Gentle words wield great power ( Prov 15:1 ; 25:15 ). In sharing the good news of the gospel we are to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). And they bring the gospel of peace with gentleness and love, not harshness. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. The Spirit-Filled Life: Discovering the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit by Charles Stanley. considerateness.5 The Interpreter's Bible says it is the opposite of hubris, the Greek word for haughty, boastful inso-lence.6 To try to understand gentleness further, let us go through the passages in the Bible where the Greek word prautes is used. Its not a weakness, but a strength. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). Finding healing in those wounds can often help us to respond with gentleness instead of harshness. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young" ( Isa 40:11 ). Meditate on Scripture verses about forgiveness and grace. When we think about gentleness, we often think about it as a weakness. We may not realize it, but we are graced a tremendous amount of power. He could have called down twelve legions of angels to rescue Him, but He didnt. Here Christ makes a connection between gentleness and humility. If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. The world is full of harshness and rudeness. The word gentleness in this context comes from the Greek word (prautes), which conveys the concepts of mildness, meekness or softness. Gentle Christian Parenting is a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other sites at no extra cost to you. Gentleness Defined Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Meekness however may be distinguished from gentleness in that meekness is the way one regards oneself, and is therefore described in the Scriptures as 'lowliness of mind.' (e.g. 2. Our research shows that gentleness is the most overlooked fruit of the Spirit, and not by a little. 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There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. Note here that the opposite of gentleness is a desire for revenge, anger, and self -aggrandizement. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . All rights reserved. In this verse, Paul makes it clear that gentleness is not something from the Law or from human effort or will power; rather, it comes from Gods grace through faith in Jesus Christ. So when the Messiah came at last, many assumed he was going to be a cultural and political Savior,. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. Is It True That Gentleness Gets Nothing Done. A passage from the Bible is even more powerful if we read what comes before it: at the end of chapter ten, the prophet Isaiah says that God is going to cut down all the trees, and that's why there's "a stump" when this passage begins. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus. It can be described with one word from the Book of Books. Rather than asserting superiority, someone who is gentle wants to help others, even when they have been done wrong. Bibliography. He does not keep record of our wrongs, but offers forgiveness if we come to Him. These individuals were known for their kindness, care, and compassion for others. By modeling Gods character in our own lives, we give our children the best possible foundation for a happy and successful future. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. It can also mean mildness and softness. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Check Out Amazon Educational Resources on The Spirit of Gentleness. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. May we never forget the pit of sin the Lord dragged us from and become like the unmerciful servant. The Greek word describes someone who has power but chooses not to use it harshly or selfishly. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. . When we are gentle with our children, we model for them the way God treats uswith patience, understanding, and love. You canread my full affiliate disclosure here. Gentleness is getting something done. It is important to Christians because it is important to God. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It is a trait that is godly, and as His children God expects us to become gentle, as He is. I am a huge fan of the show The Curse of Oak Island. Its about a couple of brothers and their friends searching for a treasure on an island in Nova Scotia. Father / Grandfather / Minister / Missionary / Deacon / Elder / Author / A soft Answer shows us Gods Gentleness and points us toward the tree of life. All rights reserved. We never know when our gentleness will lead someone to Christ. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5. The world without Christ considers gentle people to be weak people, losers, doormats. To me, its important to raise my children with gentleness and tenderness. The Bible says that gentleness is "not soon angry." (1 Cor. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Proud member Instead, let us show compassion on those around us by being gentle towards themespecially those who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. Gentleness is an important virtue because it makes the world a better place. Paul then continues to model gentleness in the way he preaches (1 Thes 2:7 and 1 Cor 4:21). We may picture someone who is easily intimidated or who shrinks back from conflict. The disciple James also wrote that Christians should be gentle toward all men (James 1:27). Baseness or wildness. Consider how you talk to yourself. Posted on Monday, May 17, 2021 by K-LOVE Pastors. Great damage has been done by Christians who have wielded God-given authority for their own ends instead of for the kingdom. And it is to those who are gentle and meek who will inherit the earththe gentle are the ones who receive Gods rescue. That means that if you want to be like Jesus, then gentleness should be one of your top priorities. 5:16, 22-23) . Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness is opposed to all forms of prideful anger: "quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility" ( 2 Corinthians 12:20 ). . If God were brutish, not a one of us could stand. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. We will not be easily offended and will control our tempers. They are not easily angered, and they are quick to forgive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When we see it this way, we can begin to work toward becoming gentler. So now that we understand the call to gentleness and its many benefits, how do we put it into practice?Here are 10 ways you can show gentleness: Here are some bible verses on gentleness to encourage and build you up. Proud member In the Old Testament the Septuagint uses it once in Psalm 45:4. So lets all make a conscious effort to show a little more gentleness to our spouses today it just might make their day and ours! The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is gentleness? Speak the truth but watch your tone so that the truth will be well received, however painful it may be. Do you ever find yourself thinking this way? What is the definition of gentleness? We may thinkthat those who are harsh will get things done, but we have to look at the fruit. 2 Corinthians 10:1 uses the meekness and gentleness (kindness) of Christ as an example for his own pattern. . Philippians 2:3). Gentleness is a value and quality in one's character. His consolations are spoken gently ( Job 15:11 ). We should also work at controlling our tempers with grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness, love and respect for others. Gentleness [N] Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth (2Timothy 2:15). How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. We study the arrival of guilt, an argument about guilt, and the answer to guilt. opposite of gentleness in the bible. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. Galatians 5:23 says, against such there is no law.. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and its not just a nice thing to be. It is shown in the Old Testament and the New Testament. He is slow to anger and forgiving of sinners. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). 13:5) That means we need to recognize when our anger has run out of control and learn how to stop it before it gets out of hand. hardness docility, intentional mildness roughness docility, intentional mildness abruptness steepness harshness imperviousness docility, intentional mildness precipitousness brutality unkindness Filters Most terms are nouns Suggest There is peace in our homes when nobody is arguing or fighting. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselveswith compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). It is not weakness, nor does it mean that we should never stand up for ourselves. Proverbs indicates that gentle words turn away wrath and are a tree of life (Proverbs 15:1,4). These verses can be applied to any relationship or interaction with have with others. Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. We could all use some extra tips for living out gentleness these days. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). God himself spoke to Elijah as a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13). A gentle heart comes from having love for others. A witness to Christian truth is the more effective for being made "with gentleness and respect, " especially toward a hostile or an unbelieving listener ( 2 Tim 2:25 ; 1 Peter 3:15 ). Instead, gentleness is a strength that comes from God. As our Lord and Master, He is not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, but gentle in His government. You can be gentle in him thanks for sharing and encouraging . Gentleness is when the stronger restrain their strength for the sake of the weaker. God provides many examples of gentleness in the bible, Jesus himself being the best model. You can also check out these gentle parenting bible study discussion guides.This post was written by guest blogger Meaghan Jackson ofGentle Parenting Coaching. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? 11:28-30 ) It's no accident that these words have been greatly celebrated. The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? One example is found in 1 Peter 3:4-5: But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious., Another example is found in Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.. Extend grace when someone offends you, even if they dont deserve it. The New Testament is full of examples of Jesus gentleness. Being gentle has a long history in many, but not all cultures. In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. There is one main Greek word translated gentlenessprauetes. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. 9. Often our harshness comes from a place of fear. In the Scriptures gentleness is at times translated as meekness. My heart is too hard to go in the spirit of meekness to visit the sister who I have offended or who has offended me (, More Heart to Heart: Godly Wisdom Woman To Woman. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. It is a positive trait that can help you improve your relationships with others and even yourself. (Psalm 37:37) People of the world resolve conflict mostly by political power, forced conformity, or even brute force. We who have the mind of Christ ought to also have at our core a gentleness of spirit. The Bible is full of examples of Gods character, and one of the most prominent traits is His gentleness. The bible verses are quoted below in the NIV version, but if you click the links, you can see the verse in other translations. Jesus has been relentlessly showing me that my character IN HIM is gentleness & self-control. Teddy Roosevelt said he thought it wise to speak softly and carry a big stick. Gentleness for many is synonymous with being quiet spoken, a pushover, and weak. If you want to see real, biblical gentleness, open your bible to one of the gospels, and reflect on Jesus's words and actions. This sandbox wisdom happens to be in agreement with the Bible. of the flesh" "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. Remember the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. When we receive a . If this is also important to you and you want to teach your children how to be kind and loving, then well benefit from learning what gentleness means in the Bible. I think about what Paul said in Philippians on shining like stars in a crooked and perverse generation. When you treat others gently you gain trust and respect. He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper" ( 1 Kings 19:11-13 ).