Punitive parenting: Why parents are to avoid punitive measures with children

Many parents think that the Bible allows for, or even commands, punitive measures in dealing with children. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents have not fully read their Bible, or else they would be singing a different tune. The Bible, when understood in context, prohibits all forms of punitive 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 a parent being sorely disappointed when they don't get what they feel that they deserve from children. Parents are deserving of absolutely nothing from children just for existing. All parent anger directed towards children in biblical times was deemed parental entitlement. When this sense of entitlement was perceived by children as offensive or damaging, it 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 in 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 offenses or damages 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..

The Greek root word translated "they be discouraged" in the Bible is αθυμέω (Latin: athumeo) and refers to long-term damages, with these damages usually amounting to trauma. Atheism was seen in biblical times as a sign of trauma, not a way of being "vindictive" towards believers. 

Punitive parenting was defined in biblical times as any parenting motivated by anger. Most Christian parents in the Early Church instead were motivated by worry or concern. Parent anger towards children was seen in biblical times as akin to a viper striking out at a child. Under customary law, parents were only allowed anger when protecting a child.

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!