Many parents think that the Bible is a pro-spanking document. Most American parents use the Bible as an excuse for punishing children. However, the fact of the matter is that the Bible forbids parents from using punitive methods in parenting.
The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, parental entitlement is an adult being sorely disappointed when they don't get what they feel they deserve from children. Adults are deserving of absolutely nothing from children just for existing. All adult anger on the part of parents or other adults was counted as parental entitlement in adults. This sense of entitlement in adults, when perceived by a child, was deemed child abuse. See also 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 was understood jn its original context, as a moral statute 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. The 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 into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child 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.
Children in biblical times were not punished for anything. In fact, any anger towards a child was seen as coming from entitlement then. Adult anger was seen as akin to a viper striking out against a child. Child punishment was definitely seen as akin to viper striking out against an unsuspecting child. All forms of punitive parenting was banned in the Early Church,
The word "fathers" simply refers to the fact that fathers were the head of household in biblical times, and most of the time, the fathers were the ones punishing children. However, mothers also sometimes punished their children, in which case they were charged just as the father was.
The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through puntive 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! Respect, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
