Sweet Reasonableness
Many years ago, I stumbled upon a word that had a great impact on me. At the time, I used the King James Version of the Bible. Here is what I read, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5 KJV). As I looked at the verse in the Greek text, I discovered that the Greek word translated “moderation” means “fairness, gentleness, moderation.” When I dug a little deeper, I found that Matthew Arnold rendered it “sweet reasonableness.”
Sweet reasonableness. Wow! “What a concept,” I thought. I would like to develop that virtue and have it characterize my life. In all honesty, I think I have managed to become like that to some degree, but not as much as I would like. The Lord will decide just how successful I have been. Nevertheless, I still admire the concept and aim for it to characterize who I am.
Recently, while studying the book of Acts, I came across that word again. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem on trumped up charges and was sent to Caesarea to appear before the Roman governor, a man named Felix. Felix summoned Paul’s accuser to come state their charges. A committee of religious leaders from Jerusalem showed up with an orator named Tertullus, who was their spokesman, perhaps like their attorney, who would speak for them in court (Acts 24:2). Tertullus began his speech before Felix thanking him for the peace and prosperity they experienced under his leadership. What Tertullus said was (and still is) a favorite form of flattery. Then, Tertullus asked Felix to hear him “with courtesy” (Acts 24:4).
I discovered that the Greek word translated “courtesy” was my old friend rendered “moderation” in the King James Version of Philippians 4:5. In his commentary on Acts, Alexander says that the essential idea of the Greek word “is not so much kindness or gentleness, as that of fairness and reasonableness, freedom from extremes of every kind.” He adds it is “a particular judicial virtue.” So, this is a case of one pagan asking another pagan to be reasonable.
This virtue is more than Paul’s exhortation or Tertullus’s example. It is the essence of Jesus. When Paul speaks of “the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1), the Greek word translated “gentleness” is the same one rendered “courtesy” in Acts 24:4 and “moderation” in the King James Version of Philippians 4:5. In fact, in the New King James Version and the New International Version, it is translated “gentleness.”
If we are to be like Christ, we are to be courteous, gentle, reasonable. Paul told Titus to remind believers to be gentle (Titus 3:2). James lists gentleness as a characteristic of Godly wisdom (Jas. 3:17). So, as Paul admonishes us, “Let your courtesy, gentleness, sweet reasonableness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5).
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2008
Sweet reasonableness. Wow! “What a concept,” I thought. I would like to develop that virtue and have it characterize my life. In all honesty, I think I have managed to become like that to some degree, but not as much as I would like. The Lord will decide just how successful I have been. Nevertheless, I still admire the concept and aim for it to characterize who I am.
Recently, while studying the book of Acts, I came across that word again. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem on trumped up charges and was sent to Caesarea to appear before the Roman governor, a man named Felix. Felix summoned Paul’s accuser to come state their charges. A committee of religious leaders from Jerusalem showed up with an orator named Tertullus, who was their spokesman, perhaps like their attorney, who would speak for them in court (Acts 24:2). Tertullus began his speech before Felix thanking him for the peace and prosperity they experienced under his leadership. What Tertullus said was (and still is) a favorite form of flattery. Then, Tertullus asked Felix to hear him “with courtesy” (Acts 24:4).
I discovered that the Greek word translated “courtesy” was my old friend rendered “moderation” in the King James Version of Philippians 4:5. In his commentary on Acts, Alexander says that the essential idea of the Greek word “is not so much kindness or gentleness, as that of fairness and reasonableness, freedom from extremes of every kind.” He adds it is “a particular judicial virtue.” So, this is a case of one pagan asking another pagan to be reasonable.
This virtue is more than Paul’s exhortation or Tertullus’s example. It is the essence of Jesus. When Paul speaks of “the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1), the Greek word translated “gentleness” is the same one rendered “courtesy” in Acts 24:4 and “moderation” in the King James Version of Philippians 4:5. In fact, in the New King James Version and the New International Version, it is translated “gentleness.”
If we are to be like Christ, we are to be courteous, gentle, reasonable. Paul told Titus to remind believers to be gentle (Titus 3:2). James lists gentleness as a characteristic of Godly wisdom (Jas. 3:17). So, as Paul admonishes us, “Let your courtesy, gentleness, sweet reasonableness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5).
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/30/2008