Its a quality of character. It is not weakness, nor does it mean that we should never stand up for ourselves. But more specifically we grow in gentleness by practicing it. Here is a sample of their uses. Wives should seek "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" ( 1 Peter 3:4 ). Gentle Like a Shepherd. As Yahweh's representative, the messianic king comes in humility and gentleness ( Zec 9:9 ). 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. Typically, those are areas where we are acting in the flesh instead of in the Spirit. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . He is gentle with you. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Gentleness in our day of polarization and heated rhetoric might go a long way in helping people to see the beauty of Jesus. Be subject to and obey God's word. sometimes it requires great gentleness. We should be kind and merciful to others even when they mistreat us or do wrong things to us (Luke 6:35; Romans 12:18-19; 1 Peter 3:8). Gentleness is an attitude or disposition that involves treating others with care and courtesy (1 Pet 3:8). It can also mean mildness and softness. Consider how you talk to yourself. we will do quite the opposite and will experience a SUPERNATURAL life filled with fruit that the Holy Spirit . Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. His manner is not harsh or abrasive. The biblical concept of gentleness is often misunderstood. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. It's the opposite of anger and harshness. It does not mean weakness, per se. But for me, it was quite revelatory. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. The law cannot give us the strength to be gentle. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. And does it accomplish things? Gentleness is not a natural human trait it requires humility and self-control, two things that only come from God. Gentleness evidences itself in a willingness to yield, reminiscent of a lamb being led to slaughter ( Jer 11:19 ; cf. It can only tell us what we should not do and why its wrong. Meaghan is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a gentle Christian parenting coach. Gentleness is one of the most important virtues in the Bible. Another pair of opposites in the Bible is innocence and guilt. Some view being gentle as weak. Salem Media Group. As our Lord and Master, He is not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, but gentle in His government. You could also have the children play the role . There is also peace with God. If you are looking for a more in-depth gentleness bible study, there are many bible study tools and bible dictionaries to help you. of Gentleness can also be a sign of strength, not weakness. Jesus has been relentlessly showing me that my character IN HIM is gentleness & self-control. What is the definition of gentleness? There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. 5:16, 22-23) . I am not affectionate, and I fail to give loving hugs. Is it not fitting then for believers to exude this same characteristic? Photo credit: Getty Images/Oleksandr Yakoniuk. 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. Seek counseling or therapy if youre struggling to let go of the pain. Finding healing in those wounds can often help us to respond with gentleness instead of harshness. Antonyms: drunkenness, excess, gluttony, greed, intemperance, intoxication, reveling, revelry, self-indulgence, sensuality, wantonness Synonyms: abstemiousness, abstinence, continence, fasting, frugality, moderation, self-denial, self-restraint, sobriety, temperance Preposition: The negative side of virtue is abstinence from vice. To me, its important to raise my children with gentleness and tenderness. His creation will end in a new beginning. Unfortunately, sometimes in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we can become more focused on getting things done than on being kind to the ones we love. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, But you, man of God, run from these things,and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,love, endurance, and gentleness. In addition, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which God is gentle with us. The world is full of harshness and rudeness. 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. Gentleness means taking into account someone or something's well being. It's a beauty that you don't have to go through all kinds of cosmetic surgery or makeup routines to preserve. Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. As parents and caregivers, let us always remember the power of gentleness in shaping the hearts and minds of our children. 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. In sum, the Scriptures show God as a kind and gentle leader. While many view meekness as a weakness, it is actually strength under control. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gentleness, Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gentleness. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 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 Gentleness is something Christians must learn. When we're gentle with ourselves and with others, we represent and experience Him. There are many benefits to being gentle. Proud member Is it? We need to be intentional about showing our spouse gentleness. We like to think that if Jesus were on earth today, hed be carrying around a whip. Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. We who have the mind of Christ ought to also have at our core a gentleness of spirit. General Editor. Christ himself was a model of gentleness, and he calls us to follow his example. In the New Testament epieikeia ("fairness," "moderation," in Acts 24:4 translated "clemency") is in 2Corinthians 10:1 translated "gentleness," "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2 Macc 2:22 "favour," the Revised Version (British and American) "forbearance"); chrestotes, "kindness," "usefulness," is translated "gentleness" in Galatians 5:22 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "kindness"; chrestos is the word translated "kind" (to the unthankful and evil, Luke 6:35), and chrestotes seems to carry in it a similar idea of active kindness. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). When you treat others gently you gain trust and respect. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. We should also work at controlling our tempers with grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness, love and respect for others. Yet, he is gentle with us. Ephesians 4:1-2. But gentleness is also opposed to lazy apathy and insensitivity. It is shown in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? In 2 Macc 15:12 Onias is said (the King James Version) to be "gentle (praos) in condition," the Revised Version (British and American) "in manner.". Job's counsels were well received, because he spoke them gently ( Job 29:22 ). What does this look like? It is important to Christians because it is important to God. In doing so we will win over those who hear us. Gentleness is feeling this way about other human beings. Is It True That Gentleness Gets Nothing Done. When we receive a . Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem entitled "The Village Blacksmith" gives us a wonderful demonstration of genuine gentleness. James contrasts gentleness with filthiness and rampant wickedness. It is the mark of being one of wisdom. Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. A meek spirit, a gentle spirit, a quiet spirit. People have been searching for this treasure for hundred of years. Jesus teaches us, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). 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. In most of these instances it is used to indicate the one who will be taught by the LORD, is lifted up by the LORD, who will be adorned with salvation and saved. The word was also used to describe the meekness of Moses in Numbers 12:3, and in Psalm 36:11 it is the meek who will inherit the earth. Knowing themselves to be subject to weakness, they can more readily deal gently with the ignorant and the erring. As a parent, I see gentleness as one of the most important character qualities we need to focus on in our family. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. W. Barclay, New Testament Words, pp. Furthermore, when we are gentle with our children, we help them to develop into well-rounded individuals who are able to navigate the challenges of life with grace and strength. Look at how he led the Philippian jailer to Christ. But the more we come to know the God who holds our future, as well as where God is taking us, the less prone we will be to carry around a harsh and bitter spirit within our hearts. Gentleness. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Galatians 5:22-23. It is a trait that is godly, and as His children God expects us to become gentle, as He is. Copyrights 2021 Gentle Christian Parenting. 9. That whole book was completely opposite of what we're going to talk about this morning, which is having a gentleness about our life. Beginning and End God has neither beginning nor end. 1915. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. I know some people who have a lot of gentleness. The gentleness of Jesus is a subject that has been much talked about over the years. In the Old Testament, gentleness is illustrated in the bible as a stream or river (Isaiah 8:6) and also to a shepherd caring for his flock of lambs (Isaiah 40:11). Finally, we can incorporate gentleness into our own lives. But why is gentleness such an important virtue? From these examples of gentleness in the bible, we can picture a soft touch, calm reassurance, and a loving hand. Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. 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. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. This is similar to how Peter uses the word (1 Peter 3:16). Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. I am too busy to listen to my childs story. hardness docility, intentional mildness roughness docility, intentional mildness abruptness steepness harshness imperviousness docility, intentional mildness precipitousness brutality unkindness Filters Most terms are nouns Suggest The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is goodness? Talk to a trusted friend or counselor about the hurt youve experienced. When Jesus said Blessed are the meek, He was not talking about people who are doormats or pushovers. Developing Christian Gentleness is a sermon from Galatians 5:22-23 about the six ways that the Holy Spirit helps a Christian learn to be gentle. In many languages, gentleness and meekness are equated with gentle speech. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance andgentleness (I Timothy 6:11). And God in Christ is exemplified by the gentleness with which he labored among others. Fighting destroys relationships and takes so much time to repair. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. Scripture says for a woman to have that internal heart attitude of meekness or gentleness and a quiet spirit gives her a beauty that is imperishable. 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. Would you rather be around someone who is marked by a gentle spirit or one who is harsh, brutish, critical, and aggressive? 5 Jun. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. This means that we are to be gentle with others, even when they have wronged us. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. 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.
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