Let believers clothe themselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" ( Col 3:12 ). But for me, it was quite revelatory. If the previous search had been crushing a walnut with a sledgehammer, the current team is crushing a walnut with precision lasers and analyzing content all the way through the process. And as we engage others we should avoid quarreling with them but should instead have perfect courtesy toward all people. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is self-control. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Isa 53:7 ). 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). We are harsh and brutish when we are attempting to grab ahold of authority or power that isnt our own. We need His help to be gentle! Yield, surrender, and submit your will to the will of God. Reach out to the person who hurt you and try to reconcile. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. Your email address will not be published. 5:22). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The qualities to which gentleness is joined elucidate its setting and character. When we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus takes upon himself this descriptor: I am gentle and lowly in heart., And when Jesus tells us what animates him most deeply, what is most true of himwhen he exposes the innermost recesses of his beingwhat we find there is: gentle and lowly. (Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, 19). God is gentle with us, and we are called to be gentle with others. Its a quality of character. Gentleness is one of the most important virtues in the Bible. It is a positive trait that can help you improve your relationships with others and even yourself. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Gentleness remembers that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), and we are all trying to find our way through this ungentle world. Check Out Amazon Educational Resources on The Spirit of Gentleness. Note that the Catholic church includes a few additional fruits as part of tradition, listing 12: It is the opposite of being harsh with others. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . Welcome to our Family. It's about how we treat others, even when they don't treat us well. Proverbs indicates that gentle words turn away wrath and are a tree of life (Proverbs 15:1,4). brutality. I use sarcasm and snap back at my childrens remarks. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. 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). They also tend to have better relationships with others. Gentleness doesn't come naturally. Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). These great examples of gentleness help us to see practically what that looks like in everyday life. As directed toward God, meekness and humility require the following: I. Right here on Churchgist, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on examples of gentleness in the bible,meaning of gentleness, and so much more. Part I: Meekness and Humility Toward God In the Bible, meekness is primarily emphasized as submissiveness toward God (rather than toward men). That whole book was completely opposite of what we're going to talk about this morning, which is having a gentleness about our life. It is not weakness, nor does it mean that we should never stand up for ourselves. For starters, Gentleness is the opposite of anger. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and its not just a nice thing to be. About 5 years ago, Robert Ringer wrote the book Looking Out For Number One. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? . Galatians 5:23 says, against such there is no law.. There is also peace with God. Toughness and controlled anger in a just cause are not the opposite of gentleness. As a parent, I see gentleness as one of the most important character qualities we need to focus on in our family. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? It is shown in the Old Testament and the New Testament. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). Christlikeness begins with a willingness to forgive and move forward. What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? But the reality is that war is more of a surface behaviour, something seen, rather than exposing the deeper things taking place inside. In many languages, gentleness and meekness are equated with gentle speech. The Bible teaches us that we should be gentle in all our relationshipseven with our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). Its helpful to think about the areas where we are tempted to respond with harshness instead of gentleness. The word is most frequently used by Paul, James, and Peter. And they bring the gospel of peace with gentleness and love, not harshness. Far from dismissing gentleness, the Scriptures speak of gentleness as the way the kingdom of God "gets things done.". By his Spirit, Christ cultivates the same quality in his people ( Gal 5:23 ). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Salem Media Group. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Fashion designer Coco Chanel once remarked, gentleness doesnt get work done unless you happen to be a hen laying eggs., Sadly, this dismissal of gentleness is not reserved for the world. See 4236 (praotes).. For the believer, meekness (4240 /prats, "gentle-force") begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and . Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "I'll believe it when I see it.". That is having peace with others. General Editor. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. We are to exercise our spiritual strength in love. alain picard wife / ap calculus bc multiple choice / opposite of gentleness in the bible. There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. And that is exactly what this world needs to see in us instead of harsh words, gentle words showing us as gentle people. "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."1 Thessalonians 2:7 What is the opposite of gentleness? Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. 2 Corinthians 10:1 uses the meekness and gentleness (kindness) of Christ as an example for his own pattern. Church leaders are admonished to be "not violent but gentle" toward persons under their care ( 1 Tim 3:3 ); it is a quality they are avidly to pursue ( 1 Tim 6:11 ). Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. We see in Jesus a deeper definition of gentleness. So, what does gentleness mean? Cognate: 4240 prats (compare 4236 /prats, another feminine noun which is also derived from the root pra-, emphasizing the divine origin of the meekness) - meekness ("gentle strength") which expresses power with reserve and gentleness. The person who is "cool with everything," who is never disagreeable, who always compliments and never criticizes, is not necessarily gentle. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. All rights reserved. God is often described as being gentle. A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation. 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. I justified it as being 64 and still having children at home (Intellectually challenged). They are believed to have been as close as anyone possible. He will still be gentle and lowly in heart. 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. Truth be told, it takes a strong person to be truly gentle. we will do quite the opposite and will experience a SUPERNATURAL life filled with fruit that the Holy Spirit . The New Testament is full of examples of Jesus gentleness. Posted On mayo 20, 2021 Round table will begin shortly after services. Gentleness isnt weakness; its not passive or submissive either. The New Testament. Now, it's not to say that, if things are not peaceful, then war won't exist. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance andgentleness (I Timothy 6:11). What does this look like? Gentleness is a marker of power used and handled properly. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 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. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. It seems to be synonymous with being a good person. In Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians the word is used in lists combined with things like humility as virtues and graces. We may not realize it, but we are graced a tremendous amount of power. We study the arrival of guilt, an argument about guilt, and the answer to guilt. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. Gentleness is powerful because it is godly. And does it accomplish things? The opposite of temperance is self-indulgence. That king, now come in the flesh, is "gentle and humble in heart" ( Matt 11:29 ). I'm too self-centered to stop and kiss my child's scraped knee. The biblical book of James says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). brutality. We learn to make their aims our aims. Its a way of life. 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. Gentleness is feeling this way about other human beings. Beauty and Ugliness Beauty and ugliness are . It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Required fields are marked *. 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. This would mean that if we have an opportunity to help someone else but it would cost us something, then we should do whatever we can to help them instead of just focusing on ourselves. So glad to hear it was encouraging to you it is extra challenging to be gentle when we feel like our needs are being intruded on. His laws are also reasonable and easy to obey; neither He nor they enslave. . To be gentle means showing love and care for others in how you act and speak. Gentle words wield great power ( Prov 15:1 ; 25:15 ). brutality. People will see Jesus in us when we are gentle. Of all the character traits which could have been part of the fruit of the Spirit, why is gentleness in that list? We live in a broken world, and it can be easy to become jaded and hardened by the pain we see around us. hardness. For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. 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. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young" ( Isa 40:11 ). People have been searching for this treasure for hundred of years. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). Its not a weakness, but a strength. Both qualities come from God and both are fruits of His Spirit at work in our lives. Gentleness antonyms What is the opposite word for Gentleness? You can be gentle in him thanks for sharing and encouraging . When people are kind and caring, they are more likely to get along with others and resolve conflicts peacefully. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . God wants children to learn obedience to Him through their parents. These two qualities seem to go together. Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. Another pair of opposites in the Bible is innocence and guilt. Honestly, a change in our worldview/theology would do a great deal of work here as well. 11:29 NIV). 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! When we are gentle with our children, we model for them the way God treats uswith patience, understanding, and love. Our research shows that gentleness is the most overlooked fruit of the Spirit, and not by a little. attentiveness patience responsiveness tolerance willingness generosity personableness tenderness softness flexibility tenderheartedness niceness geniality understanding warmth amiability affability amiableness graciousness pleasantness kindliness benignity humaneness agreeability mercifulness manners kindheartedness thoughtfulness benevolence The Old Testament. This means more that which is fitting, right, and equitable. Think of this more as being kind and nice. Gentle Like a Shepherd. When Adam and Eve started out in the Garden of Eden, they had peace with God. 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. By modeling Gods character in our own lives, we give our children the best possible foundation for a happy and successful future. Is it? In addition, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which God is gentle with us. 5. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Galatians 5:22-25. Actually, gentleness requires quite a bit of strength and self-control. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus is explaining why we should embrace His way of life. Listen more than you speak or act (James 1:19). The LORD recently spoke to me about how harsh I can be. 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. But what does it mean to be gentle? Gentleness can also be a sign of strength, not weakness. 11 Points: How Did Aaron Die in the Bible? It is the opposite of harshness and violence. When we celebrate leaders who get things done but do so in a way entirely contrary to Christ, we are tainting our hearts. It's the opposite of anger and harshness. You can prevent inciting anger by choosing to respond with gentleness. In short, gentleness is an essential ingredient in good parenting. of Each aspect of this fruit is characteristic of Christ Jesus. This means more "that which is fitting, right, and equitable." 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. Evil has a beginning and its end will be everlasting. He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. We have swallowed the worlds view of power and control. 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. However, there are many situations for which it requires great strength of character and self-control to be gentle. 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). In the New Testament Jesus comes as the perfect example of being gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29). That kind of mass violence is the opposite of kindness, goodness, and gentleness. Finding healing in those wounds can often help us to respond with gentleness instead of harshness. 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 ). 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. So, you might be surprised to know the Bible has much to say about gentleness. There is peace in our homes when nobody is arguing or fighting. People who are gentle tend to be happier and more content with life. 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. It looks like Jesus: kind and compassionate to those who are struggling, yet firm and clear-eyed when addressing sin; slow to anger and quick to forgive; always calm and collected even in the midst of chaos; patient with His disciples when they were constantly asking questions and getting things wrong; gentle with sinners but uncompromising on truth. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Bibliography. Thank God for His forgiveness and grace extended to you, no matter how much you may deserve it.. Be encouraged that He will help you extend that same grace to others, even when its difficult. 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. A soft Answer shows us Gods Gentleness and points us toward the tree of life. Right here on Churchgists, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on examples of gentleness in the bible, goodness definition bible, bible characters who showed gentleness, and so much more. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is joy? Gentleness is not a natural human trait it requires humility and self-control, two things that only come from God. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Download This Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Verse For Your Phone. Click here to show subject links in the text for more information. It stands in contrast to baseness ( Deuteronomy 28:54 Deuteronomy 28:56 ), harshness ( 2 Sam 18:5 ), and wildness ( Job 41:3 ). Some argue that a gentleness is just as strong if not stronger as brute force. 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. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is gentleness? Remember the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. We're more likely to listen and understand others when we're gentle. The opposite of peace is not war, it's fear. Gentleness Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com) It is necessary, then, that we wield this authority with gentleness. hardness docility, intentional mildness roughness docility, intentional mildness abruptness steepness harshness imperviousness docility, intentional mildness precipitousness brutality unkindness Filters Most terms are nouns Suggest 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. The apostle Paul wrote that gentleness was one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Even in His rebuke, God restrains Himself and speaks with a gentle tone (1 Kings 19:12). Consider what would happen if the omnipotent God was characterized by harshness with his creatures made of dust. Finally, we can incorporate gentleness into our own lives. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2).