Nurturing Children in the Lord by Dr. Jack Fenemma
The book, Nurturing Children in the Lord by Dr. Jack Fenemma, was published by the Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company back in 1977. Dr. Fenemma does not say that the Bible forbids spanking, but he does say the original text makes the use of spanking uncertain. Regarding the rod verses, he wrote,
“There is no doubt that these references support the directive stated many times in Scripture that parents are to correct their children from wrongdoing. The use of the word “rod” certainly indicates that nurture and discipline are to take place. But whether the use of the word rod also indicates that the form of correction is to be a spanking is less certain. There are a few cautionary notes that one should make before establishing that as a rigid conclusion.” Jack Fennema
“First, the Book of Proverbs is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, a form that often uses vivid imagery. In other Old Testament books there are uses of “shebet”, the Hebrew word for “rod”, which obviously calls for a symbolic interpretation of the rod:
“Oh, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! (Isa. 10:5)”
“…and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth… (Isa 11:4)”
“I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath. (Lam. 3:1)”
“Usually one would look to the context for a clearer understanding of a word, but the Book of Proverbs provides no such context for the use of the word “rod”. For the most part, the individual proverbs stand alone, unrelated to those which precede and follow. One must be cautious, then, about translating these references to the word rod as commands to physically correct a child. They are, indeed, commands to chasten or redirect him, but to be more specific than that is to read into the texts that which is not necessarily there.” Jack Fennema
“Secondly, all references to using the rod on children are found in the Old Testament. The Greek word for rod, “rhabdos”, is used eleven times in the New Testament and never to command the physical correction of the spanking of children. Indeed, “rhabdos” is used very meaningfully in 1 Corinthians 4:21, where it obviously symbolizes chastening as a general directive to follow rather than as a specific endorsement of spanking.” Jack Fennema
“While Proverbs does instruct, then, that correction must be exercised, it gives no clear command as to how it should be done. On the whole, the Bible teaches that genuine chastening or correction is that which attempts to return the person to the proper way of life.” Jack Fennema
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