Gentleness (aka meekness) is a quality of God given to you by the Holy Spirit. It is an inner beauty shown by the way we treat others. It pairs well with love! Cherish your new life in Christ and learn to use this virtue.

Gentleness: Learn How to Use This Godly Quality Better

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Colossians 3:12. Bible lesson background Colossians 3:12-17: TBD.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: “In the Bible, meekness is so closely linked with humility, gentleness and kindness that the reader may have difficulty distinguishing between them. Together they represent a quality of human nature that was found perfectly in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1), and that is desirable in all those who follow him (Ephesians 4:1-2).”

Colossians 3:12 [read Colossians 3:12-17 (12)]

God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others; be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. (ICB)

KJV: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

G4236 πρᾳότης praotes (prai-o’-tees) n. gentleness, mildness, meekness. Strong’s Definitions: gentleness, by implication, humility:—meekness.

Summary

Think about this

The gentleness received from God is not cruel or violent. A gentle person is willing to adjust and put others first. Their calm, caring nature is accompanied by meekness. It is inner beauty and quality that shows God is inside.

Key Points:

A Godly Quality

Bible Background Commentary: Jesus, however, identifies with those of low social status, a value more prominent in Jewish piety.

Matthew 11:29 [read Matthew 11:25-30 (29)]

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly-minded, and ‘you shall find rest for your souls’; (TCNT)

KJV: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

A state of being

Live in a modest, unselfish, gentle, and easy-going way. Put up with each other in peace with love.

Ephesians 4:1-3 [read Ephesians 4:1-6 (1-3)]

Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. 2 Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, 3 and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. (CEB)

KJV: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Gentle love

Help each other using gentle love. That is in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

Galatians 6:1-2 [read Galatians 6:1-5 (1-2)]

My friends, if someone is led astray by sin, you who are spiritual should bring them back with a gentle spirit. Watch out that you don’t get tempted too. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, for in this way you fulfill the law of Christ. (FBV)

KJV: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

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Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 [read Galatians 5:16-26 (22-23)]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (WEB)

KJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness^G5544, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

From the Greek lexicon

Chrestotes – gentleness; kindness; goodness

G5544 χρηστότης chrestotes (chree-sto’-tees) n. 1. benignity, kindness.

Praotes – meekness; gentleness; mildness

G4236 πρᾳότης praotes (prai-o’-tees) n. 1. gentleness, mildness, meekness. 2. (by implication) humility. [from G4235] KJV: meekness.

FYI: There are many English words used for praotes by Bible translators. They are modesty, temperance, meekness, gentleness, humility, reasonableness, graciousness, mildness, tolerance, and courtesy. The two most common are meekness and gentleness.

NOTE: The NKJV and RKJNT replaced gentleness (KJV; chrestotes) with kindness and meekness (KJV; praotes) with gentleness.

Gentleness defined

Gentleness is the quality or state of being gentle. A person who uses gentleness is generous, kind, considerate, and thoughtful in manner. They keep up a state of mildness, tenderness, softness, and honor.

If you have the Holy Spirit, you have gentleness. So you should also be: friendly, peaceful, patient, modest, and easy-going. In other words you don’t give people a hard time.

Synonyms for “gentleness”

• Benevolent – Marked by or disposed to do good, an act of kindness, a generous gift; gracious; manifesting kindness and gentleness.
• Delicate – Finely sensitive in feeling, understanding, or responding; having or showing a sensitive distaste for anything offensive or improper.
• Meek – Mild tempered; soft; gentle; not easily angered or irritated. Mellow and uses self-control when hurt by others.
• Moderate – Keeping within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme; not violent.
• Pity – To experience or express compassion; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion or fellow suffering.
• Softhearted – Full of compassion or tenderness; not strict or severe.
• Tenderhearted – Easily moved to pity; sympathetic.

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Your Conduct

The conduct of a godly, wise person shows that they are intelligent, humble, and gentle. James 3:17 gives you a few tips for proper behavior. Does your conduct meet the James 3:17 standard?

James 3:13-15 and 17 [read James 3:13-18 (13-15 and 17)]

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
17 But span class=”veryimportant”>the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. (NHEB)

KJV: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Be gentle

Gentle are the ways of a child of God. Their actions let others know if they are wise and spirit-led. A wise, intelligent, or gentle person does not resort to using harsh, hurtful words or violence. They are not bitter or too ambitious (greedy). However, they are thoughtful, calm, humble, and caring.

Philippians 4:5 [read Philippians 4:2-7 (5)]

Let your gentleness (mildness) (moderation) be known to all men for the Lord is near. (NSB)

KJV: Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Epieikes – moderation; gentle

G1933 ἐπιεικής epieikes (e-piy-ei-kees’) adj. gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate.

Not weakness

“Do not confuse gentleness with weakness. God is gentle but also firm.” – Tim

Romans 2:6-8 [read Romans 2:6-8 (6-8)]

God will reward or punish every person for what he has done. 7 Some people live for God’s glory, for honor, and for life that has no end. They live for those things by always continuing to do good. God will give life forever to them. 8 But other people are selfish and refuse to follow truth. They follow evil. God will give them his punishment and anger. (ICB)

KJV: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Jesus was not always gentle. A good example is when He dealt with the merchants and money changers. He made a whip of small cords and drove them out of the temple. Then he poured out the changers’ money and overturned their tables. Read John 2:13-22 for the full story.

Jesus clears out the temple court

John 2:14-16 [read John 2:13-22 (14-16)]

In the temple courtyard he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were sitting at tables exchanging money.
15 So Jesus made a whip out of ropes. He chased all the sheep and cattle from the temple courtyard. He scattered the coins of the people exchanging money. And he turned over their tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (NIRV)

KJV: And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

Discipline and correction, or love and a gentle spirit?

Paul made it clear that there was a time to be firm. Read his warning to the church in Corinth.

Utley’s Commentary: Gentleness was not included in the Greek or Stoic lists of virtues, because the Greeks saw it as a weakness. It is uniquely Christian.

1 Corinthians 4:21 [read 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 (21)]

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit? (AMP)

KJV: What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Pett’s Commentary: It does not mean that we just give way on everything and are afraid to stand up for what is right.

My friend, there is a time to be gentle and a time to be firm. Do not mistake gentleness for weakness. God will pour out His wrath on all who disobey Him (including Christians who do not obey Him).

God’s anger toward sin

Ephesians 5:6-7 [read Ephesians 5:1-7 (6)]

Do not let anyone have a chance to deceive you with a false message about those kinds of bad things [listed in verses 3-5]. God will certainly punish people who do not obey him. 7 So keep away from those kinds of people. (EASY)

KJV: Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

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Gentleness – Be Gentle

Titus 3:1-3 [read Titus 3:1-8 (1-3)]

Remind God’s people to follow their rulers and authorities and to be ready to do what is good. 2 Tell them not to say bad things about anybody but to live in peace, consider the needs of others, and always be gentle toward everyone. (RAD)

KJV: Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Life of the new person

Colossians 3:12-13 [read Colossians 3:12-17 (12-13)]

God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.’ (ERV)

KJV: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Monitor the way you treat people to see if you have changed into a true follower of Christ. You have His Spirit, allow it to work in your life; even ‘manly men’ can be gentle.

Gentlemen and Ladies

1 Peter 2:9 [read 1 Peter 2:4-10 (9)]

However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (GW)

KJV: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

As children of the King of kings, you are royal. You were born into the royal holy family by the Holy Spirit. You have qualities considered proper to those of good birth or high social standing; refined; polite and distinguished. Cherish your new life in Christ, be gentle people that please God our King. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Fruit of the Spirit: Helpful Qualities Just For You! – an estimated 19-minute read.

Kindness: A Quality All Christians Should Show To Others – an estimated 19-minute read.

Godly Love Is From God And A Genuine Gift – an estimated 7-minute read.

Goodness Says: I Have A Great Outlook On Life! – an estimated 13-minute read.

Personal Responsibility Alert; Warning, You Are in God’s Spotlight! – an estimated 18-minute read.