What is Paideia?

In the book of Ephesians, Paul uses the Greek word paideia (παιδεία) when he tells Christians to bring their children up in the “nurture” of the Lord. Other translations read “discipline” or “training ” of the Lord. These ideas all come from the word paideia. 

Paideia is an ancient concept involving intellectual, moral, imaginative, and physical training. It means fully enculturating children, shaping what they love, how they think, and how they see the world. 

Applied to Christian families, this means nurturing, training, disciplining, and educating our children in the culture of God. It means teaching them to love what God loves and hate what He hates. It means raising them as disciples of Jesus—in all aspects of life. 

This is a high calling and one we pursue by God’s grace, relying on the Holy Spirit. Paideia Southeast exists to help moms build God-honoring home culture.