Year of the Holy Spirit: Fruit of the Holy Spirit "Gentleness"

Galatians 5:22–26 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.59 πραΰτης, ητος; πραϋπαθία, ας

88.59 πραΰτης, ητος f; πραϋπαθία, ας f: gentleness of attitude and behavior, in contrast with harshness in one’s dealings with others—‘gentleness, meekness, mildness.’

πραΰτης: μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πραΰτητος ‘be always humble and meek’ Eph 4:2.

πραϋπαθία: δίωκε … ὑπομονήν, πραϋπαθίαν ‘strive for … endurance and gentleness’ 1 Tm 6:11.

In a number of languages ‘gentleness’ is often expressed as a negation of harshness, so that ‘gentleness’ may often by rendered as ‘not being harsh with people,’ but gentleness may also be expressed in some instances in an idiomatic manner, for example, ‘always speaking softly to’ or ‘not raising one’s voice.’

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Gentle

1gen•tle \ˈjen-təl\ adjective

gen•tler \ˈjent-lər, -təl-ər\; gen•tlest \ˈjent-ləst, -təl-əst\ [Middle English gentil, from Anglo-French, from Latin gentilis of a gens, of one’s family, from gent-, gens gens, nation; akin to Latin gignere to beget—more at KIN] 13th century

1 a: belonging to a family of high social station

b archaic: CHIVALROUS

c: HONORABLE, DISTINGUISHED specifically: of or relating to a gentleman

d: KIND, AMIABLE—used especially in address as a complimentary epithet 〈gentle reader〉

e: suited to a person of high social station

2 a: TRACTABLE, DOCILE

b: free from harshness, sternness, or violence

3: SOFT, DELICATE

4: MODERATE—gent•ly \ˈjent-lē\ adverb

2gentle noun

14th century: a person of gentle birth or status

3gentle verb

gen•tled; gen•tling \ˈjent-liŋ, ˈjen-təl-iŋ\ verb transitive 14th century

1: to raise from the commonalty: ENNOBLE

2 a: to make gentler

b: to make (an animal) tame and docile

c: MOLLIFY, PLACATE

Restraint coupled with strength and courage. it describes a person who can be angry when anger is needed and humbly submissive when submission is needed.

2 Timothy 2:22–26 NKJV

22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

1) Gentleness is not weakness, it is power under control.

Gentleness is opposite of anger.

Gentleness has the power to overtake but does not.

it is a balance of temperament.

as Christians we should be careful what we get involved in.

we can so get misrepresented.

2) Gentleness is about Jesus not me, (or you).

1 Peter 3:15–17 NKJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.59 ἐλπίζω; ἐλπίς, ίδος

25.59 ἐλπίζωa; ἐλπίςa, ίδος f: to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial—‘to hope, to hope for, hope.’

ἐλπίζωa: ἡμεῖς δὲ ἠλπίζομεν ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ μέλλων λυτροῦσθαι τὸν Ἰσραήλ ‘and we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to redeem Israel’ Lk 24:21; ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι ‘because we have placed our hope in the living God’ 1 Tm 4:10.

ἐλπίςa: περὶ ἐλπίδος καὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν ἐγὼ κρίνομαι ‘I am on trial (here) because I hope that the dead will rise to life’ Ac 23:6; ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν ‘in order that through patience and encouragement given by the Scriptures we might have hope’ Ro 15:4.

1 Timothy 4:9–11 NKJV

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

Gentleness comes from hope.

hope is knowing that God is going to make good out of this.

knowing that good is coming because God is working in your life.

this is the truth you have to have, if you have saved then God is working His glory in your life.

3. at the core of the discussion on gentleness is this question, do you want to be right or do you want to be a witness.