Discipline (3809) (paideia from paideuo = instruct in turn from país = child) means to provide instruction, with the intent of forming proper habits of behavior, of providing guidance for responsible living, of rearing and guiding a child toward maturity. Paideia is a broad term, signifying whatever parents and teachers do to train, correct, cultivate, and educate children in order to help them develop and mature as they ought. Paideia has particular reference to child-training, carried out with both firmness and gentleness as needed in each particular case. The Greek word group is reflected in several English terms such as pedagogy, the science of teaching, while a pedagogue (Greek paidagogos, one in charge of boys, custodian, tutor) is a schoolteacher, or literally one who leads children. In a negative sense a pedant is one who overrates his educational importance. Paideia originally referred to instruction of children and evolved to mean chastening because all effectual instruction for the sinful children of men includes and implies chastening. correction. A father should guide and correct his child. As a ship's captain keeps his vessel on course, so a father is charged to keep his son on course. Detzler writes that paideia (and paideuo)... moves from education to correction and finally embraces the concept of punishment. This idea is quite unpopular, because many Christians confuse salvation with sentimentality. God does not tolerate sin among Christians, but rather disciplines them as a good father would (Heb. 12:5-11). In fact, if a Christian is comfortable and undisciplined, there is cause to doubt that he truly is a believer. (Detzler, Wayne E: New Testament Words in Today's Language. Victor. 1986) Webster says that the English word discipline describes training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character Thayer says paideia describes... the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment). In Greek writings from Aeschylus on, it includes also the care and training of the body. Whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing the passions hence, a. instruction which aims at the increase of virtue: b. according to Biblical usage chastisement, chastening (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment) TDNT writes that... Paideia from pais a child. In classical usage, that which is applied to train and educate a child. So Plato: Education (Paideia) is the constraining and directing of youth toward that right reason which the law affirms, and which the experience of the best of our elders has agreed to be truly right (“Laws,” 659). (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans) Vincent adds that... In scriptural usage another meaning has come into it and its kindred verb paideuein, which recognizes the necessity of correction or chastisement to thorough discipline. So Lev 26:18; Ps 6:1; Isa. 53:5; Heb 12:5-8. In Acts 7:22 paideuo occurs in the original classical sense: “Moses was instructed (epaideuthe) in all the wisdom,” etc. The term here covers all the agencies which contribute to moral and spiritual training. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament 3:404). John MacArthur has a helpful note on paideia writing that it refers to... the systematic training of children. It includes the idea of correction for wrongdoing, as seen in the well–known proverb, He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently (Pr. 13:24). In the several uses of the term in Hebrews 12:5-11, the translators of the Authorized Version rendered it “chastening,” which is clearly the emphasis of that context. Paul’s meaning here is expressed even more fully, however, in the proverb “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Pr 22:6). Discipline has to do with the overall training of children, including punishment. Susannah Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, raised seventeen children and had these words to say about raising children: “The parent who studies to subdue [self–will] in his child works together with God in the renewing and saving a soul. The parent who indulges it does the devil’s work, makes religion impracticable, salvation unattainable, and does all that in him lies to damn his child, soul and body forever” (cited in The Journal of John Wesley [Chicago: Moody, n.d.], p. 106). Paideia is used 50 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Deut. 11:2; 7.26" class="scriptRef">Ezra 7:26; Job 20:3; 13" class="scriptRef">37:13; Ps. 2:12; 18:35; 50:17; 119:66; Pr. 1:2, 7f; 3:11; 4:1, 13; 5:12; 6:23; 10" class="scriptRef">8:10; 10:17; 12:1; 13:18; 15:5, 10, 32f; 16:17, 22; 17:8; 19:20, 27; 22:15; 23:12; 24:32; 25:1; Isa. 26:16; 50:4f; 53:5; Jer. 2:30; 5:3; 7:27; 17:23; 30:14; 32:33; 35:13; Ezek. 13:9; Dan. 1:20; Amos 3:7; Hab. 1:12; Zeph. 3:2, 7). Here are a few representative uses... Psalm 50:17 "For you hate discipline (Lxx = paideia), and you cast My words behind you. Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, And do not forsake your mother's teaching; Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, Or loathe His reproof, Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life, Proverbs 10:17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored. Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his father's discipline, But he who regards reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:10 Stern discipline is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die. Proverbs 15:32 He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to him who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 19:27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to discipline, And your ears to words of knowledge. Jeremiah 2:30 "In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion. Jeremiah 17:23 "Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction. Habakkuk 1:12 Art Thou not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. Thou, O LORD, hast appointed them to judge; And Thou, O Rock, hast established them to correct. Zephaniah 3:2 She heeded no voice; She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD; She did not draw near to her God. Paideia is found 6 times in the NAS... 2Timothy 3:16-note All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; Hebrews 12:5-note and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him...7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons....11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.