πραΰτης

πραΰτης, ητος, ἡ (πραΰς; Appian, Bell. Civ. 4, 123 §518 διὰ πραΰτητα; Aesop, Fab. 168 P.=94b H./247 Ch./H-H. 178; CIG 2788; LXX [Thackeray p. 91; 181]; Sextus 545) and older Gk (since Thu., also Appian, Basil. 1 §5; PLond 1912, 101 [41 A.D.]; Philo; Jos., Bell. 6, 383, Ant. 19, 334; IPol 2:1; 6:2), πραότης, ητος, ἡ (so in Ign. and Hermas, while in the NT πραΰτης is the predom. form and πραότης appears as v.l.; for the lit. s. πραΰς) the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness in the older favorable sense (s. πραΰς) w. ἐπιείκεια (Plut., Caesar 734 [57], and, occasionally, other qualities, as Lucian, Somn. 10; s. also Plut., Pyrrh. 398[23, 3]) 2 Cor 10:1 (RLeivestad, NTS 12, ’66, 156–64); 1 Cl 30:8; Dg 7:4; cp. Tit 3:2; 1 Cl 21:7. W. other virtues (Ps 44:5) Gal 5:23; Col 3:12; Eph 4:2; B 20:2; D 5:2; Hm 12, 3, 1. ἐν π. with or in gentleness (Sir 3:17; 4:8) 2 Ti 2:25; IPol 2:1; 6:2; with humility Js 1:21; 3:13 (ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας in wise gentleness; cp. Appian, Bell. Civ. 3, 79 §323 ἐπὶ σοφίᾳ τε καὶ πραότητι); ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ π. 1 Cl 61:2. Also μετὰ π. (so in PLond above) 1 Pt 3:16; Hm 5, 2, 6. As a characteristic of a bishop ITr 3:2 (as political virtue, s. LRobert, Hellenica 13, ’65, 223). The devil is thwarted by humility 4:2. πνεῦμα πραΰτητος 1 Cor 4:21; Gal 6:1.—AvHarnack, ‘Sanftmut, Huld und Demut’ in der alten Kirche: JKaftan Festschr. 1920, 113ff; JdeRomilly, La douceur dans la pensée grecque ’79; RAC III 206–31.—DELG s.v. πρᾶος. M-M. TW. Spicq. Sv.