The Apostle Paul writes about the "Fruit of the Spirit," which is the outcome and expression of a relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
Paul's writing about the Fruit of the Spirit is in Galatians 5:22-23. In the NIV Bible, these verses tell of us nine characteristics or gifts: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The "Fruits of the Spirit" refers to a list of virtues and character traits outlined in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the book of Galatians 5:22-23. The Apostle Paul writes about these qualities as attributes that should be evident in the lives of Christians, produced by the Holy Spirit within believers. The Fruits of the Spirit are often considered essential to living a Christian life.
The phrase “fruit of the spirit” comes from Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control, against such things there is no law.”
Those in Christ are differentiated from disbelievers in that they have been endowed with the Holy Spirit, allowing them to bear these spiritual fruits.
The Greek word καρπός that we translate as “fruit” usually means fruit in the sense of edible fruits and vegetables, but it can also be translated as offspring, deed, action, result, or profit. In an agrarian society, fruit is a good thing that results from hard work and careful tending. Today, we might use the word “fruit” in a phrase such as the “fruit of our labor” to communicate the results of our efforts. Even if we don’t harvest strawberries or apples, we can have “fruit,” something to show for our work, in a paycheck, a finished project, or even a baby.
The Apostle Paul states the following nine gifts or "Fruits of the Spirit" that result from true repentance, turning away from our sinful ways towards love for God and neighbor:
This is often seen as the foundational virtue and the greatest of all. It refers to selfless, sacrificial love for others, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 5:22-23, love is translated from the Greek word ἀγάπη, (agape). Greek has multiple words for love, including eros, sexual love, and Philos, brotherly love. Agape’ is perfect love that only God can give.
“In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical 'love’ towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver,” according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary.
Love for God and others results from receiving God’s perfect agape love. Jesus encouraged his followers:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11).
Christian joy is not dependent on circumstances but is a deep sense of contentment and gladness that comes from a relationship with God.
Joy in this passage is χαρά. Chara is often translated as joy or delight. It is often seen in the Bible with gladness. It is the realization of God’s favor and grace in one’s life. Biblical joy is happiness that is not dependent on our circumstances. We are encouraged to:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:1-2).
Refers to inner peace, reconciliation with God, and living in harmony with others.
The Biblical concept of peace, εἰρήνη (eirene) in Greek, is inclusive of life without conflict, as well as wholeness and harmony with God and others. A life of peace is safe and secure both physically and mentally.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
Peace results from allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds. When we have peace, we are free from fear and worry about finances, our safety, our salvation, and our eternal life. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is seen in the peace that comes even when our circumstances are far from tranquil. Jesus encouraged his followers in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Involves being slow to anger and showing forbearance and patience towards others, even in challenging situations.
Forbearance μακροθυμία (makrothumia) is not a word that most of us commonly use. The Greek word in Galatians 5:22-23 is often translated using other words such as patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, longsuffering, and slowness in avenging wrongs. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to withstand challenging situations with perseverance and endurance.
The Greek root of this word relates to two words that mean long and passion. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to endure temptation, and we become “long-tempered” rather than “short-tempered.” Paul used this word when he was describing Jesus’ patience (μακροθυμία) with him.
“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)
Like Paul, we have all benefited from Christ’s immense patience with us. The evidence of the Holy Spirit in our life is also seen in our ability to persevere, be patience, steadfast and long-tempered. Ephesians 4:1-2 encourages us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate towards others, often putting their needs before one's own.
Kindness χρηστότης (chréstotés) conveys the meaning of moral goodness, integrity, usefulness, and benignity. In the King James Version, this word is translated as “gentleness,” which links it to the meaning of a gentleman or a gentlewoman who behaved properly, with moral integrity and kindness.
Romans 2:4 reminds us that God’s mercy and grace should lead us to repentance, not judgment. The Holy Spirit enables us to have moral integrity with kindness and not get trapped in self-righteous judgment.
Goodness signifies moral excellence and integrity in character and actions.
Goodness ἀγαθωσύνη (agathosune) means uprightness of heart and life, goodness, and kindness. Goodness is seen in our actions. This word relates to not only being good but also doing good things.
The Contemporary English Version of 2 Thessalonians 1:11 highlights this meaning, “We pray for God's power to help you do all the good things you hope to do and your faith makes you want to do.” Through the Holy Spirit's work in Christians' lives, they are upright in the heart and do good things.
This virtue relates to loyalty, reliability, and trustworthiness in one's commitments and relationships.
Faithfulness πίστις (pistis) is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Faithfulness is a character trait that combines dependability and trust based on our confidence in God and His eternal faithfulness.
In the New Testament, faith is the belief in God and the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation.
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
Involves having a gentle and humble spirit, showing humility and compassion towards others.
Gentleness πρᾳΰτης (prautes) was translated as “meekness” in the King James Version, but because being meek seemed weak, modern translations of the Bible use gentleness to mean mildness of disposition.
Baker’s Evangelical Bible Dictionary explains, “Meekness does not identify the weak but more precisely the strong who have been placed in a position of weakness where they persevere without giving up. The use of the Greek word when applied to animals makes this clear, for it means ‘tame’ when applied to wild animals. In other words, such animals have not lost their strength but have learned to control the destructive instincts that prevent them from living in harmony with others.”
Jesus describes himself as gentle in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
The ability to exercise discipline and restraint over one's desires and behaviors, particularly in the face of temptation.
Self-control ἐγκράτεια (egkrateia) is the ability to control one’s body and its sensual appetites and desires – physically and mentally – through the power of the Holy Spirit. Self-control relates to both chastity and sobriety, particularly moderation in eating and drinking. Self-control is the opposite of the works of the flesh that indulge sensual desires.
As Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
The Spirit is the holy presence of God. The Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma) has multiple meanings, including breath, spirit, or wind. It is most commonly used to describe the holy presence of God on earth, but New Testament writers also used this word to describe the wind, other spirits, including angels and demons, and even the human soul or disposition.
In Galatians 5:22, the phrase “fruit of the Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit.
As believers in Jesus, Christians are given the Holy Spirit to lead and empower them. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Galatians 5, Paul wants to ensure that people know how to spot the evidence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Fruits of the Spirit indicate a relationship with Christ. Ephesians 1:13-14 explains that the Holy Spirit is an inheritance given to believers in Christ that guarantees their relationship with Christ. "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
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Jesus didn’t use the phrase “fruit of the Spirit,” but he often mentioned fruit in his teaching. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Fruit is evidence of being connected to Christ, just as branches of a tree or a grapevine have to be connected to the trunk to bear grapes or apples.
In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus warned his followers to be wary of false teachers, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." ~ James 3:17
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." ~ John 15:16
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." ~ Matthew 3:8
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit." ~ Matthew 7:15-18
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" ~ Colossians 1:10
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." ~ Romans 6:22
In this episode of The Dwell On These Things Podcast, John Stange dives into the fruit of the Spirit and how we can know if we are bearing fruit.
Sources
Penny Noyes, M.Ed., is the author of Embracing Change - Learning to Trust God from the Women of the Bible and two books about Hezekiah. You can follow Penny on her blog and on Instagram @pennynoyes.
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