Sharpness, coldness, or evil. Gentleness extends grace (undeserved favor), love, and kindness to even the most difficult-to-like people. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation. W. Barclay, New Testament Words, pp. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Your email address will not be published. Take out time to visit our Website for more information on similar topics. Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? 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.. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. A few years ago, Robert Ringer wrote two best-selling books that even encouraged people to be aggressive in the dog-eat-dog business world. 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. 5:22). 8. It's the opposite of anger and harshness. It stands in contrast to baseness ( Deuteronomy 28:54 Deuteronomy 28:56 ), harshness ( 2 Sam 18:5 ), and wildness ( Job 41:3 ). Extend grace when someone offends you, even if they dont deserve it. Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. In some ways these two words are opposite poles of a spectrum: Meekness or gentleness is the quality of having strength under control, while humility is the quality of self-forgetfulness and giving up personal rights for the sake of others. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. In the OT its often translated humbleas in Psalm 24:9, 33:3, 75:10, 146:6, and 149:4. Throughout history, there have been many gentle people who have made a difference in the world. But it is also important to remember that he was a man who was deeply compassionate and full of mercy. We have swallowed the worlds view of power and control. Some of these people include Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa. "Entry for 'GENTLENESS'". In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the LXX, the word prautes appears 12 times, and 11 times in the New Testament. 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 ). The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . If God were brutish, not a one of us could stand. Honestly, a change in our worldview/theology would do a great deal of work here as well. I am too busy to listen to my child's story. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. 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. Jesus was also known for his gentleness. Violence, aggression, abuse, or brutality. He does not keep record of our wrongs, but offers forgiveness if we come to Him. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus. And it is to those who are gentle and meek who will inherit the earththe gentle are the ones who receive Gods rescue. Our research shows that gentleness is the most overlooked fruit of the Spirit, and not by a little. 7. But taking even a few minutes out of our busy schedules to express our love and affection to our spouse can make a world of difference in our relationship. Meaghan is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a gentle Christian parenting coach. Do you ever find yourself thinking this way? We have to ask ourselves if gentleness doesnt work, perhaps we are striving for the wrong kingdom. Harshness, meanness, or malice. The supreme exemplar of gentleness is Israel's God. We can ask Him to reveal ways we can show gentleness to others so that we may reflect His character. unkindness. Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. People who are gentle usually have a lot of inner peace and self-control. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth (2Timothy 2:15). It is the opposite of harshness and violence. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. A soft Answer shows us Gods Gentleness and points us toward the tree of life. 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. He went peacefully to His death because He knew it was the only way to save us from our sins. But more specifically we grow in gentleness by practicing it. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Christlikeness begins with a willingness to forgive and move forward. Consider how you talk to yourself. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and . A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. You can also check out these gentle parenting bible study discussion guides.This post was written by guest blogger Meaghan Jackson ofGentle Parenting Coaching. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. Gentleness doesn't come naturally. How is God gentle? It is amazing how ONE small act of kindness shown to our spouses can change the atmosphere of an entire day. Reach out to the person who hurt you and try to reconcile. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. 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. Focus on the positive qualities of the person who hurt you instead of their negative actions. By showing gentleness towards others, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and set an example for others to follow. we will do quite the opposite and will experience a SUPERNATURAL life filled with fruit that the Holy Spirit . 3. The Bridge Bible Fellowship. Doing so creates a closer connection and will save you from needless hardships in your relationships. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? God is often described as being gentle. Below are a few examples of how to practice this virtue in your life. I know some people who have a lot of gentleness. It is shown in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is the opposite of harshness and roughness. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. And once again the Lord is working for their rescue. Your email address will not be published. If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. 2. There have always been arguments on whether it is an attribute to desire or avoid. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. God is gentle with us, and we are called to be gentle with others. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered brutality unkindness hardness harshness imperviousness roughness cruelty savagery inhumanity barbarity viciousness atrocity sadism heartlessness ruthlessness barbarousness savageness fiendishness bestiality atrociousness barbarism brutishness mercilessness wickedness bloodthirstiness What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is kindness? The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. In Matthew 11:29, Christ said, " Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (emphasis added throughout). Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. Why is it important for us to follow Gods example of gentleness? Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. To me, its important to raise my children with gentleness and tenderness. Check Out Amazon Educational Resources on The Spirit of Gentleness. Heres everything you need to know about this virtue and how you can use it in your life! 5 Steps to Achieving the Fruit of Gentleness (or Meekness) that Leads to Blessedness. Posted by ; royal canin yorkie dog food reviews; parkland psychiatric hospital dallas, tx . jen'-t'-l-nes (`anah; epieikeia, chrestotes): In 2Samuel 22:36 `anah, "to bend low," "to condescend," is translated "gentleness," "Thy gentleness hath made me great," the Revised Version, margin "or condescension"; so also Psalms 18:35, where the word is `anwah "humility," "gentleness," or "condescension." 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! Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gentleness, Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gentleness. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. He was always willing to forgive those who had sinned against him and he always treated others with respect, no matter who they were. Download these beautiful gentle scripture cards for free here! 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. As directed toward God, meekness and humility require the following: I. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. brutality. Colossians 3:20 (esv). Paul appeals to believers "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" ( 2 Cor 10:1 ). "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" ( Gal 5:22-23 ), a cluster of qualities each of which reinforces and finds expression in the others. There is one main Greek word translated gentlenessprauetes. However, Scripture reminds us that we are called to be gentle with others, even in the midst of difficult times. The New Testament. Crucify ego, self-will, and pride. But thats not what the Bible talks about when it talks about gentleness. Watch your tone so that what you have to say will be well received. Truth be told, it takes a strong person to be truly gentle. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. hardness. 1. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 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. For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. The Bible tells us that God is gentle and loving and that we should imitate His character in our own lives. Gentleness has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of time. Let your gentleness be known of all men. Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness. It should not be seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. 1915. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem entitled "The Village Blacksmith" gives us a wonderful demonstration of genuine gentleness. In the New Testament Jesus comes as the perfect example of being gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29). A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). In addition, gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, so when we choose to respond with gentleness, even in tough situations, we are bearing witness to the power of God working in our lives. This is similar language to what Paul used in 1 Corinthians 4:21, when he contrasts gentleness with coming to them with a rod.. Copyrights 2021 Gentle Christian Parenting. For more help incorporating gentleness into your parenting, consider working with Meaghan.Learn More About Meaghan here.Enjoy this post? I get upset easily and raise my voice. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Your email address will not be published. There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. We who have the mind of Christ ought to also have at our core a gentleness of spirit. I think that fashion doesnt have to cost a fortune. The opposite of temperance is self-indulgence. The Greek word describes someone who has power but chooses not to use it harshly or selfishly. People will see Jesus in us when we are gentle. I have been helped in the area of gentleness, Youre welcome glad to hear its helpful! Ill be blunt and say that one of the best things you can do to grow in a spirit of gentleness would be to turn off the 24-hour news stations and talk radio. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 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. It seems to be synonymous with being a good person. It is described as a quiet spirit, will not harm a bruised reed the shield of your salvation. That is the biblical picture of gentleness. Gentleness is not weakness, but rather a powerful force for good in the world. unkindness. Is it not fitting then for believers to exude this same characteristic? Far from dismissing gentleness, the Scriptures speak of gentleness as the way the kingdom of God "gets things done.". Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. We do this whenever we feel afraid of the future. 5 Jun. Consider what would happen if the omnipotent God was characterized by harshness with his creatures made of dust. Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak. The opposite of gentleness is anger, a desire for revenge, and self-importance. When we celebrate leaders who get things done but do so in a way entirely contrary to Christ, we are tainting our hearts. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. 5:16, 22-23) . Its a quality of character. God wants us to be gentle to others. See 4236 (praotes).. For the believer, meekness (4240 /prats, "gentle-force") begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and .