And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Truth to Learn
Parents should be an example of God’s love in the way they raise their children.
Behind the Words
The words “provoke … to anger” are translated from the Greek verb parorgidzō, which is made up of para meaning “near” or “beside,” implying movement toward something, and orgidzō, meaning “to provoke” or “to cause anger.” Hence, parorgidzō literally means “to move someone to the point of anger.”
The words “bring them up” are from ektrephō. This is composed of ek, meaning “out of” but used as an intensifier, and trephō, meaning “to stiffen or fatten;” that is, “to nourish.” Ektrephō means “to bring up” or “to nurture.”
“Discipline” is from paideia, which refers to “education and training accomplished through instruction and discipline.”
“Instruction” is translated from the Greek word nouthesia, which is made up of nous, referring to “the mind” or “intellect” and a derivative of ththēmi, meaning “to place” or “to stand.” The basic meaning of nouthesia is “to instruct by calling attention to something or by giving a warning.”
Meaning Explained
Paul’s current subject of instruction is about how we are to behave within a family. At the end of the last chapter he talked about how a husband and wife are to relate to each other. In the past few verses he talked about how we are to think and act with respect to our parents. Now he teaches how fathers (and mothers) are to treat their children.
During the first century, the world was under Roman domination. With each area the Romans defeated, they imposed their laws and their lifestyle. For the most part, however, they allowed the conquered countries to continue their own religious practices as long as they recognized the emperor (Caesar) as a god also. Within Roman society the man was ruler of his household and could do almost anything he wanted with his wife and children. In that society wives and children were viewed as little more than possessions. Because of this, abuse and what we would consider crimes against women and children were commonplace in Roman households.
In teaching about family relations within a Christian household, therefore, Paul addresses the role of the father more than any other member of the family. In today’s verse he tells fathers what to do and what not to do with regard to their children. First, he tells Christian fathers (and by association, Christian mothers) not to drive their children to anger. In Colossians 3:21 we learn that this actually causes children to become discouraged. Then, he tells fathers to educate their children, to train them, and to give them warnings about the consequences of certain actions. Paul tells them to do all this within the framework of God’s guidance and oversight.
Application
How we raise our children has a profound influence on how our children will relate to God later in life. If we demonstrate godly parenting, we can be firm, correcting, and loving all at the same time, demonstrating how God loves and treats us. Do your children see God in the way you are raising them?
In God's service, for His glory,
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