In last week’s blog, we considered the term meek, prautes in the Greek. In its New Testament contexts, it is the opposite of the modern concept of meekness. Most newer translations translate it as gentle. Israel was promised that “Messiah the Prince” (Dan 9:25) would ride into Jerusalem with gentleness (paus – the noun form) on a beast of burden rather than on a war horse (Zech 9:9). Matthew recalls this quotation to explain the instuctions Jesus gave to his disciples (Matt 21:5). The connotation of this term describes the inward attitude of a believer toward others in difficult situations. Another term translated gentle is epieikes. We lose a valuable lesson when we fail to see the distinction between prautes and epieikes, or gloss over this distinction.

Epieikes occurs five times in the New Testament (epi, upon, and eikos, reasonableness. Eikos occurred frequently in secular conversations but never in the New Testament). One word study source suggests the implication regarding eikos, “. . .eikos (‘to yield’), ‘mildness’ in the sense of not insisting on the letter of the law in a given case (Kittle vol. 2, p. 588).”

The two terms, prautes and epieikes, often occur together but always in the context of difficult circumstances. The first refers to one’s attitude; the second to one’s behavior toward the situation or persons. Note the following:

Let your forbearing (epieikes) spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. (Phil 4:5)

A conflict between two women.

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, . . . gentle (epieikes) , uncontentious (1 Tim 3:2)

The character of an overseer.

to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle (epieikes), showing every consideration for all men. (Titus 3:2)

Correcting the problems on the island of Crete.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle (epieikes), reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)

The response of a wise person to a conflict as opposed to one who is quarrelsome.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle (epieikes), but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. (1 Peter 2:18)

Employees toward their bosses, whether they are fair or unreasonable.

Comparing the two terms, prautes and epieikes, the first has to do with attitude, the second with behavior, both in conflict situations. This is important, especially in the present contentious culture in which we live. We can’t do this by fallen human nature, only through the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way, looking back on how we performed in conflict, we can tell whether we were responding in the flesh or through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is God’s way of letting us know whether we are walking in the Spirit. If we did not respond appropriately, it is time to ask for forgiveness.