From Nave’s Topical Bible
Babes
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 11Passages listed
- 8Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- In the mouths of, is praise perfectedMatthew 21:16
- A symbol of the guilelessPsalms 8:2Matthew 11:25Luke 10:21
- A symbol of the children of the kingdom of heavenMatthew 18:2–6Mark 10:15Luke 18:17
- FIGURATIVE
- Of weak ChristiansRomans 2:201 Corinthians 3:1Hebrews 5:131 Peter 2:2
- See Children
- See Parents
The passages, in Bible order (11)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 11 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Psalms 8:2
From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
Commentary on Psalms 8:22 voices
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings,.... Not literally such, though the Jewish writers (e) generally so understand it; as do some Christian interpreters, who explain it of the wonderful formation, nourishment, and growth of infants; and of the marvellous care of God in providing the breast for them; in filling it with milk, and teaching them to suck; which, being observed by men, occasion praise to God, to the confusion of atheists and infidels. But this is no other than what is common to brute creatures: rather the words are to be understood in a figurative sense.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings - We have seen how our Lord applied this passage to the Jewish children, who, seeing his miracles, cried out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Mat 21:
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
- Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Commentary on Matthew 11:251 voice
Let those hear who falsely argue, that the Saviour was not born but created, how He calls His Father Lord of heaven and earth. For if He be a creature, and the creature can call its Maker Father, it was surely foolish here to address Him as Lord of heaven and earth, and not of Him (Christ) likewise.
Jerome· Catena Aurea by AquinasPatristic
- Matthew 18:2–6
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
Commentary on Matthew 18:2–62 voices
(Verse 2.) And calling a little child, he set him in the midst of them, and said. Either simply any little child, to inquire about his age, and to demonstrate the likeness of innocence. Or certainly he placed a little child in their midst, who had come not to be served, but to serve, in order to give them an example of humility. Others interpret the little child as the Holy Spirit, whom he placed in the hearts of the disciples, in order to transform pride into humility.
Jerome· Commentary on MatthewPatristic
And Jesus called a little child unto him,.... One, very likely, that was in the house, and might belong to the master of it, and which was big enough to come to him at his call. Some have thought that this was Ignatius the martyr, but without any foundation. His own words, in his epistle to the church at Smyrna (y), can give no countenance to it; where he says, "for I also know, that after his resurrection he was in the flesh, and I believe that he is."
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)Reformed
- Matthew 21:16
“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
Commentary on Matthew 21:161 voice
But the answer of Christ was cautions. He spake not what the Scribes would fain have heard, The children do well that they bear witness to me; nor on the other hand, They do what is wrong, they are but children, you ought to be indulgent to their tender years. But He brings a quotation from the eighth Psalm, that though the Lord were silent, the testimony of Scripture might defend the words of the children (Ps. 8:2) as it follows, But Jesus said unto them, Yea, have ye never read, &c.
Jerome· Catena Aurea by AquinasPatristic
- Mark 10:15
Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Commentary on Mark 10:151 voice
By the Kingdom of God He here means the preaching of the Gospel and the promise of future blessings. Therefore, whoever receives the Divine preaching as a child, that is, without any hesitation and admitting no unbelief in himself, shall enter into the Kingdom of …
Theophylact of Ohrid· Commentary on MarkPatristic
- Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Commentary on Luke 10:212 voices
Rejoiced in spirit - Was truly and heartily joyous: felt an inward triumph. But τῳ πνευματι, τῳ ἁγιῳ, the Holy Spirit, is the reading here of BCDKL, six others; the three Syriac, later Persic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, all the Itala except one, and Augustin and Bede. These might be considered sufficient authority to admit the word into the text. I thank thee - Bishop Pearce justly observes, the thanks are meant to be given to God for revealing them to babes, not for hiding them from the others. See on Mat 11:25 (note).
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
Again, our Lord Jesus Christ confesses this same Being as His Father, where He says: "I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth." What Father will those men have us to understand [by these words], those who are most perverse sophists of Pandora? Whether shall it be Bythus, whom they have fabled of themselves; or their Mother; or the Only-begotten?
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book IVPatristic
- Luke 18:17
Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Commentary on Luke 18:171 voice
Lastly, our Saviour expressed this when He said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, &c. What child were Christ's Apostles to imitate but Him of whom Esaias speaks, Unto us a Child is given? (Isai. 9:6.) Who when He was reviled, reviled not again. (1 Pet. 2.) So that there is in childhood a certain venerable antiquity, and in old age a childlike innocence.
Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by AquinasPatristic
- Romans 2:20
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
Commentary on Romans 2:202 voices
An instructor of the foolish,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה, "an instructor": it follows, a teacher of babes; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews מלמדי תינוקות, "teachers of babes". Thus they paraphrase the text in Dan 12:3, "they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)Reformed
These things are true, because this is the task of the law: to teach the ignorant, to subject the wicked to God, to provoke those who by the worship of idols are ungodly to trust in a better hope by the promise which is given …
Ambrosiaster· COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLESPatristic
- 1 Corinthians 3:1
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:11 voice
Those persons, then, who possess the earnest of the Spirit, and who are not enslaved by the lusts of the flesh, but are subject to the Spirit, and who in all things walk according to the light of reason, does the apostle properly term "spiritual," because the Spirit of God dwells in them. Now, spiritual men shall not be incorporeal spirits; but our substance, that is, the union of flesh and spirit, receiving the Spirit of God, makes up the spiritual man.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 8)Patristic
- Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
Commentary on Hebrews 5:132 voices
For we do everything in our power to see that our gathering consists of intelligent people, and we dare to bring forward in common discourse at the time of our gathering our most noble and divine beliefs when we have an intelligent audience. But we conceal and pass over the more profound truths whenever we see that the meeting consists of simple-minded folk who are in need of that teaching which is figuratively called milk.
Origen of Alexandria· AGAINST CELSUS 3.52Patristic
Philosophers, then, are children, unless they have been made men by Christ. "For if the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free," at least he is the seed of Abraham, though not of promise, receiving what belongs to him by free gift. "But strong meat belongeth to those that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Clement of Alexandria· The Stromata Book 1Patristic
- 1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
Commentary on 1 Peter 2:22 voices
As new-born babes - In the preceding chapter, 1Pe 1:23, the apostle states that they had been born again; and as the new-born infant desires that aliment which nature has provided for it, so they, being born again - born from above, should as earnestly require that heavenly nourishment which is suited to their new nature; and this the apostle calls the sincere milk of the word, το λογικον αδολον γαλα, or, as some translate, the rational unadulterated milk; i.e. the pure doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered in the epistles and gospels, and as preached by the apostles and their successors.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the BibleEvangelical
The Word Himself, then, the beloved One, and our nourisher, hath shed His own blood for us, to save humanity; and by Him, we, believing on God, flee to the Word, "the care-soothing breast" of the Father. And He alone, as is befitting, supplies us children with the milk of love, and those only are truly blessed who suck this breast.
Clement of Alexandria· The Instructor Book 1Patristic