the fruit of the Spirit is. . . meekness. Galatians 5:23
Our word here, “meekness,” is translated from the Greek word prautes. William Barclay, the noted Scottish theologian, said of this word that it is “the most untranslatable of words in the New Testament.”
Prautes is most often translated as “meekness,” which is fine as far as it goes. The problem is most don’t understand what the English word meekness means. The Reader’s Digest Oxford Complete Word Finder offers these synonyms: tame, timid, mild, bland, unambitious, retiring, docile, acquiescent, repressed, suppressed, spiritless, broken, and wimpish.
Sometimes prautes is translated “humility,” other times as “gentleness.” And while this word embodies both of these ideas there’s still more to it. Prautes is rooted in a proper understanding of self (humility) and it expresses itself in a courteous way (gentleness), but we’re still missing something.
Prautes is the idea of strength under control. Aristotle said that it is “the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger, but to be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.” (On Virtues and Vices)
Prautes does not eliminate anger (this is important) it controls anger. Aristotle says that prautes gets angry “on the right grounds, and against the right persons, and in the right manner, and at the right moment, and for the right length of time.” (Nicomachean Ethics)
Prautes is in the middle standing between two extremes, getting angry without reason, and not getting angry at all. It is the demonstration of gentleness, not out of necessity (because it has no power to do otherwise) but by choice. It is the humble disposition that elevates others above self, choosing to respond in a principled way, even when provoked.
Moses is a supreme example of this. When his brother and sister challenged his authority, his response was with meekness (called the meekest man on the earth, Numbers 12:1-3). And Moses was no wimp (see Exodus 32:19-28).
When Paul’s authority as an apostle was challenged in Corinth, he could have been very bold and severe in his discipline of them, but instead pleaded with them “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:1). Paul was no wimp either (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
And focus on the phrase “meekness of Christ,” for it was Jesus who ultimately taught us what meekness means. The meek and lowly (Matthew 11:29) was falsely accused, beaten, mocked, spat upon, stripped naked, and nailed to a tree. His response? “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter… so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). He said nothing in his own defense but rather prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Now a few observations about meekness in marriage. We should tell you, first of all, that meekness is something God expects from his people in marriage. Wives are told dress themselves in meekness (1 Peter 3:4), and the same passage tells husbands to live with their wives “in an understanding way, showing honor” (1 Peter 3:7).
Looking at the greater context of that passage, Peter is admonishing submission in the midst of suffering whether to evil governments (1 Peter 2:13-17), to abusive masters (1 Peter 2:18-25), or to unbelieving spouses (1 Peter 3:1-6).
Peter takes the manner in which Christ suffered on the cross and holds it before us as a pattern to follow (1 Peter 2:21-23). Whatever the emperor, our masters, or our mates do or say to us, we are to respond as Christ did whom, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return” (1 Peter 2:23).
And what is our objective? The same as Christ’s, of course! He suffered to save us, and thus we are called to suffer to save others. We read, “By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24) and then goes on to say, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (1 Peter 3:1-2).
Jesus said to the angry mob, “I’m going to let you spit in my face, throw me around like a rag doll, rip my flesh to shreds, speak all sorts of blasphemies to me, and then crucify me . . . because I love you and I want to save your soul!”
Wives, can you honestly say that to your husbands?
Husbands, can you honestly say that to your wives?
There’s nothing weak about meekness.
Meekness lets the other side win.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness (prautes). God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-25)
~ by David Maxson