How different things would have been if Paul had not shown such gentleness! What is gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit? Job's counsels were well received, because he spoke them gently ( Job 29:22 ). Some people would say that peace is the opposite of war, when there is no fighting or violence. It is a trait that is godly, and as His children God expects us to become gentle, as He is. Gentleness in our day of polarization and heated rhetoric might go a long way in helping people to see the beauty of Jesus. In fact, it mentions it in several places. After everyone left, Jesus did not condemn the woman, and said to her, Go now and leave your life of sin (John 8:11). "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."1 Thessalonians 2:7 What is the opposite of gentleness? 1915. Part I: Meekness and Humility Toward God In the Bible, meekness is primarily emphasized as submissiveness toward God (rather than toward men). We have to ask ourselves if gentleness doesnt work, perhaps we are striving for the wrong kingdom. Gentleness is not weakness, but rather a powerful force for good in the world. He does not keep record of our wrongs, but offers forgiveness if we come to Him. 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. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25) Then, Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the jail were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones chains were unfastened. (Acts 16:26) The jailer woke up, and saw that the prison doors were open. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. He supposed that the prisoners had escaped. (1Timothy 3:3 the Revised Version (British and American); Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1Peter 2:18); also, with article, Philippians 4:5 (the King James Version "moderation," the Revised Version (British and American) "forbearance"). That kind of mass violence is the opposite of kindness, goodness, and gentleness. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is kindness? brutality. I am too busy to listen to my childs story. God wants us to be gentle to others. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. Proud member How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. As any parent knows, raising children can be a rewarding but challenging task. Why Gentleness Is So Important As a Christian, you demonstrate the Spirit at work in your life when you show gentleness. You will be blessed and rewarded by God when you get to heaven and receive His peace and favor here on earth too. There are two other types of peace. Why is it important for Christians to be gentle? Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. Salem Media Group. Is It True That Gentleness Gets Nothing Done. Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. But what does it mean to be gentle? Yet, he is gentle with us. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 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.". However, there are many situations for which it requires great strength of character and self-control to be gentle. The Bible tells us that God is gentle and loving and that we should imitate His character in our own lives. We Must Recognize Our Sinfulness and Our Dependence On God. By modeling Gods character in our own lives, we give our children the best possible foundation for a happy and successful future. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The opposite is "unbridled anger, harshness, brutality, and self-expression." ("Self-expression" is the picture of someone who struts and shows off.) Gentleness is more than just being nice and kind and caring towards others; its actually the quality of God Himself who has been poured out into our hearts by His Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:5). 4.) Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). In the Old Testament the Septuagint uses it once in Psalm 45:4. We are harsh and brutish when we are attempting to grab ahold of authority or power that isnt our own. opposite of gentleness in the bible. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Proud member It is a positive trait that can help you improve your relationships with others and even yourself. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. When we're gentle with ourselves and with others, we represent and experience Him. Finding healing in those wounds can often help us to respond with gentleness instead of harshness. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is goodness? For some, gentleness can be a tough . The gentleness of Jesus is a subject that has been much talked about over the years. Prautes is also used to translate a different Hebrew word that is often translated the poor. This is the case in Job 24:4, Isaiah 26:6, Zechariah 9:9, and Zephaniah 3:12. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus. The less common word, epieikes,is used in Pauls pastoral letters, as well as in James and 1 Peter. 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. Throughout history, there have been many gentle people who have made a difference in the world. All rights reserved. Download This Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Verse For Your Phone. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a298435548fac6131ddbee45a6669aa4" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In accord with the prophecy, he enters Jerusalem in gentleness and lowliness ( Matt 21:5 ). If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. Teach Them Obedience. The world is full of harshness and rudeness. It requires great strength and self-control. People who are gentle usually have a lot of inner peace and self-control. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. The Bible teaches us that we should be gentle in all our relationshipseven with our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). 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. He will still be gentle and lowly in heart. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. This is the spirit of gentleness that we are called to as followers of Christ. In addition, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which God is gentle with us. The biblical concept of gentleness is often misunderstood. And as we engage others we should avoid quarreling with them but should instead have perfect courtesy toward all people. Gentleness is a marker of power used and handled properly. We see in Jesus a deeper definition of gentleness. So, you might be surprised to know the Bible has much to say about gentleness. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). Its a quality of character. Gentleness has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of time. The Bible is full of examples of Gods character, and one of the most prominent traits is His gentleness. This is what we are called to do as Christs disciples! And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? Here are the nine fruits of the spirit as listed in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When you do this you can then look for ways to meet those needs and truly help work through those feelings. It is necessary, then, that we wield this authority with 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. 2. In the New Testament, the word does not appear in the Gospels or Acts though it does appear in root form in Matthew 5:5 to describe Jesus. 8. Its not a weakness, but a strength. Watch your tone so that what you have to say will be well received. Its helpful to think about the areas where we are tempted to respond with harshness instead of gentleness. 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 ). He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper" ( 1 Kings 19:11-13 ). A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. We may picture someone who is easily intimidated or who shrinks back from conflict. It is shown in the Old Testament and the New Testament. As a result, our children learn to trust us and to respond to us with respect. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. Some of these people include Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa. Gentleness Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com) As Paul said, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ) We never know when our kindness will lead someone into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rather than asserting superiority, someone who is gentle wants to help others, even when they have been done wrong. We need His help to be gentle! Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered, Opposite of civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry, Opposite of the sum of all attributes that are feminine or convey womanhood, Opposite of sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, Many of the world's ills can be traced back to society's general, Opposite of the quality of abiding by strong moral principles, Opposite of the state, act, or fact of being calm and composed, Opposite of the class of people having an aristocratic status. There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. By showing gentleness towards others, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and set an example for others to follow. The Bible is full of examples of gentleness. It is important to remember that as Christians we are called to more than this. Churchgists.com covers prayers, spiritual meaning, bible verses and dreams interpretation. Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem entitled "The Village Blacksmith" gives us a wonderful demonstration of genuine gentleness. When a Christian leader falls, it is almost always due to a lack of self-control and personal discipline. Galatians 5 . Following Jesus' example, Paul treats his people gently, "like a mother caring for her little children" ( 1 Thess 2:7 ). Its the opposite of anger and harshness. But thats ignorant of Roman history and the state of corruption within the religious leaders in his day. Gentleness can also lead to less stress and anxiety in life. We can ask Him to reveal ways we can show gentleness to others so that we may reflect His character. I am not affectionate, and I fail to give loving hugs. So he drew his sword and was about to kill himself (Acts 16:27) But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. (Acts 16:28) And he called for lights and rushed in and fell down before Paul and Silas (Acts 16:29-30a) Then he took them both out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30b). 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. He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. Pray for God to help you forgive those who have hurt you. Listen to this story in the Bible about a not-very-gentle king: Tell story from 1 Kings 12:1-15. Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. But the more I study, the more I find that gentleness is one of the chief Christian virtues. He is gentle with you. Let your gentleness be known of all men. 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. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? Sometimes gentleness is used interchangeably with "meekness" in the Bible. Here is a sample of their uses. synonyms Click here to read more verses about gentleness. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. But what is gentleness? In the OT its often translated humbleas in Psalm 24:9, 33:3, 75:10, 146:6, and 149:4. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. In many languages, gentleness and meekness are equated with gentle speech. Bibliography. I'm Megan, and this is my creative space. 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. But the Bible speaks differently. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. By practicing gentleness, we show others the love and kindness of God. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. We need His help to be gentle! Consider what would happen if the omnipotent God was characterized by harshness with his creatures made of dust. This means more that which is fitting, right, and equitable. Think of this more as being kind and nice. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. When someone considers someone to have the quality of epiekes, they would say that this is a pleasurable person to be around. Beginning and End God has neither beginning nor end. Speak the truth but watch your tone so that the truth will be well received, however painful it may be. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 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. They are often areas where we carry deep wounds and trauma from our past. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. Posted On mayo 20, 2021 Round table will begin shortly after services. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. Check Out Amazon Educational Resources on The Spirit of Gentleness. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you, if you choose to purchase through one of the links on this page. However, God calls us to a higher standard. We are to exercise our spiritual strength in love. People who are gentle tend to be happier and more content with life. 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. Listen more than you speak or act (James 1:19). It is the ability to be kind and loving even in the face of adversity. He is the Creator of the universe, yet He is still gentle and loving toward us despite our sinful nature. So much of the peace and harmony we seek is directly affected by how we treat others. Gentle occurs in the Old Testament only in the Revised Version (British and American) of Jeremiah 11:19, "I was like a gentle lamb" (kebhes). Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ab522d57b5eb8560ccf33254c1125cdc" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Photo credit: Getty Images/Oleksandr Yakoniuk. Harshness, meanness, or malice. Isa 53:7 ). This is shown in our thoughts and in the way we interact with those around us. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It does not mean weakness, per se. Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. It's a peaceful, calm, and forgiving attitude. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. As our Lord and Master, He is not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, but gentle in His government. 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. The law cannot give us the strength to be gentle. Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselveswith compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). Gentleness is one of the most important virtues in the Bible. As directed toward God, meekness and humility require the following: I. Download these beautiful gentle scripture cards for free here! W. Barclay, New Testament Words, pp. When we attempt to restore someone caught in sin, we are to do it in a spirit of gentleness. In 2 Timothy and in Titus, gentleness is to mark the Christian leader. Click here to show subject links in the text for more information. we will do quite the opposite and will experience a SUPERNATURAL life filled with fruit that the Holy Spirit . He could have called down twelve legions of angels to rescue Him, but He didnt. 5:22). How is God gentle? Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and it's not just a nice thing to be. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. And it starts with being humble before God acknowledging that we need His help to change and grow and allowing Him to work through us by His Spirit to make us more like His Son. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Notice especially controlled strength. Gentleness is power under control. We should also work at controlling our tempers with grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness, love and respect for others. . Join us here for a short study on gentleness in the bible and how to live it out. And they bring the gospel of peace with gentleness and love, not harshness. When correcting opponents, it should be done with gentleness.