opposite of gentleness in the bible
Consider others as important and worthy of kind regard. The Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek NT defines it this way: Prautes denotes the humble and gentle attitude which expresses itself, in particular, in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice and desire for revenge controlled strength, the ability to bear reproaches and slights without bitterness and resentment; the ability to provide a soothing influence on someone who is in a state of anger, bitterness and resentment against life the word indicates an obedient submissiveness to God and His will, with unwavering faith and enduring patience displaying itself in a gentle attitude and kind acts toward others, and this often in the face of opposition.. According to that definition, one could say that gentleness isnt doing, it is being done to. To be gentle means showing love and care for others in how you act and speak. Meekness however may be distinguished from gentleness in that meekness is the way one regards oneself, and is therefore described in the Scriptures as 'lowliness of mind.' (e.g. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. It is related to another Greek word often used in the New Testament, (tapeinophrosyne), which speaks of humility or lowliness of mind. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. By modeling Gods character in our own lives, we give our children the best possible foundation for a happy and successful future. He comes to them not "with a whip [but] in love and with a gentle spirit" ( 1 Cor 4:21 ). Rather than asserting superiority, someone who is gentle wants to help others, even when they have been done wrong. Here are some steps you can take to learn how to be more gentle with others: 1. 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. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. 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. Gentleness. Meditate on Scripture verses about forgiveness and grace. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. Jesus was also known for his gentleness. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. 1915. There is one main Greek word translated gentlenessprauetes. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Is it? When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. The good news is that Gentleness can be learned. . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The disciple James also wrote that Christians should be gentle toward all men (James 1:27). Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness. He emphasizes the gentle aspect of meekness toward others. This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. Proud member Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In the Scriptures gentleness is at times translated as meekness. His manner is not harsh or abrasive. It is the opposite of being harsh with others. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your 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. It is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit by good work and a gentle tongue. By showing gentleness to our spouses, we are not only making them feel loved and appreciated, but we are also setting a tone of respect and consideration that will spill over into other areas of our lives. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is gentleness? They are believed to have been as close as anyone possible. The opposite of temperance is self-indulgence. The Bible teaches us that we should be gentle in all our relationshipseven with our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). I am not affectionate, and I fail to give loving hugs. 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. That means that if you want to be like Jesus, then gentleness should be one of your top priorities. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. "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. Father / Grandfather / Minister / Missionary / Deacon / Elder / Author / What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? How different things would have been if Paul had not shown such gentleness! Because gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can show true gentleness. In addition, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which God is gentle with us. The Bible is full of examples of gentleness. There are many benefits to being gentle. Practice patience and kindness in your everyday interactions with others. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, we will have the fruit of gentleness in our lives. Salem Media Group. Why is it important for us to follow Gods example of gentleness? Note here that the opposite of gentleness is a desire for revenge, anger, and self -aggrandizement. In order to be gentle, we must not view ourselves as better than someone else. Posted on Monday, May 17, 2021 by K-LOVE Pastors. 8. It seems to be synonymous with being a good person. Just like how Jesus was gentle with the woman in this story, God is gentle with us. And does it accomplish things? Knowing themselves to be subject to weakness, they can more readily deal gently with the ignorant and the erring. Its the opposite of harshness, and it means that we dont try to force our beliefs or ideas on others. We could all use some extra tips for living out gentleness these days. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus is explaining why we should embrace His way of life. When you treat others gently you gain trust and respect. Its not a weakness, but a strength. This is similar to how Peter uses the word (1 Peter 3:16). The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Again, the goal is always the unity of the Spirit; that is the demonstrated testimony of transforming gospel power. Prautes describes a condition of mind and heartan internal attitudewhereas gentleness (mildness combined with tenderness) refers to actionsan external behavior. 3. I get upset easily and raise my voice. The gentleness of Jesus is a subject that has been much talked about over the years. Of all the character traits which could have been part of the fruit of the Spirit, why is gentleness in that list? Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth (2Timothy 2:15). Let believers clothe themselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" ( Col 3:12 ). The Bible tells us that God is gentle and loving and that we should imitate His character in our own lives. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and . Jesus was gentle, even when He was being crucified. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? We have swallowed the worlds view of power and control. Gentleness in our day of polarization and heated rhetoric might go a long way in helping people to see the beauty of Jesus. It is necessary, then, that we wield this authority with gentleness. Each aspect of this fruit is characteristic of Christ Jesus. We need to be intentional about showing our spouse gentleness. It should not be seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. We will not be easily offended and will control our tempers. Is It True That Gentleness Gets Nothing Done. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Always be humble andgentle. Gentle Like a Shepherd. 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. If you are looking for a more in-depth gentleness bible study, there are many bible study tools and bible dictionaries to help you. Empathy is acknowledging another persons point of view to understand their feelings. 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. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. Gentleness is a marker of power used and handled properly. . For some, this might be a no-brainer. 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. 4. of the flesh" "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. By his Spirit, Christ cultivates the same quality in his people ( Gal 5:23 ). It was a failure, and he tore up a good deal of potential evidence. 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. All Rights Reserved. 11 Points: How Did Aaron Die in the Bible? Gentleness is a requisite for a servant of God, particularly one in a responsible position of oversight. He does not keep record of our wrongs, but offers forgiveness if we come to Him. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. These verses can be applied to any relationship or interaction with have with others. Sharpness, coldness, or evil. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.. Beginning and End God has neither beginning nor end. If God were brutish, not a one of us could stand. When someone considers someone to have the quality of epiekes, they would say that this is a pleasurable person to be around. 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. Both qualities come from God and both are fruits of His Spirit at work in our lives. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). 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. We're also more likely to receive blessings from God. But the opposite is true. Let's think of when Jesus portrayed kindness and gentleness.
opposite of gentleness in the bible