But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Summary: Gentleness is not the same as weakness.
The concept of gentleness is a tough one to translate from Greek. Paul used the word “praotēs,” which implies humility.* What is a bit confusing is that earlier Paul was telling Timothy to “command certain people” and “command and teach these things.”
How is he supposed to “command” people on one hand, and be “humble” on the other?
One of the amazing things about the Bible is that there are so many examples like this one, where two seeming contradictory things are both true.
On the one hand, commanding people doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be rude. It is entirely possible to be firm and at the same time meek.
On the other hand, being gentle doesn’t equate to being milquetoast. A gentle person can still be firm.
Gentleness, then, is not weakness. It doesn’t mean we stand down when things don’t go God’s way.
Jesus is a good example.
People like to point to Jesus clearing the temple courtyard with a whip as a picture of “angry Jesus.” But the Bible does not say he was angry. After clearing the temple courts, John writes:
“His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” (John 2:17)
Jesus was zealous for his Father’s house.
Was he gentle?
By God’s standards, yes. He could have had the ground open up as in the days of Korah† and swallow all the vendors and money changers, but he didn’t.
Compared to what he could have done, he was being very gentle.
Application: Remember, when looking to Jesus as an example, we are not God.
Food for Thought: How does gentleness affect conflict in the church?
*”G4236 – praotēs – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Jul, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4236/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
† Numbers 16
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Thanks Jeff
❤️
How does gentleness affect conflict in the church?
What would Jesus do?
We live in the freedom given to us by God, to choose what we determine to be truth and not truth.
It helps to look at what Jesus did do. Jesus never controlled or manipulated others to agree; instead, he asked questions and invited others into conversation to help them see where they stood in relation to Him. We allow others to define themselves. We allow others to say who they are and what they think and believe, even if it is different from us.
We are empowered by Jesus’s ability to stay connected with those who don’t understand Him or His mission and even those who opposed Him at every turn. He loved Peter, who undermined His mission and then betrayed him. Jesus frequently entered into prophetic debate with the religious leaders who were trying to trap Him and then accepted invitations to eat in their homes. Even on the cross, He connected to His enemies by asking His Father to forgive them.
Matthew 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.
Galatians 5:23, Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2 Timothy 2:24-25, And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
The truths of God are best revealed gently and thoroughly allowing the receiver the opportunity to contemplate, and accept or reject according to their will.
Thank you, Ron!
Very well said!
Good devotion brother. Jesus is definitely an excellent example of gentleness while not being weak.
Thanks, Rich!