Understanding the rod of correction

 Many pro-spanking parents refer to the rod of correction, and think that it was literally used on young children. It could have been used in a courtroom setting by a father or father figure, but there is no record of any stubborn and rebellious son being arrested by his parents and stoned to death with stones.

It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things, as this is right. Honor thy father and mother; for this is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth. Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure rest and attachment, in the form of surrender to parents, prompted by parental surrender to children in terms of power and control. Parenting, in biblical times, was attachment based. The Greek root word referring to parents is γονεύς (Latin: goneus) refers to a parent being an attendant or servant towards their child's needs, serving them with love, expecting absolutely nothing in return. 

The rod of correction was a symbol of legal authority mostly in the Old Testament, and entirely in the New Testament, much like the scales of justice and the bench and gavel are symbolic of the legal system in our culture. The literal rod did exist, but simply as a rare pigment of Jewish law. It was only brought out in the Old Testament as a last warning before a capital offense, and capital trials were very rare - only once or twice in a century, in a specific settlement. The Christian Churches in the New Testament were pacifists, meaning they had no literal use of a rod of correction.

The true rod of correction in parenting was symbolic, and spoke of letting certain behaviors go as to when to set boundaries. The idea is that, especially with younger children, leave a lot go, as they are not ready for that kind of criticism. Then, when they do something very wrong, correct them by sitting down with them and explaining why that kind of behavior is wrong. The rod of pleasantness is encouragement to children for good, kind behavior, preferably out of normal conversation or interaction with children, and the rod of severity is the rare time a child should be verbally corrected, and with nothing but trust backing it up.

Let the depraved and entitled parents provoke their children to anger! Let them be consumed by fire and torrents! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!