Gentleness, also translated "meekness," does not mean weakness. In fact, it mentions it in several places. 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. Paul was a great example of this. There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. In fact, it was his gentleness that allowed him to touch the hearts of so many people and change their lives forever. It can be difficult to remain gentle when we have been hurt, but it is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that nobody is perfect. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. And that is exactly what this world needs to see in us instead of harsh words, gentle words showing us as gentle people. Lists. Gentleness is an important quality for Christians to develop if they want to be effective in spreading Gods Word and helping others come closer to Christ. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. Im too self-centered to stop and kiss my childs scraped knee. We need to be intentional about showing our spouse gentleness. It is amazing how ONE small act of kindness shown to our spouses can change the atmosphere of an entire day. Proverbs indicates that gentle words turn away wrath and are a tree of life (Proverbs 15:1,4). It is important to Christians because it is important to God. This is the spirit of gentleness that we are called to as followers of Christ. Both qualities come from God and both are fruits of His Spirit at work in our lives. When Jesus said Blessed are the meek, He was not talking about people who are doormats or pushovers. But what does it mean to be gentle? As you seek to grow more gentle, focusing on or memorizing these verses will strengthen you and help you be more successful. After everyone left, Jesus did not condemn the woman, and said to her, Go now and leave your life of sin (John 8:11). You can prevent inciting anger by choosing to respond with gentleness. II Corinthians 10:1 refers to Christ's meekness ( prautes) and gentleness ( epieikeia) as separate virtues. Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. Proud member He was a rough man by trade, but when it came to leading men to Christ, he employed great gentleness. Gentle words wield great power ( Prov 15:1 ; 25:15 ). For some, gentleness can be a tough . Gentleness comes from a state of humility. We can ask Him to reveal ways we can show gentleness to others so that we may reflect His character. . The Old Testament. The less common word, epieikes,is used in Pauls pastoral letters, as well as in James and 1 Peter. And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. In doing so we will win over those who hear us. Gentleness can also be a sign of strength, not weakness. Speak respectfully to everyone. Gentleness doesn't come naturally. That means that if you want to be like Jesus, then gentleness should be one of your top priorities. Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). I am too busy to listen to my childs story. Its not a weakness, but a strength. And it is to those who are gentle and meek who will inherit the earththe gentle are the ones who receive Gods rescue. To have gentleness is to have a gentle spirit or nature about you. For starters, Gentleness is the opposite of anger. The Oxford Dictionary defines gentleness as, "the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered." Kindness is literally a part of gentleness; the two are intertwined, and therefore when one is portrayed, so is the other. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Note that the Catholic church includes a few additional fruits as part of tradition, listing 12: Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. 11 Points: How Did Aaron Die in the Bible? Because gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can show true gentleness. Galatians 5:22-25. See 4236 (praotes).. For the believer, meekness (4240 /prats, "gentle-force") begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and . Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. So, you might be surprised to know the Bible has much to say about gentleness. Consider Galatians 5:23 which says that gentleness is part of the fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit within us. There is also peace with God. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and its not just a nice thing to be. What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? Galatians 2:20. Required fields are marked *. Through Christ we have been given everything we need for life and godliness. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. It should not be seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. Verse 2, "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.". The Pharisees told Jesus that the Law of Moses commanded them to stone such a woman, to which Jesus responds, Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). 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. People who are gentle usually have a lot of inner peace and self-control. 8. Against such things there is no law. You could also have the children play the role . Its hard to extend grace when someone has offended us. . W. Barclay, New Testament Words, pp. Be considerate of others feelings and needs. synonyms Crucify ego, self-will, and pride. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. It does not mean weakness, per se. Click here to show subject links in the text for more information. In the OT its often translated humbleas in Psalm 24:9, 33:3, 75:10, 146:6, and 149:4. Proud member Teach Them Obedience. We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. 1915. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Some argue that a gentleness is just as strong if not stronger as brute force. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . According to that definition, one could say that gentleness isnt doing, it is being done to. When we are patient and kind with those who are hurting, we offer them a glimpse of the hope and healing that is found in Jesus. Gentleness is an attitude or disposition that involves treating others with care and courtesy (1 Pet 3:8). Paul appeals to believers "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" ( 2 Cor 10:1 ). It is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit by good work and a gentle tongue. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and its not just a nice thing to be. All rights reserved. May we never forget the pit of sin the Lord dragged us from and become like the unmerciful servant. 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. Yield, surrender, and submit your will to the will of God. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Download This Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Verse For Your Phone. Its the opposite of anger and harshness. Consider others as important and worthy of kind regard. What the Bible is . alain picard wife / ap calculus bc multiple choice / opposite of gentleness in the bible. It's a peaceful, calm, and forgiving attitude. I get upset easily and raise my voice. What Does the Bible say about Vegetarianism vs Meat eating | Eat Meat in the Bible, 9 Examples of Gentleness in the Bible | Gentle, The Fruit of Gentleness in the New Testament, The Power of Gentleness in Leading men To Christ, The Power of Gentleness with our Children, Final Thoughts Examples of Gentleness in the Bible, 140622eng-gotfruitseriespart5-gentlenessbyjocelyntan-140622233213-phpapp01, Use Google Church Grant For Your Church $10,000 / Month - God Bless Steve, Stuck on Sermon / Need Class Ideas / Outlines / Ask Ja, Copyright 1920-2023 Jesus Leadership Training. It requires humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, kind behavior towards others. That kind of mass violence is the opposite of kindness, goodness, and gentleness. January 15, 2016 by Lauren Abraham in [ Spiritual Life ] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Your email address will not be published. But what is gentleness? The Bible is full of examples of gentleness. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. One definition comes from Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness. Another translation says, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering. The word for gentleness here means strength under control or power working itself out in love. Not only does it mean being kind to people who are kind to you, but also it means being kind even when someone isnt nice back! Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. Following Jesus' example, Paul treats his people gently, "like a mother caring for her little children" ( 1 Thess 2:7 ). The bible verses are quoted below in the NIV version, but if you click the links, you can see the verse in other translations. Wives should seek "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" ( 1 Peter 3:4 ). Such an invitation, from such a person, is precious beyond words. Gentleness is not weakness, but rather a powerful force for good in the world. A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. Against such things there is no law. By showing gentleness to our spouses, we are not only making them feel loved and appreciated, but we are also setting a tone of respect and consideration that will spill over into other areas of our lives. "Entry for 'GENTLENESS'". What does this look like? He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. The Old Testament. When we humble ourselves and trust in Gods strength, we can show gentleness even to those who are difficult to love. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Doesnt gentleness keep us from getting things done? Jesus was gentle, even when He was being crucified. 3. Even in our sin, He continues to love us. Some people would say that peace is the opposite of war, when there is no fighting or violence. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They are believed to have been as close as anyone possible. But gentleness is also opposed to lazy apathy and insensitivity. 94-96, 240-42; W. Bauder, NIDNTT, 2:256-64; H. Preisker, TDNT, 2:588-90; F. Hauck and S. Schulz, TDNT, 6:645-51. "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."1 Thessalonians 2:7 What is the opposite of gentleness? Matthew 6:14-15 says, For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. And they bring the gospel of peace with gentleness and love, not harshness. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. The picture would be exponentially worse than a very small child trying to hold a kitten, not wielding his power correctly and doing irreparable harm to the small animal. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". The law cannot give us the strength to be gentle. After all, he was a man who was without sin and yet he showed great compassion and mercy towards others, even those who were sinners. The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. In doing so, we reflect the character of our Heavenly Father and demonstrate his love to the world. This is what made him different from all other religious leaders of his time and it is one of the things that continues to make him loved and admired by so many people today. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. It is important to have an accurate perception of what gentleness is. He healed the sick, preached to the masses, and showed compassion to everyone he met. The supreme exemplar of gentleness is Israel's God. The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is love? Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem entitled "The Village Blacksmith" gives us a wonderful demonstration of genuine gentleness. Meditate on Scripture verses about forgiveness and grace. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. God himself spoke to Elijah as a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
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