Control from beneath: Why biblical children had much leverage with their parents

Many parents think that Ancient Jewish society was a pro-parent society, with parents having complete and total control over children. It is true that parents were the head of evety child, but children had much leverage with their parents from beneath. Control from beneath is a dynamic in certain ancient cultures where children controlled their parents from above. Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Church, was one of those ancient cultures.

"Control from beneath" refers to the righteous contention from beneath resulting from the mutual submission between parent and child. Parents are to be submissive to children, just as they are to God. In turn, children are to rest safely and securely in the love and submission of parents, resting securely in the loving arms 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. Children are to rest secutely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children as they would God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to their children from beneath, yet from above, revering children as they would God.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment in biblical times was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this legal context in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Parents are to be submissive to their children, just as mankind is to be submissive to God. Children in biblical times were prized when they were bold and rebellious. Boldness was seen as an assertion of independence, with bold feats of independence encouraged in children by fathers. Rebellion was seen in biblical times, by parents and caregivers, as cute and endearing, and meant nothing to parents. Parents did not get offended at all by children rebelling, and just saw it as them asserting their autonomy. Children in biblical times were seen as autonomous individuals, not extensions of their parents. Children demanded things from their parents, issuing orders and edicts to their parents. Parents gave up any fight they had with their children pertaining to the demands, and gave in to the demands of their children. This righteous contention brought parents into full and dutiful submission to their children, from beneath, yet from above.

Children in Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Church, were demanding children. Children had much lobbying power with parents and other caregivers. Children had the lawful right under Divine Codified Jurisprudence to issue righteous demands onto their parents, with parents having no right to issue righteous demands onto their children. The only purpose of parents in biblical times was to give children everything they need, and most of what they want. Children petitioned their parents from above, yet beneath, using lawful and binding orders. Parents provided from beneath, yet from above. 

Children were seen then as extensions of God, ruling over their parents, with parents seeking to win the deity of their children onto their side. Parents did not want their children mad at them, and so they did everything in their power to avoid incurring the wrath of their children. Children in biblical times were seen as wrathful, righteously demanding their needs from their parents, and with parents bending over backwards to meet the every need and want of their child, feeling guilty when they fell short of the ideal that was the Hebrew parent.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever 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!