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In some of the final words Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi, he said, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5).
Today, we don’t often refer to people as gentlemen or gentlewomen, but Paul suggests that saints should strive to earn this title every day.
The Greek word means behavior that is suitable for the occasion; not someone given to extremes nor being unpredictable. Paul uses this word in his leadership qualifications to both Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2). Peter uses this word for servants in relationship to their masters (1 Peter 2:18), and James uses it to describe what godly wisdom looks and sounds like (James 3:17).
(See all the Scriptures I use in this post here.)
When Paul says that our gentleness is to be “evident to all,” he uses a word that means intimate relationships. In other words, those who are closest to us should be the most aware of our gentleness. But it also means that anyone should be able to predict quite accurately how a gentleman or gentlewoman is going to behave or respond in the situations they are in.
Look how this phrase is rendered in other Bible translations:
- AMPC: Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness.
- NLT: Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
- KJV: Let your moderation be known unto all men.
How do I know if I am being a gentleman for Jesus? I must look in the mirror of others’ faces. If they are wondering how I am going to respond, or if they are shocked at how I just responded, then they must not know my gentlemanliness. I cannot excuse my unpredictable or unseemly response with excuses like, “I was caught off guard,” “I was having a bad day,” or “They just don’t know me very well.”
Being a gentleman for Jesus is totally on me. It’s up to me to allow the Holy Spirit to develop the fruit of gentleness in me; it’s not on others to excuse my poor behavior.
Christians, I pray that we may be known as the best of gentlemen or gentlewomen wherever we go and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. After all, Paul concludes this verse in Philippians 4:5 with a heavy reminder for us: “The Lord is near.”
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Craig T. Owens 