Rule from beneath: Why children ruled their parents from beneath in the Bible

Many parents see themselves as above their children, issuing orders, and being an authority figure to children. Many parents get their parenting advice from religious sources, and most of the religious sources in the United States issue false commands for corporal punishment and other forms of punitive measures in parenting. The fact of the matter was that, in the Bible, children ruled from beneath, and had a great deal of influence of adult decisions. 

Christian love is the answer to all issues related to parenting, and is denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to putting children first, and parents last, in a convicted way leading to submission to children and their every vulnerable need, expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in the safety and security of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. This refers not to a form of respect based on fearful compliance, but based on surrender to the loving arms of parents, with children telling parents anything and everything that is on their mind, including confessions of wrongdoing, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Parents in biblical times were seen as bondservants beholden to the child's every vulnerable need, with this being the concept of righteous enslavement. Parents were seen as servants of God, not authority figures, with children in place of God. Children ruled their parents from beneath, making demands, with no childhood demand falling on deaf ears.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in this context. It refers here to the slightest of offense perceived by a child, including the slightest of offensive touch or speech, stemming from entitlement. In this commandment, the Apostle Paul is lifting up the Law on punishment and controlling demeanor towards children. Spanking and corporal punishment in particular, but all of our punitive parenting habits, come from Ancient Greco-Roman society, not the book of Proverbs. The seven verses in Proverbs that depict the rod are repealed verses, meaning the verses are relevant only to the cultural and legal context that they are written to. God writes to His Audience, and sometimes only to His Audience. The rod verses refer to a specific, dated form of judicial corporal punishment closely conflated with the death penalty in Ancient Israel - the 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction, as a final warning before putting a law-breaking ADULT child to death, after a criminal trial in a court of law. Punishment of any kind could only occur within the confines of the Law and legal orders, and such orders were never given to parents to use on minor children, as minor age was a defense in a court of law then, including a parent's court of law.

Children had much influence over the day-to-day decisions of adults. Children made demands from beneath, and no demand from a child was ever unheard. Children were given freedom to make demands, and even police their parents based on what they need. Parents gave in and gave up, giving up the fight and surrendering to the needs of their children. Children were submissive yet empowered in their role in relation to parents and adults.

Parents were bondservants to their children in biblical times, meaning they were selfless providers of needs to children. Parents then were seen by children and others as tools, meaning milking-objects, for children to use for their every vulnerable need. Parents were completely beholden to their child's needs, with children demanding their needs, and no demand going unheard.

Children had much lobbying power over their parents, meaning children made demands or petitions of a redress of grievances to parents, and parents did their best to cater to children. Children could talk back to parents, and issue demands freely, even speaking against parents, striking reverent terror into their parents, with parents fearing their children and revering them. Parents submitted from above to their children, in a convicted way that put the child's needs first, and the parent's needs last. Parents who had enough of their child's aggression and anger cried, as a ball of tears was at the end of every Christian parent's rope. 

Children went completely naked everywhere they went in biblical times, and this brought the level of attachment to full equality. Parents "grew up" with their children, with mothers snuggling with their children in the nude, with women traditionally going naked in the biblical context when at home. Parents had no parent anger apart from the rare, firm "no" to a want or behavior. Otherwise, parents cried when overwhelmed, due to the dynamics involving the children's nudity.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!