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

Many parents think that the ancients in biblical times had no concept of child abuse. Most American parents today support the present definitions of child abuse under state and federal law. However, the Bible has its own definition of child abuse. Child abuse then was defined as anything that the child victim perceives as abuse.

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 consists of parents 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. Any parent anger directed towards a child was deemed parental entitlement then. When children perceived this sense of entitlement in parents as offensive or damaging, it was seen as 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 here to offenses and damages, 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. It isn't enough to stop spanking and punishing children - you need to avoid the slightest of offense in children. The only way to fully avoid guilt under this commandment is to be willing to give a meaningful apology to a child when you offend them, especially if you lose your cool with your child. Whenever your child is upset due to how you deal with them, including in the case of set limits, they are offended by how you deal with them, and thus you need to apologize. Refusing to apologize to an upset child in and of itself is entitlement. This commandment cross-references the Eighth and the Tenth Commandments, with the Apostle Paul here convicting a group of Greek Christian parents who brought into the church the pagan custom of patrias potestas, which is a Latin phrase translating to "power to the parent", including the power to spank and punish children. Attachment parenting was banned under Roman law, but the Early Christians did it anyway, as a form of civil disobedience to Rome. As long as you are willing to apologize to your child when you offend them, you are safe from guilt under this commandment.

The Greek root word translated "they be discouraged" is αθυμέω (Latin: athumeo) and refers here to long-term damages, namely trauma. The ancients had a basic understanding of trauma. When a child grew up to be atheist, it was seen as a sign of trauma, not simply a sign of a "lost soul". 

Child sexual abuse was prohibited also by the Greek root word πορνεία (Latin: porneia) and refers here to any sexual advances perceived by a child, even if the child liked it. Child sexual abuse was rare in the Early Church, but when it did happen, it was a huge scandal on the part of the parents. Even if the child liked it, God objected on the child's behalf. Any perceived sexual advances counted as provoking children to anger, even if the child liked it, as fornication is a blasphemy offense. Sexual relations with children will always be wrong, and surely was wrong in the Early Church.

Child abuse was prosecuted in the Early Church by a council of 3 elders who headed the parish. The investigation usually started with a child confiding into a church elder or deacon about the abuse they were subjected to. The parents were brought before the council, and if they defended their offenses toward children, they were excommunicated from the Early Christian Churches of God.

The Bible is an anti-spanking document. All 88 books of the Bible - from Genesis to Revelation - were written by Jews. No Jew worth mentioning has ever endorsed the punishment of children. Even King Solomon recommended attachment parenting for the little ones, with the rod of correction referring to in Proverbs to the 40 minus 1 lashes as a sentence for a crime. Christ did away these harsh punishments with His Work on the cross, repealing all 7 verses mentioning the rod.

The Bible is a founding document of this country, even above the Constitution itself. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian norms, with the Bible and its context telling us how to live as a society. It jusr so happens that the Bible prohibits all forms of punitive treatment of children, including spanking and punishing children.

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 prepated 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!