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

Many parents believe that the ancients in the Bible did not have a concept of childhood, let alone child abuse. Most American parents support the current child abuse definitions. However, the Bible has its own child abuse definition - whatever 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 a parent feeling sorely disappointed when their child does not give them what they feel that they deserve from children. Parents are deserving of absolutely nothing from children just for existing. Any parent anger directed towards children was deemed entitlement in the Early Church. When this sense of entitlement in parents was perceived by a child 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 here to offenses or 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, with this entitlement including any parent anger directed towards a child. Child abuse in the Bible, as a legal concept, consists of entitlement in parents, leading to offense in children. The idea behind not abusing your child is to avoid offense in children, meaning that parents should be willing to give a meaningful apology whenever they hurt their children's feelings. Usually, all that is necessary is a reassurance of good intent from parents. However, if you ever lose your cool as a parent, you definitely need to give your children a formal apology, then commit never to lose your cool with your child again, as losing your cool with your child, in and of itself, is entitlement, and was seen as entitlement in the Early Church. However, even bumping into a child in public is child abuse if you are unwilling to apologize to the child for invading their personal space. 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 their pagan custom of patrias potestas, which is a Latin phrase roughly translated as "power to the parent", namely the power to impose punitive sanctions on children, such as spanking or other forms of punishment. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punitive parenting in his secular writings. Attachment parenting was banned under Roman law, but the Early Christians did it anyway, obeying God over men.

The Greek root word translated "they be discouraged" is αθυμέω (Latin: athumeo) and refers to long-term damages, namely trauma. The ancients had a basic understanding of childhood trauma. Whenever a child grew up to be atheist, it was seen as a sign of child abuse.

The ancients even had a concept of child sexual abuse. The Greek root word denoting fornication is πορνεία (Latin: porneia) and refers to, in relation to children, any sexual interaction between an adult and a child. Any time a child in the Early Church perceived sexual advances from an adult, it was seen as child sexual abuse, even if the child liked it. Intergenerational marriage was banned in the Early Church, as marriages had to be equitable in nature, meaning the marriage had to be same age or else with a bride at least 4 years older than the groom. Pedophilia in and of itself was not unlawful, but sexual relations with a child was considered child sexual abuse. The only sexual outlets acceptable for a man in the Early Church were with his wife, and/or righteous masturbation without pornography.

Child abuse was prosecuted by church authorities in the Early Church. In most cases, the investigation started when an abused child confided into a church elder or deacon. From there, the parents were called before the council. If the parents were defensive at all, the council handed down the guilty verdict, and from there, the child was relocated, usually to a member of extended family. If nobody stepped up to the plate, a child savior took in the child, with the "child savior" being a non-contact pedophile who was charged with the foster care of children.

The Bible is an anti-spanking document. All 88 books of the Bible - from Genesis to Revelation - were written by Jews, with no Jew worth mentioning ever endorsing the punishment of a child. Even King Solomon recommended attachment parenting for the little ones, with the rod of correction referring to the 40 minus 1 lashes. 

America is a Christian nation, founded on Judeo-Christian family values. The Bible is a founding document of this country, even above the Constitution itself. We as a society glean from the Bible and its context as to how to live and treat each other with respect. Even our legal codes are based off of Judeo-Christian values. It just so happens that the Bible was grossly mistranslated at the Latinate level. However, the Bible is clear on one thing - do not offend your child. The translation of the Bible is fallible, with the original Greek and Hebrew, as understood in context, being the Infallible Word of God. 

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 torrents, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!