Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. His laws are also reasonable and easy to obey; neither He nor they enslave. Galatians 5:23 says, against such there is no law.. 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. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. God provides many examples of gentleness in the bible, Jesus himself being the best model. To really understand this word, think of a powerful animal that is brought under control. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus was also known for his gentleness. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, take a moment to ask God for his gentleness, and then extend that same grace to those around you. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Gentleness [N] Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. 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. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.. His consolations are spoken gently ( Job 15:11 ). Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt. How different things would have been if Paul had not shown such gentleness! 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. When someone considers someone to have the quality of epiekes, they would say that this is a pleasurable person to be around. The disciple James also wrote that Christians should be gentle toward all men (James 1:27). Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2). The Fruit of Gentleness Leads to Blessing - MichaelChristian.us Why Gentleness Is So Important As a Christian, you demonstrate the Spirit at work in your life when you show gentleness. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. We need His help to be gentle! His creation will end in a new beginning. It requires great strength and self-control. Meekness - Bible Tools If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Actually, gentleness requires quite a bit of strength and self-control. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. You will be blessed and rewarded by God when you get to heaven and receive His peace and favor here on earth too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. "Paul to TimothyII Timothy 2: 2KJV, We have Ads Running on this site. He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper" ( 1 Kings 19:11-13 ). Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. People have been searching for this treasure for hundred of years. Gentleness Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com) Even in our sin, He continues to love us. A gentle touch or kind word can go a long way in building trust and rapport, fostering cooperation and obedience. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. What is the definition of gentleness? A gentle heart comes from having love for others. People should be able to see Christ in us because we are kind and gentle to others, even when they are not to us. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Its hard to extend grace when someone has offended us. All Rights Reserved. So now that we understand the call to gentleness and its many benefits, how do we put it into practice?Here are 10 ways you can show gentleness: Here are some bible verses on gentleness to encourage and build you up. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. These great examples of gentleness help us to see practically what that looks like in everyday life. The current search on Oak Island is slow and methodical. Galatians 5 . Gentleness in marriage As wives, we don't have the physical strength our husbands do, usually. 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. 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. I'm Christina, a mom of three who is passionate about helping Christian parents and caregivers tend to their children with the full character of Jesus, including his gentleness. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone (Titus 3:1-2). That king, now come in the flesh, is "gentle and humble in heart" ( Matt 11:29 ). There are two other types of peace. Watch your tone so that what you have to say will be well received. In fact, it was his gentleness that allowed him to touch the hearts of so many people and change their lives forever. Yet, he is gentle with us. 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 - jw.org Beginning and End God has neither beginning nor end. You and those around you reap many benefits by prioritizing gentleness. 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. 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. What does the Bible say about temperance? | GotQuestions.org Its the opposite of harshness, and it means that we dont try to force our beliefs or ideas on others. His manner is not harsh or abrasive. God is often described as being gentle. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young" ( Isa 40:11 ). When we are gentle with our children, we model for them the way God treats uswith patience, understanding, and love. When we develop lazy attitudes in some areas, that laziness tends to spread to other areas as well. 4.) Im too self-centered to stop and kiss my childs scraped knee. He was talking about people who have mastered themselves their appetites, their passions, and their pride so that they can act with wisdom and self-control instead of being controlled by their emotions. and pushy. About 5 years ago, Robert Ringer wrote the book Looking Out For Number One. This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. Paul appeals to believers "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" ( 2 Cor 10:1 ). The opposite of peace is not war, it's fear. Masters of Self | Desiring God We live in a broken world, and it can be easy to become jaded and hardened by the pain we see around us. Knowing themselves to be subject to weakness, they can more readily deal gently with the ignorant and the erring. We are to exercise our spiritual strength in love. Some argue that a gentleness is just as strong if not stronger as brute force. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Be considerate of others feelings and needs. The Bible Truth of Gentleness: Does It Really Work? - Bible Study Tools But the reality is that war is more of a surface behaviour, something seen, rather than exposing the deeper things taking place inside. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is love? Just like how Jesus was gentle with the woman in this story, God is gentle with us. They are believed to have been as close as anyone possible. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. Gentleness, also translated "meekness," does not mean weakness. But the more I study, the more I find that gentleness is one of the chief Christian virtues. But the Bible speaks differently. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). List of Opposites In the Bible - Bible Things that are Poles Apart It's the opposite of anger and harshness. But for me, it was quite revelatory. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance andgentleness (I Timothy 6:11). 11:29 NIV). For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Note that the Catholic church includes a few additional fruits as part of tradition, listing 12: A passage from the Bible is even more powerful if we read what comes before it: at the end of chapter ten, the prophet Isaiah says that God is going to cut down all the trees, and that's why there's "a stump" when this passage begins. We do this whenever we feel afraid of the future. Let believers clothe themselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" ( Col 3:12 ). Extend grace when someone offends you, even if they dont deserve it. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? Salem Media Group. The Strength of Gentleness - Peaceful Wife 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. Why is it important for Christians to be gentle? Here is a sample of their uses. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. The biblical concept of gentleness is based on the idea that humans are made in the image of God and are therefore to be treated with dignity and respect. Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation. Here are some steps you can take to learn how to be more gentle with others: 1. Doesnt gentleness keep us from getting things done? I am too busy to listen to my child's story. Pride and self-assertionthe opposite of gentlenessruled in the hearts of the Jewish leaders. What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). When we see it this way, we can begin to work toward becoming gentler. Gentleness is an attitude or disposition that involves treating others with care and courtesy (1 Pet 3:8). Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness - The Sisterhood Hub This is what we are called to do as Christs disciples! 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). . In sharing the good news of the gospel we are to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). This means more that which is fitting, right, and equitable. Think of this more as being kind and nice. Its a quality of character. 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. This verse tells us that we should not only be kind toward others but also put their needs before our own. This means more "that which is fitting, right, and equitable." The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is peace? Required fields are marked *. What is gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit? 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). Gentleness means taking into account someone or something's well being. Gentleness is getting something done. Gentleness is the quality of being kind, considerate, and mild. Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. The Sinful Nature vs. the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. 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. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. All rights reserved. Galatians 5:22-23. Focus on the positive qualities of the person who hurt you instead of their negative actions. 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. Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. Sometimes gentleness is used interchangeably with "meekness" in the Bible. In sum, the Scriptures show God as a kind and gentle leader. 889 opposites of gentleness- words and phrases with opposite meaning. 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. Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak. People will see Jesus in us when we are gentle. 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! One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is gentleness. Practice patience and kindness in your everyday interactions with others. brutality. But what does it mean to be gentle? It should not be seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. Gentleness In The Bible Definition - CHURCHGISTS.COM For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. Instead, let us show compassion on those around us by being gentle towards themespecially those who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Resentfulness and divisiveness. But thats ignorant of Roman history and the state of corruption within the religious leaders in his day. We could all use some extra tips for living out gentleness these days. If you want to see real, biblical gentleness, open your bible to one of the gospels, and reflect on Jesus's words and actions. It seems to be synonymous with being a good person. 1915. It's a way of life. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness - Life, Hope & Truth 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. God wants children to learn obedience to Him through their parents. brutality. 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. That is the biblical picture of gentleness. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the LXX, the word prautes appears 12 times, and 11 times in the New Testament. What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1). of Gentleness antonyms - 889 Opposites of Gentleness - Power Thesaurus Being gentle has a long history in many, but not all cultures. When we are gentle with our children, we send the message that they are safe and loved. We also model for them the importance of exhibiting self-control and respect. Is it not fitting then for believers to exude this same characteristic? To me, its important to raise my children with gentleness and tenderness. 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. But His grace is sufficient for us, right!? 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. Gentleness is not weakness, but rather a powerful force for good in the world. But gentleness is also opposed to lazy apathy and insensitivity. Its a quality of character. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. The Bible tells us that God is gentle and loving and that we should imitate His character in our own lives. People who are gentle usually have a lot of inner peace and self-control.