Gentleness

Gentleness - (prautēs)

root word - (praus)

Gentleness (prautēs) is mentioned 11 times in the N.T.

Identified by Paul as the 9th fruit of the Spirit

Defined as gentle; meek; humble; even tempered

Gentleness or meekness literally means “power under control.”

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. The Transformation of Christian Living (vv. 5–17)

Gentleness has been described as “power under control”; the picture of a powerful horse under the control of its master is a helpful image.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. The Transformation of Christian Living (vv. 5–17)

The believer is to be clothed with gentleness, sometimes translated “meekness.” Gentleness has been described as “power under control”; the picture of a powerful horse under the control of its master is a helpful image. The attitude behind gentleness is an attitude of refusing to demand one’s rights. The believer is to be clothed with patience which is the capacity to bear injustice or injury without revenge or retaliation.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. The Transformation of Christian Living (vv. 5–17)

Gentleness has been described as “power under control”; the picture of a powerful horse under the control of its master is a helpful image.

Exegesis of

Exegesis

Galatians 5 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Exegesis

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. The Transformat

English Standard Version Chapter 4

21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness

Paul gives an idealogical contrast with the fruits of the spirit and living in freedom from the law, versus fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and not inheriting the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Overview of Galatians

Paul gives an idealogical contrast with the fruits of the spirit and living in freedom from the law, versus fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and not inheriting the kingdom of God.

Paul uses a

Can be described as “power under control.”

Paul gives an idealogical contrast with the fruits of the spirit and living in freedom from the law, versus fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and not inheriting the kingdom of God.

Paul uses contrast to compare the liberty of serving one another with the liberty used for the flesh.

Idealogical particularization identifies the various fruits of the Spirit necessary for walking in the Spirit.

to move from the general, “do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

Paul uses contrast and particularization to move from the general, “do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another—to identifying the fruits of the Spirit.

—to identifying the fruits of the Spirit.

Paul uses contrast and particularization to move from the general, “do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another—to identifying the fruits of the Spirit.

Jesus was meek (praus)

English Standard Version Chapter 11

29 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.

Idealogical explanation for taking on Christ’s yoke for His gentle or meek nature will you give you rest in your souls.

How

Gentleness creates harmony within God’s Kingdom of believers:

Gentleness worki

Gentleness pardons and

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

Gentleness creates harmony within God’s Kingdom of believers:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Gentleness is the trait of a servant:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness.

Paul that a Holy Spirit led life enables us to live in communion with other people within God’s Kingdom.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

English Standard Version Chapter 11

29 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.

Meekness is a trait of the of the beatitudes in “The Sermon on the Mount.”

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Interchangeable with humility, courtesy, considerateness, and meekness