Redefining child abuse: Why the Bible calls for expanding child abuse definition

Many people think that the Bible does not deal with issues related to child abuse. Most people believe that the ancients had no concept of childhood let alone child abuse. However, the Bible itself opposes corporal punishment and other forms of punitive parenting.

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-references the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. When this want was imposed on the child, and the child perceived it, it became child abuse. See Colossians 3:21 KJV:

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

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 crime prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 was seen in biblical times 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 the Law 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 in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers got out the scourge of cords in order to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were largely persecuted for being "too soft" on their children.

Sweden was the first nation in modern times to ban all forms of punitive parenting. However, in most ancient societies, it was illegal to strike your child. In Ancient Israel and the Early Church, children were not allowed to be punished in any way, for any reason. The rod verses in Proverbs refer to corporal punishment of ADULT children, in the form of 40 minus 1 lashes. It was a harrowing experience that happened only once in a lifetime, and only as a preliminary sentence for a capital offense. The 40 minus 1 lashes, alongside all capital and corporal punishment, was prohibited completely in the Early Church, as Christ experienced a flogging and an execution unjustly.

Israel abolished corporal punishment and other controlling demeanor toward children in 2000. There was never any legal defense for "reasonable chastisement". However, Christian and Muslim communities protected physical abusers in their family courts, with Israel having religious courts for family affairs. Thus, a 2000 court ruling from the Israeli Supreme Court stated that the police had the unilateral right to both apprehend pro-spanking parents and collect their children in the course of a raid.

Israeli law currently prohibits all forms of assault and battery towards a child, without exception. Parent abusers were charged under the appropriate statute, given the nature of the offense. A parent who yelled was charged with harassment. A parent who physically punished a child was charged with battery. A parent who injured a child was charged with assault. 

Child abuse, in the Early Church, was a perceived offense. Anything that the child perceived as offensive or damaging was considered child abuse, if it stemmed from entitlement. Even child sexual abuse was a moral crime, with the child either perceiving the intent in the form of an offense or a procurement. Most child sexual abuse happened in the Early Church when the father said "yes" to his daughter's advances. Even if the daughter started the interaction, fathers had to say "no" and redirect their child towards masturbation. There was no "icing on the cake" in Ancient Jewish culture, especially the Early Church.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!