Anonymous
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Donna Williams
Supporter
Dear Anonymous, the word "provoke" in the Greek language means "to rouse to wrath". Paul is instructing fathers as the head or leaders of the household, not to discipline their children with harshness that would cause them to become discouraged. I believe discipline when done in love will produce better results!
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
The BDAG lexicon, as quoted in The Precept Austin commentary, defines ἐρεθίζω [provoke] as: "to cause someone to react in a way that suggests acceptance of a challenge, arouse, provoke mostly in bad sense irritate, embitter." The goal of the command is to prevent a child from becoming so discouraged that they "feel that he can never do anything right and so gives up trying." Examples of provoking a child include: - Constant criticism with little encouragement. - Punishment driven by parental anger rather than just, measured correction. - Impossible or inconsistent standards. My wife said I was inconsistent in raising [and disciplining] our two daughters. - Humiliation, insults, favoritism, threats, or harshness. - Demanding obedience while modeling hypocrisy or ungodliness. - Neglecting patient instruction and treating the child as an inconvenience. I hope this helps because I had one of my two daughters who knows the Bible well call me on this once when I was being a little overbearing. She quoted Colossians 3:21 stat:ing, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged" (from the New King James Version)..
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