Corporal punishment in the Bible: Why it is banned

Many people misunderstand the rod verses, in both the Old and New Testament. Pro-spanking parenting is one of the most wicked and evil ideologies known to mankind, up there with communism and Nazism. It is the oppressive jackboot that keeps children down. The rod verses don't mean what you want them to mean, pro-spanking parent.

It says in Proverbs 13:24 KJV:

He that spareth the rod hateth his son, but he who loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The Hebrew word translated "rod" is שםח (Latin: shebet) and refers to the rod of correction, which has symbolic significance in ancient Jewish culture. Proverbs is what we call Wisdom Literature, meaning many of these proverbs are figurative in understanding. The book of Proverbs was written to fathers of young men, with the young men reading underneath. This punishment applied to an adult male over age 13 who left the house, and was on his own. The most common reason for whipping an errant son wasn't defiance, but abusing the grandchildren of his father, usually sexually or by way of false encouragement. 

Ultimately, the rod of correction refers to self-correction, so you don't have to be corrected by the legal authorities. It says in Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV:

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked: For whomever the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, not sons.

The Greek root word translated "scourgeth" is μαστιγόω (Latin: mastigoó) and refers to the rod of correction through a more modern example, the cat 'o nine tails under Roman law. However, the legal context here is distinctly Jewish, to the core, so this passage is referring to a figurative whip applied to the back, which was the literal punishment under both the Old Testament and Roman legal systems. Christian law held no room for any sort of violent punishment, following Christ's example. The Greek root word translated "chastisement" and "chastening" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to the chastening of the Lord, meaning conviction leading to discipline, meaning self-discipline as a parent, being chastened up by the hardships thrown at you by your child. It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

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

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is the same as "chastisement" is Heb. 12:5-11, meaning παιδεία and refers here to an exemplary type of discipline, meaning that of Christ, meaning sacrificing for children in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for His children, taking up the cross for children in the spirit that Christ did for His children, martyring oneself as a parent accordingly. It is a discipline that shelters children, allowing them to vent to you at any intensity possible, with parents bracing for that intense emotion, not reacting with anger but instead responding with compassionate empathy to tears and even hostility, with belligerent children being treated with warmth and love instead of punishment. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the admonition of the Lord, meaning the rare "no" and explanation given, with a completely declining response rarely necessary, with there being ways to compromise with a child, especially as they get older. "No" should be a rare event in a Christian home, and children should know the reason why a request is directly being declined, and if they don't understand, don't insist but keep children safe - most of the time, parents then find themselves saying "no" to safety concerns. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorogizo) and refers to the moral count of provocation of your neighbor to anger, as applied to children. Here, the Apostle Paul was giving a command from God against physical and mental punishment of children. Basically, the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child is abuse, meaning a moral crime, meaning sin. The Apostle Paul instead handed out pamphlets advising parents to use attachment parenting to earn cooperation of children, namely skin-to-skin contact with mothers. Greco-Roman parenting was very punitive, and reliant on punishment, namely whipping with the cat 'o nine tails at every level of life, as a pagan tradition - but not in Paul's church, he made clear by way of God's decree. 

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents, coming from sacrifice for one's child in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for His children...and then children rest securely in the sacrifice of parents. The Greek root word υπακουο uplifts an attachment parenting context that was the staple of ancient Jewish parenting. Child nudity was legal everywhere in the biblical context, and that was so mothers could easily soothe their children with skin-to-skin contact. 

Parenting in the biblical context was seen not as being an authority figure, but being a servant to their child, just as to God, with children being legal extensions of God for their own needs (Matt. 25:31-46). Parents were to give to their children without receiving. Parents were simply the head of their children, and were by way of closeness and rest in the providence and love of parents. Parents were not to give orders or be the police for their children, but to provide for their children. This order of the family is timeless. 

Corporal punishment was once a judicial punishment, for adult sons at that. Now, there is no Christian allowance for corporal punishment of any kind, as Christ died on the cross so that we don't have to follow the Law perfectly, but in spirit. Love God. Love your neighbor. Everything else stems from those two commandments. Christ came to fulfill the Law, meaning both take it further and then promote it in spirit.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger by falsely and blasphemously misquoting Scripture to justify an idolatrous parenting practice. Let them burn in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!