Restoration: Gentle and Not So Gentle

Galatians 6:1, “Brothers. If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness…”

So the question is what is meant by a “spirit of gentleness”?

A spirit of gentleness might describe Priscilla and Aquilla’s action of correcting the teaching of Apollos (Acts 18:26). They took Apollos to the side and explained.

One example closer to the context of Galatians was by the writer himself.

Paul upon seeing the Apostle Peter’s sinful conduct didn’t waste any time and “opposed him to his face”… not just explained as in the case of Apollos. Paul addressed his fellow Apostle in a public fashion before all... not in a private fashion as was done with Apollos. (Galatians 2:11-14)

So this thing about “restoring in a spirit of gentleness” is a truism and generally what we should do. However circumstances might modify our action of restoration.

For instance was this the first occurrence of a sin or the one hundredth?

In such cases gentleness would be the aroma for the first effort but somewhere along the way sterner stuff is going to be required or our efforts are going to have the stench of futility.