and “mighty” (Daniel 1,4:XNUMX) in all these things?

The schools of the prophets

The answer is not long in coming: in a "school for the prophets", those schools in Israel that God himself had called into being. In Jerusalem at that time there was a 'Prophet's School'. From the 18th year of Josiah, the king of Judah, only 15 years before the imprisonment of Daniel, there is a report of such a school in Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah, while repairing and cleansing the temple from the abominations of Manasseh and Amon ordered by Josiah, the high priest Hilkiah found a copy of the Pentateuch, “the book of the law of the Lord which was given through Moses” (18 Chronicles 2:34,14). Hilkiah "gave the book to [the scribe] Shaphan." "And Shaphan brought it to the king" and "read it before the king" (verse 18). “And when the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes” (verse 19) and commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the scribe Shaphan and others: “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left over from Israel and Judah the words of the book that is found.” (verse 21)

“And Hilkiah and the people whom the king had appointed went to the prophetess Hulda … who lived in Jerusalem in the school; and told her this.” (KJV 22; the Hebrew noun mishne/mishna derives from the verb shana “to do, repeat, teach, learn a second time” and can therefore also be rendered “school”.)

So in Jerusalem there was a school where the prophetess "dwelt". This immediately identifies this school as a school of prophets, because what gave these schools their name was the prophet who lived in this school and led this school under God's guidance. This also becomes clear in two other occurrences: In 1 Samuel 19,20:2 it is said of the 'group of prophets': 'Samuel was their overseer' (unrev. Luther). Also in 6,1 Kings 6:1-XNUMX we meet "the disciples of the prophets". Here the prophet Elisha dwelt with them, for they said to him, "The space where we dwell with you is too small for us." (verse XNUMX, King James)

So we find three schools of prophets at three different times: the time of Samuel, the time of Elisha and the time of Josiah. Each time a prophet lives in the school. These three passages show us why these schools were called schools of the prophets. They also show us that the school in Jerusalem where the prophetess Huldah lived was a school of prophets just like the school where the prophet Elisha or the prophet Samuel lived. In such a school of prophets, in the school of the LORD, Daniel and his three companions received the education described in Daniel 1,4:XNUMX according to the God-given system of education - an education which made them "wise in all wisdom, discerning and of knowledgeable" and "proficient"" in all these things. Thus they were able to successfully pass the examination required for entry into the Royal University of Babylon.

From: AT Jones, The Bible in Education, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., pp. 77-82

http://www.hoffnung-weltweit.de/UfF2000/5-2000/DANIELS%20AUSBILDUNG.pdf