?The skills themselves are alluded to in St. Augustine’s Confessions: Latin: …legere et scribere et numerare discitur ‘learning to read, and write, and do arithmetic’.[3]
The phrase is sometimes attributed to a speech given by Sir William Curtis circa 1807: this is disputed.[4][5][6] An extended modern version of the three Rs consists of the “functional skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT”.[7]
The educationalist Louis P. Bénézet preferred “to read”, “to reason”, “to recite”, adding, “by reciting I did not mean giving back, verbatim, the words of the teacher or of the textbook. I meant speaking the English language.”[8]
READING
Josh. 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:? Romans 15:4 – For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.? Psalms 119:11 – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.?2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.? Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.? Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.? Psalms 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.? Luke 24:45 – Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,?Matthew 4:4 – But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.?
WRITING
Deuteronomy 6:7-9
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Habakkuk 2:2 – And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.? 2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:? Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.?
ARITHMETIC
2 Peter 1:4-6 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 Essentials for the Christian Life
Seek God, not sin. Amos 5:4. …
Fear God, not men. Proverbs 19:23. …
Love God, not the world. 1 John 2:15-17. …
Believe God, not the deceiver. John 8:44. …
Obey God, not your appetites. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. …
Serve God, not self. Isaiah 6:8. …
Worship God, not comfort. Habakkuk 3:17-18.