Are Children Punished for Their Parents?

[AP930]

I have a question that puzzles me.

Isn't there a verse (I can't remember which) that says that if a father sins, the father will die and the son will not, and if the sons sins, the son will die and the father will not?

But in Joshua 7:19-26, Achan's children were killed by the sins of their father Achan. And David's first son with Bathsheba died because of David's sin.

And Exodus 20:45-6 says that "God punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate him."

Please tell how this makes sense because I know it does somehow, it's just that I haven't figured it out. I just wanted to add that I am a Christian and this is one of the few things in Scriptures that confuse me.

Thanks a lot in advance.

God Bless!

[Shadow Phoenix]

I have a question that puzzles me.

Isn't there a verse (I can't remember which) that says that if a father sins, the father will die and the son will not, and if the sons sins, the son will die and the father will not?

But in Joshua 7:19-26, Achan's children were killed by the sins of their father Achan. And David's first son with Bathsheba died because of David's sin.

And Exodus 20:45-6 says that "God punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate him."

Please tell how this makes sense because I know it does somehow, it's just that I haven't figured it out. I just wanted to add that I am a Christian and this is one of the few things in Scriptures that confuse me.

Thanks a lot in advance.

God Bless!

I believe there are some distinctions to be made.

First off, in the case of Achan, this was a family action that Achan made as the head of the family but with their knowledge. They were corporately involved in the act.

In Exodus, I believe we are seeing the effects of sin long-term. An alcoholic parent can have effects on their children and children do sometimes suffer for the sins of their parents. In fact, we all suffer for other people's sins.

If someone doesn't obverse the rules of traffic and causes a car accident, you will be delayed for their sin if you have to travel that way.

If someone lies to you and you act on an untruth, you will suffer for what someone else did.

Many stores today have higher prices simply because they expect some stuff will be shoplifted and they compensate in advance.

Many other examples could be easily cited. You've probably thought of some yourself.

There's also the point that there was corporate suffering as individualism is really a modern concept. If you are part of the entity of the family, there will be some suffering. On the positive side, if your family was a righteous family, there would be blessings.

However, when it does come to personal judgment before the throne of God, each person will be dealt with for their own sins. People do die today for the sins of others as you can see on the evening news when you hear about a murder.

What to do? Get your own life right then. Maybe those around you have been jerks and done you wrong. Maybe it's even been your own family. I don't know. I don't know your story. I know you are not responsible always for how other people treat you. (There is a caveat. You can provoke people to certain actions by your own.) However, you are entirely responsible for how you respeond.

Hope this helps!

[AP930]

Thank you very much!
Romans 9:13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=9&verse=13&version=31&context=verse). Another question, what exactly does it mean when God says, "Esau have I hated, Jacob I loved"? This is figurative? Or does it say something else in Greek? For God cannot hate anyone right?

Again, thanks in advance!

[Shadow Phoenix]

Thank you very much!
Romans 9:13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=9&verse=13&version=31&context=verse). Another question, what exactly does it mean when God says, "Esau have I hated, Jacob I loved"? This is figurative? Or does it say something else in Greek? For God cannot hate anyone right?

Again, thanks in advance!

For Greek, I'm gonna recommend you post in Biblical Languages. I am not a Greek scholar and will not say so.

However, I did have a professor who once said that Barclay said that in the Jewish mind, hate often meant to set at a distance. I believe in Romans 9, what is being stated is that only Jacob or Esau could be used to bring about the lineage of Messiah. Esau was set at a distance while Jacob was favored.

[AP930]

Currently I'm talking to a Muslim however he claims there are inconsistencies in the Bible. He seems to be 'over-literal'. But I'm not sure what's the best way of explaining this to him.

He says that the Bible contradicts because Hebrews 1:10-11 and Psalms 102:25-26 say Heaven and earth will perish while Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Psalm 78:69 says that the earth will remain. Could someone clarify this for me? Hebrew translation?

And what exactly does the Bible mean when it says it has pillars in heaven and on earth? Psalm 75:3 and Job 26:11.

Again, much thanks Apologia, but what do you mean by post in Greek?

[Shadow Phoenix]

Currently I'm talking to a Muslim however he claims there are inconsistencies in the Bible. He seems to be 'over-literal'. But I'm not sure what's the best way of explaining this to him.

He says that the Bible contradicts because Hebrews 1:10-11 and Psalms 102:25-26 say Heaven and earth will perish while Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Psalm 78:69 says that the earth will remain. Could someone clarify this for me? Hebrew translation?

And what exactly does the Bible mean when it says it has pillars in heaven and on earth? Psalm 75:3 and Job 26:11.

Again, much thanks Apologia, but what do you mean by post in Greek?

For the question of the languages, I would refer you to the biblical languages forum.

First off, I think the terms are matters of oath. They are often connected with a promise. The surety of the matter being spoken of is as sure as the existence of Heaven and Earth. I think this is what is being used in the Sermon on the Mount for example.

As for the pillars, I think this is figurative language. A good look at this can be found in the writings of Walter Kaiser. I could try to find the name of the book for you sometime, but Kaiser does have a book on "problems" in the OT and this is an example of a kind of passage he deals with.

Hope this helps!