Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness & Goodness

1.   “Gentleness”

      a.   from the Greek chrestotes = “moral goodness, integrity, kindness”

      b.   The word appears 10 times in the New Testament, but this is the only time this Greek word is translated “gentleness”

      c.   Elsewhere translated:

            i.   “goodness”

                  (1) Rom 2:4 - God’s goodness/integrity leads us to repentance

                  (2) Romans 11:22 (3 times) contrasted with “severity”

            ii.  “kindness”

                  (1) 2 Corinthians 6:6 - one means of proving oneself faithful

                  (2) Colossians 3:12 - must be “put on”

                  (3) exemplified by God in sending Christ: Eph 2:7 Titus 3:4

            iii. “good” – Romans 3:12

2.   “Goodness”

      a.   from the Greek agathosune = “uprightness of heart and life”

      b.   Appears 4 times in the New Testament, always as “goodness”

            i.   Ephesians 5:9

                  (1) mentioned again as a “fruit of the Spirit”

                  (2) equated with godly living and testimony of truth

            ii.  Romans 15:14 - necessary for proper admonishment of the body = church discipline

                  (1) needful in particular for elders – 1 Thessalonians 5:12

                  (2) needful for the body as a whole – 1 Thes 5:14; Gal 6:1-2

            iii. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (see McGarvey’s commentary p 32)