The Fruit of the Holy Spirit - What is gentleness?

Finally, "faithfulness, gentleness, self control." These three are personal to ourselves. Do you have faith? "Have it to yourself before God" (Rom.14:22). We must neither act on the faith of another, nor press another to act on our faith, though we may give him the Word of God to encourage him to act on his own faith. Gentleness (or meekness) is that quality that simply submits to personal humiliation, if need be, without demanding our personal "rights" as we see them. Self-control is a great inner conquest, as Proverbs 16:32 reminds us: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." In contrast, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls" (Prov.25:28). "Against such there is no law." They are the spontaneous fruit of the Spirit, operating unquenched and ungrieved in our lives. Law neither produces or prohibits them.

He pleads guilty, with the utmost frankness, to being "base" or "mean" in his outward appearance. He was quite undistinguished to look at: when converted he took the name Paul, which means "Little." Now he was absent from them, and he was bold toward them. But further he expected presently to visit them, and he besought them so to carry themselves that he need not come amongst them with bold and powerful discipline which might be to their discomfiture. This he besought them by "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" — a very delicate yet powerful lever!

Meekness is not weakness, neither is gentleness that pliable softness that can be twisted in any direction. Meekness and self-assertiveness stand in contrast to each other: so do gentleness and harshness. Meekness is a matter of character — the Lord Jesus said, "I am meek and lowly in heart" — and so it comes first. Gentleness is more a question of one's manner. He who is meek in character will be gentle in manner. He who is self-assertive in character will be harsh in manner. Supreme meekness and supreme gentleness were found in Christ; and yet no one was bolder than He, when it was a question of maintaining the right or opposing the evil. In a very large measure the Apostle was following His steps, and hence boldness as well as meekness and gentleness were found in him.

epieikes (from epi and eiko, to yield) is another word translated, "patient" in A.V. in 1 Tim. 3:3 — associated there with amachos, "not a brawler" or "not addicted to contention," as in Titus 3:2, where it is "gentle," also James 3:17 and 1 Peter 2:18. In Phil. 4:5 (in a substantive form) it is "moderation." (See also 2 Cor. 10:1 for the noun, "gentleness," and Acts 24:4, "clemency.") Difficult to represent by any one word in English, it is "equity" in contrast to the strict letter of the law, hence readiness to waive all rigour and severity even as to just legal redress (as Bishop Ellicott expresses it); it is the opposite of standing upon one's rights, "mild," "gentle." As compared with praotes, in the expression "meekness (pr) and gentleness (ep) of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:1), the first would be more the state of the inner mind, the second must necessarily express itself in relation to others. epieikes is used by the LXX. in Psalm 86 (Ps. 85) 5 of the Lord for what answers to our "ready to forgive."

In 2 Corinthians 10:1, we have a parallel passage. "Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ". The word there for gentleness, as referring to Christ, is the word that is used here. Meekness would perhaps be an inward heart matter, and gentleness that which comes out in relation to all men.

Next we have "gentleness." This is relative too. The spiritual are very careful to be considerate, not of and for themselves, but of others. Is overbearing, or abruptness, of Christ? Is harshness of Christ? The gentleness of a nurse cherishing her children is that by which Paul illustrates his manner of caring for and helping on the saints. "To the weak he became as weak," etc., and this to win. A stern or short way, which stuns or snubs, is not of the Spirit, but unspiritual.

Turning to 2 Corinthians 10:1, we find some more refreshing fruit that marked the life of Christ. First we read of "the meekness of Christ". The Apostle is correcting the spirit of rivalry that had been working amongst the Corinthian saints, whereby some of the gifted servants were measuring themselves with one another, and seeking to commend themselves. So doing they were walking in the flesh, and warring after the flesh, glorying in their gifts, talking about themselves, boasting in their work, and belittling the Apostle. To correct their vanity and self-assertiveness, he brings before them the meekness of Christ who never asserted His rights, or defended Himself; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. The chief priests may defame Him, but "Jesus held His peace"; He is falsely accused before Pilate, but "He answered him to never a word". He is mocked by Herod, but "He answered him nothing". Good for us, if, in the presence of defamation and insults we could catch something of the spirit of the Lord and show the meekness that refuses to assert our rights, stand upon our dignity, or defend ourselves.

Then the Apostle speaks of "the gentleness of Christ". Another lovely quality that He ever exhibited in the presence of opposition. Seeking to obey the word of the Lord and maintain the truth we shall soon find that there are those who will oppose and raise questions that lead to strife. But the servant of "the Lord must not strive" but seek to act in the spirit of the Lord and be "gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient". The gentleness of Christ speaks of the manner in which He acted and spoke. How often, with ourselves, even if our motive is right, and the principles we stand for are true, all is spoilt because our manner is lacking in graciousness and gentleness. Let us remember the striking words of the Psalmist, "Thy gentleness has made me great" (Ps. 18:35). Our vehemence may easily degenerate into violence by which we belittle ourselves in the eyes of others; but gentleness will make us great. Violence draws out violence; but gentleness is irresistible. "The fruit of the Spirit … is gentleness."

Meekness is most seen in bearing with what we meet with that is in any way contrary to us. Gentleness has the field of its exercise in active dealing with others. Notice how extensively this spirit is directly inculcated in the New Testament. In the first place the Apostle Peter teaches us that the characteristic calling of a Christian, as to this world, is to do well and suffer for it, and take it patiently (see 1 Peter 2:20-23). And in suffering for righteousness, on which our Lord has pronounced His blessing, the same Apostle says, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). And when speaking of what kind of dress is becoming in the light of God for Christian women, he says, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Our Lord in giving the characteristics of those who would have part with Him in His kingdom, says, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

If we understand this, as applied to believers, we shall comprehend more readily what Paul terms ‘the gentleness of Christ’. His will was never broken (far be the thought!), because it was perfect. But, never exercising it, because He came to do the Father’s will, He was always in complete submission to the Father. He lived by reason of the Father, never moved or acted excepting at the Father’s word, and thus He ever did the things that pleased Him. He did nothing from Himself but what He saw the Father do; ‘for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise’ (John 5:19). Hence, when in the presence of evil and of the overflowing of Satan’s power, losing sight of the blind and wicked instruments of the enemy, He could say, ‘the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?’ (John 18:11). He was gentleness itself in the face of unrestrained violence. So also when before the high priest and the Jewish council, and also before Pilate, His meekness and gentleness were conspicuous both in His attitude and in His words. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth (see Matt. 27).

Leaving the reader to trace out the same blessed features during His ministry, for they are ‘written large’ by all the evangelists, we now desire to point out that what is seen in Christ should be exemplified by His people. The same apostle thus writes to the Philippians, ‘Let your moderation be known unto all men’ (4:5). This word ‘moderation’ is the same as that which is translated ‘gentleness’ in the passage under consideration; and this is really its true force. Another word has been suggested, namely, yieldingness; but yieldingness is only the expression of a gentle spirit. And in Philippians it is the outward conduct which is in view, and outward conduct or demeanour towards all, believers and unbelievers; for it says ‘unto all men’. The form then which gentleness would assume towards men would be that of never insisting on one’s own opinions or fancied rights, but seeking with a chastened subduedness to retire and to take the lowest place in the presence of others, yielding everything to those around excepting where faithfulness to God and to His Word requires firmness. And what a powerful motive is given for the cultivation of gentleness in the words, ‘The Lord is at hand’! In view of His coming we may well be content to leave everything that affects ourselves to the adjustment of that day.

ἐπιεικής (from ἐπι and εἴκω, 'to yield') is another word translated 'patient' in A.V. in 1 Tim. 3:3 — associated there with ἄμαχος 'not a brawler,' or 'not addicted to contention,' as in Titus 3:2, where it is 'gentle,' also James 3:17 and 1 Peter 2:18. In Phil. 4:5 (in a substantive form) it is 'moderation.' See also 2 Cor. 10:1 for the noun, 'gentleness,' and Acts 24:4 'clemency.' Difficult to represent by any one word in English, it is 'equity' in contrast to the strict letter of the law, hence readiness to waive all rigour and severity even as to just legal redress (as Bishop Ellicot expresses it); it is the opposite of standing upon one's rights, 'mild,' 'gentle.' As compared with πρᾳότης (for which see No. 34) in the expression "meekness (πρ.) and gentleness (ἐπ.) of Christ," 2 Cor. 10:1; the first would be more the state of the inner mind, the second must necessarily express itself in relation to others. ἐπιεικής is used by the LXX in Ps. 86:5 (Ps. 85, LXX) of the Lord for what answers to our 'ready to forgive.'

The word translated "yieldingness" or "gentleness" is epieikeia, and is another of those Greek words almost impossible to translate. Recently there has been a very useful little book published, intended for missionaries: but good for us all: it is called, "Have We No Rights?" I fancy that the fair authoress of this little book had been having special lessons from the Lord Himself in epieikeia. One who has epieikeia will not insist on his rights, even though they truly are his rights: but he will yield. It has been translated "sweet-reasonableness". But that only tells part.