“Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged — 'Provoke' (erethizō, irritate) creates discouragement (athumeo, loss of spirit). This tempers paternal authority: harsh discipline destroys the child's spirit. Discipline must be measured, not crushing. Children are not property but persons whose discouragement grieves the Lord.
Church Fathers on Colossians 3:21
Why does he not give these commands everywhere, and in all the Epistles, but only here, and in that to the Ephesians, and that to Timothy, and that to Titus? Because probably there were dissensions in these cities; or probably they were correct in other respects, so that it was expedient they should hear about these things. Rather, however, what he says to these, he says to all. Now in these things also this Epistle bears great resemblance to that to the Ephesians, either…
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