Seemly So

Just over a year ago I shifted to a new English Bible version. For the most part I like the English Standard Version (ESV) though occasionally it uses odd words or translates something from the Greek in a way I wouldn't have expected when compared to some other popular versions.  One of the most surprising ones that hit me recently is a verse from Paul's letter to the Philippians that precedes an awesome and very well known passage about not being anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6-7). So here it is, verse 5, from the ESV translation:

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (ESV)

Reasonableness? Huh, I don't remember that from other versions.  In most other English translations they use the word "gentleness" or "gentle spirit" and not "reasonableness." Interesting.

Rediscovering Jesus

At the same time this verse has been on my mind, as a church we've been re-reading the Gospels to rediscover how Jesus conducted Himself on Earth, particularly in the context of the disruption to our normal rhythms of life due to the current coronavirus pandemic. Somehow, despite all the activity and apparent busyness of His ministry on Earth, Jesus always had time for individuals and made time to be alone with God the Father.  As I'm reading through the Gospels, one of the characteristics that always hits me about Jesus is His gentleness, particularly for anyone hurting or in need of healing. Matthew's Gospel (quoting Isaiah) says of Jesus:

"a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

There we have it: the gentleness of Jesus, lifting up those who are broken and rekindling the flame of those near to burning out. Gentle restoration.

It's all Greek to me

So, back to my curiosity on the ESV translation of this word "reasonableness" that is often translated "gentleness."  To be fair, in the footnotes to the ESV translation it also says "or gentleness" meaning it could be translated with either word. But what is this Greek word? OK, I'm no Bible scholar and I don't read Greek so I'm relying here on some online study tools. The word in the original Greek is "epieikes."  Looking at a couple of definitions for this word it means "appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild:—gentle, moderation, patient."  Huh, that's cool. In another it's defined as "what is reasonable; (1) seemly, suitable, (2) equitable, fair, mild, gentle."

Let's be reasonable

Reasonableness. Seemly.  I love these old words. More than that, I love the meaning and the weight behind them.  We live in the social media age where there are a whole bunch of people yelling out their opinions, whilst castigating the words of others and misrepresenting them in the worst ways possible.  The media spin born out of the age of 24 hour news has gone into overdrive in the internet age. There seems to be no civility, no common ground, no reasonableness.  It's all very unseemly indeed.

So, my call to anyone reading this, and the challenge to myself too, is that we get back to the wisdom of the Bible. If you are a follower of Christ, do as He did and follow the guidance laid out for us by the writers of the New Testament instructing us to be gentle, reasonable, seemly.  If you're not a follower of Christ, I strongly recommend you check out what He said and did in the Gospels. And I think the advice from Paul is good for everyone - "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand."