While children must obey both parents, the father (pateron) has the primary responsibility for his children as head of the household. For this reason Paul addressed the fathers here. What is in view here is the habitual provoking of children by insensitive parents, especially fathers. Some provocation is necessary in disciplining, but ceaseless irritation causes children to become discouraged, sullen, angry, and even hateful. [source][source][source]
"Paul may have had in mind the regimen of "don"ts" that loomed so large in the Colossian heresy." [1][source]
Context Summary
Colossians 3:18-25 - Home And Business Relations
From these high flights into the eternal and divine, Paul turns to the daily duties of the home, and demands that in the simplest domestic concerns the disciple should ever keep in mind the high claims of Christ. No act of life can be left outside the sacred enclosure of His everlasting love. As the moon affects the tides around the world, even in the smallest indentations of the coast, so must the power of Christ's resurrection make itself felt in the behavior of the servant and the child.
It is especially beautiful to notice the Apostle's constant reference to the bond-slaves who formed so important an element in the early Church. There they learned that in Christ all souls were free, and that in Him also master and slave were brethren. Stealing out at night from the arduous labors of his lot, many a poor slave would return with new conceptions of his daily tasks, to be applied to the service rendered to his Lord. No angel in heaven's high temple has more definite service to the King than any honest and industrious servant may daily render to Jesus. Here is the dignity of labor indeed! And, masters, remember your Master. [source]
Chapter Summary: Colossians 3
1He shows where we should seek Christ 5He exhorts to holiness; 10to put off the old self, and put on Christ; 12exhorting to charity, humility, 18and other duties
Greek Commentary for Colossians 3:21
Provoke not [μη ερετιζετε] Present imperative of old verb from ερετω erethō to excite. Only twice in N.T., here in bad sense, in good sense in 2 Corinthians 9:2 (to stimulate). Here it means to nag and as a habit (present tense). [source]
That they be not discouraged [ινα μη ατυμωσιν] Negative purpose One does not have to read Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist to know something of the sorrows of childhood as is witnessed by runaway children and even child suicides. [source]
Provoke to anger [ἐρεθίζετε] Only here and 2 Corinthians 9:2, where it is used of stirring up to good works. To anger is added by A.V. [source]
Be discouraged [ἀθυμῶσιν] Only here in the New Testament. Lose heart, or become dispirited. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 3:21
2 Corinthians 9:2Hath been prepared [παρεσκευασται] Perfect passive indicative of παρασκευαζω paraskeuazō to make ready, “stands prepared.” Stirred up (ηρετισε ērethise). First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω erethizō (from ερετω erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. Very many of them The more, the majority. [source]
2 Corinthians 9:2Stirred up [ηρετισε] First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω erethizō (from ερετω erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. [source]
Ephesians 6:4Provoke not to anger [μη παροργιζετε] Rare compound, both N.T. examples (here and Romans 10:19) are quotations from the lxx. The active, as here, has a causative sense. Parallel in sense with μη ερετιζετε mē erethizete in Colossians 3:21. Paul here touches the common sin of fathers. [source]
What do the individual words in Colossians 3:21 mean?
-Fathersnotdo provokethechildrenof youthatthey might become discouraged
Greek Commentary for Colossians 3:21
Present imperative of old verb from ερετω erethō to excite. Only twice in N.T., here in bad sense, in good sense in 2 Corinthians 9:2 (to stimulate). Here it means to nag and as a habit (present tense). [source]
Negative purpose One does not have to read Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist to know something of the sorrows of childhood as is witnessed by runaway children and even child suicides. [source]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 9:2, where it is used of stirring up to good works. To anger is added by A.V. [source]
Only here in the New Testament. Lose heart, or become dispirited. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 3:21
Perfect passive indicative of παρασκευαζω paraskeuazō to make ready, “stands prepared.” Stirred up (ηρετισε ērethise). First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω erethizō (from ερετω erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. Very many of them The more, the majority. [source]
First aorist active indicative of ερετιζω erethizō (from ερετω erethō to excite), to excite in a good sense here, in a bad sense in Colossians 3:21, the only N.T. examples. [source]
Rare compound, both N.T. examples (here and Romans 10:19) are quotations from the lxx. The active, as here, has a causative sense. Parallel in sense with μη ερετιζετε mē erethizete in Colossians 3:21. Paul here touches the common sin of fathers. [source]