Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me: Christians and the Smacking Controversy
Samuel Martin, Jerusalem 2006
This is not an easy read, but it is one any Christian who desires to be true to the Bible in the first instance should take time to read. Samuel Martin, who grew up in a strict religious home where the chosen method of “correction” was smacking, describes how his research work into the book of Proverbs along with reading books by Dr Philip Greven and Alice Miller led him to see that the whole debate was based upon incorrect information being presented about what the Bible says about smacking children. This debate is being carried out in the public domain by religious proponents who clearly do not understand the texts they bandy about, and those in the children’s rights community were basing their arguments on what they heard being advocating.
He first explores a biblical understanding of child development. He uncovers a range of nine word sets in Hebrew which match different age ranges up to coming of age.(P.29) His comment is that the English catchall word “child” does not sufficiently describe this multiplicity of terms. His first finding is that the words used in Proverbs are referring specifically to teenage and pre-teen boys, not children in a non-specific way.(P.31) This has clear implications for the debate that is going on in our society.
He next explores Jewish attitudes to the book of Proverbs and how they understand the texts, Jews being the original audience for the writing and instruction. He finds that young children were not the objects of the texts or their later interpretations by the Rabbinic authorities. (P.48) He then examines two facets often overlooked. The first is the whole legal framework that Proverbs is embedded. This is important because from a Christian perspective the claim is that grace has taken over from the law. The book is there for our admonition, but must be interpreted in the light of the Gospel message of salvation by grace.(P.63)
The second is the gender emphasis of the book. He explores the background and setting of the book of Proverbs within the Biblical writings. His main conclusion is that Proverbs is a book of instruction by men for young men. Moreover, nothing within the book makes a claim that these are words written as being from the mouth of God, and the Jewish tradition of interpretation makes that very clear.
The New Testament is treated in the same careful and detailed manner and the length of the chapters reflect the dearth of texts that even possibly relate to the topic. Martin explores the interpretation of “hell” in Proverbs and finds that it is referring not to some place of eternal punishment, but is the common word for the “grave.” Once again, context provides us with a different connotation than is commonly argued. Nor is there any justification for arguing that parents should spank children to induce crying and bring forth tears.
In my view this study is a definitive reading of the biblical texts for Christians and non-Christians alike. It treats the Bible seriously and demonstrates the gross misreading by conservative, fundamentalist Christians which has been compounded by those trying to argue against them. It invites the reader to consider instead the possibility of bringing children up under the message of grace rather than law, with the fruits of the Spirit being the outcome: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Rev Alistair McBride
Scots Presbyterian Church
Hamilton
A minister of the Presbyterian Church for 27 years, father of three children and grandfather of two, founding member of Men for Non-Violence in Wellington.
