Why the Bible commands attachment parenting

Many parents think that the Bible commands punishment for children. This is a common misunderstanding of Scripture. The fact of the matter is that attachment parenting was the established norm in biblical times, in both the Old and New Testament.

The central part of biblical attachment parenting is Christian love, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to putting children first, and parents last, in a convicted way leading to dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every need, expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in 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 form of respect for parents is not one that comes from fearful compliance, but instead comes from restful trust in parents, being able to tell parents anything and everything that is on their mind, including admissions of wrongdoing, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Attachment parenting was the established norm in the Bible. Think a Christian mother holding a young child next to her bosom in swaddling clothing, with an older child strapped to her back in a papoose bag. Boil over, then safe. That was the parenting environment then for children. That was how children rested in parents.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in this context. This refers to the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, coming from entitlement. In this commandment, the Apostle Paul was lifting up the Law on punishment and controlling demeanor towards children, writing to Greek Christians in the Colossian church from prison. The Apostle Paul was anti-punishment concerning children, and was rebuking Greek Christians who were misusing King Solomon's writing in Proverbs to support their punitive parenting habits customary in broader Greco-Roman society. King Solomon was anti-spanking, and also anti-punishment regarding children, with the words "child" and "son" referring not to an immature child, but a grown, adult child in the original Hebrew. The verses are repealed verses, and reference a specific, dated form of judicial corporal punishment associated closely with the death penalty in Ancient Israel - the 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction, administered as a last resort before putting an ADULT son to death, with the father subpoenaed to administer the blows to his young adult son, with the punishment always taking place in a courtroom (never in a family home). MINOR children could not be whipped or punished for anything, as punishment and the anger behind it was a courtroom procedure, and minor age was a defense in any court of law, including that of parents.

Parents in biblical times tolerated a lot from their children, including much mischief. Children were expected to commit acts of mischief by knocking things over, destroying property, in a silly type of way, usually when at home. Parents simply laughed as young children created messes and knocked over a few family heirlooms. 

Parents in Ancient Israel had no parent anger, with fathers having only parent attraction. Children went naked everywhere they went, and this lowered the level of attachment down to full equality with children, with parents in biblical times relating to children in an immature and guiding way, with the child being an equal and not a subordinate. Fathers were viscerally attracted to their children in the form of parent attraction, and so children remained guarded by mothers at night into adulthood in the form of co-sleeping. 

Children up until age 6, due to being afraid of predation, never left the side of mothers. Danger did lurk in the home, as the father was usually attracted to his children on a low-level, meaning "sun tan spray". The purpose of co-sleeping was to prevent such predators, and other, non-human predators, from preying on the children. Children usually slept next to mothers even later than age 6, oftentimes until adulthood, when they shook off the closeness to their parents, forming an identity independent of their parents. Today, co-sleeping can prevent sexual abuse as a form of reverse gaslighting to bring out the best or the worst in a mother's husband. No sexual predator ever strikes when the mother is around. Some parent attractions are predatory, and some aren't, and mothers are discerning enough to tell the difference.

Free play was allowed, but with supervision from parents. Compared to today, much of the pretend play from children then was high-risk play, with the most high-stakes of games being "marriage". The marriage contract in biblical times was defined by sexual intercourse. Most children embraced their pretend-play spouse, but when a boy had intent to penetrate, it showed. The two were separated, the sternest consequence imposed by Hebrew and Christian parents. Boys were reassured "you'll get a chance, someday". Girls were told "Be careful. He almost nipped at you." Virginity was prized in girls in biblical times, meaning girls were taught not to break the yoke until they found a husband, and this teaching was in the environment of the culture, in the atmosphere. No punishment necessary to keep children chaste. Biblical parents, in reality, were some of the most non-shaming parents ever to walk the face of the earth.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast into the everlasting 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!