‘The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.’
Proverbs 20:30 KJV
I just note how times have changed in the US. Today Jonathan Edwards would be persecuted for inciting grievous bodily harm against children, yet he is just following the Bible.
Categories: Bible, Christianity
Blogging Theology 
Interesting.
Interpretation of passages is often linked to one’s societal norms. I doubt many, if any, Christians in the UK and USA today would interpret Prov 20:30 as sanctioning beating anybody yet alone a child.
Jonathan Edwards is seen as one of the Puritans, many in the Islamophobic camp are big fans of the puritan movement. Would be a useful exercise to make mention of this next time they are saddling up for an Islamophobic rant.
Matthew Henry, another one of the puritans, has a similar exegesis
1. Many need severe rebukes. Some children are so obstinate that their parents can do no good with them without sharp correction; some criminals must feel the rigour of the law and public justice; gentle methods will not work upon them; they must be beaten black and blue. And the wise God sees that his own children sometimes need very sharp afflictions. 2. Severe rebukes sometimes do a great deal of good, as corrosives contribute to the cure of a wound, eating out the proud flesh. The rod drives out even that foolishness which was bound up in the heart, and cleanses away the evil there. 3. Frequently those that most need severe rebukes can worse bear them. Such is the corruption of nature that men are as loth to be rebuked sharply for their sins as to be beaten till their bones ache. Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way, and yet it is good for him, Heb. 12:11.
However, I do wonder how the Christians of today interpret that verse:
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Maybe a more metaphorical approach.
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Good points.
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Interesting. “…this cleanses away sin”.
Not only the blood of Christ, but also spanking cleanses from sin!
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