Many people erroneously refer to the fruits of the spirit. The Bible does not refer to “fruits” but to “fruit.” It then lists nine characteristics, all positive, that are ways the fruit of the spirit manifests itself. As with any Biblical text, it is imperative to consider the context to understand what the author aimed to convey. The Letter to the Galatians addresses a specific situation in which the interaction between Jews and Gentiles prompted Paul to highlight exactly what evidence will indicate whether a person has the spirit of God in them.
The Context of Galatians
In Galatians, Paul addressed the problematic insistence of Jews who lived in Galatia, a Roman province in Asia Minor (part of modern-day Türkiye), that Gentile converts had to adhere to Jewish ceremonial laws to be saved.
Paul argues against that view, and in Chapter 5, and states:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
In the greater context, Paul was juxtaposing the spiritual with the desires of the flesh. Obviously, the Law was against fleshly desires, but not against that which comes forth from a person who lives a life saturated with the spirit of God. The Law does not oppose that which the spirit brings forth.
Fruit as a Metaphor
On several occasions in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament, agricultural metaphors serve the purpose of illustrating spiritual principles in terms readers can relate to. It is no different with the fruit of the spirit. The fruit shows the nature of a tree. The tree is the unspoken metaphor for the believer and when the believer truly has the spirit of God as a guiding force, they will bring forth that which is consistent with the spirit.
From a biblical perspective, humans have a propensity to sin and do bad things. It comes naturally to us to fulfill our desires, devoid of care and consideration for the effects they may have on others.
But those who have been truly converted and “belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” and will “live by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25). The spirit guides their actions and conduct. They manifest their new nature in the characteristics and attributes Paul lists as the fruit of the spirit.
The Individual Fruit
In a sense, we can consider the rest of the fruit listed as ways love manifests in the life of the believer. This explains the correlation with the passage 1 Corinthians 13.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine “fruits” that serve as evidence of a spirit-guided life. A closer look at each should show the significance and relation they have to one another.
Love
The first fruit Paul lists is love. Paul authored his most notable thesis on love in 1 Corinthians 13 which has remarkable similarities to the fruit of the spirit. The Greek word translated as “love” in Galatians 5:22 and 1 Corinthians 13 is “agape” which is a self-sacrificing form of love that puts the interest of others before selfish desires.
Joy
The joy envisaged as a fruit of the spirit goes far beyond mere happiness. It speaks to a profound delight rooted in the believer’s relationship with God. It transcends circumstance and grows from the assurance of eternal life without the blemishes of sadness, suffering, and death in the temporal world of present existence. It looks to the perfect and pure world to come to enrich the experience of the present. This kind of joy leads to resilience and strength as it fosters an unbreakable spirit. That is why Nehemiah said “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Peace
Peace is a fruit of the spirit that vests in Christ and the certainty of his victory and return. It looks beyond the turmoil and uncertainty of this world with the knowledge that whatever happens now, the destination is the presence of God. “I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous — I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).
Patience
The Greek word for this fruit is makrothumia; it means long-tempered as opposed to short-tempered. Synonyms are forbearance, longsuffering, and perseverance. It conveys the idea of slowness to retaliate or avenge. It implies lenience and the ability to withstand challenging situations without (over)reacting. Patience goes hand-in-hand with mercy. It extends the opportunity to correct what needs correcting to the maximum.
Patience is not passivity. Patience is acting while waiting and assisting with love and care to help, guide, and nurture. We learn patience through trial and that is not an easy process but a necessary one that leads to perfection. James wrote “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Kindness
Kindness is to be friendly, generous, and considerate towards others. The King James Version of the Bible translates it as gentleness, relaying the idea that the person wishes not to harm or offend. Ephesians 4:32 uses it in close relation with forgiveness when it says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (ESV). Kindness looks beyond self-interest and wants to do good to another, lifting them in the process.
Goodness
Goodness is not a selective trait. As a fruit of the spirit, it is an attribute expressed towards friend and foe alike. It is counter-intuitive yet is what Christ expects of his disciples. In Luke 6:27-28 Jesus said: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Goodness is inseparable from godliness. Goodness is what drives the faithful to go the extra mile even when it is not asked for or deserved. Goodness manifests itself in action and cannot remain passive.
Faithfulness
To be faithful is to be trustworthy, loyal, constant, and dependable. It embodies a strong sense of duty or responsibility. It requires a level of integrity that demands consistent action even when no person is observing or monitoring. Faithfulness rises above feelings and emotions and acts on principle, which steers straight, true, and unwavering. Faithfulness starts with small things and grows bigger as trustworthiness and reliability become evident. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11)
Gentleness
The King James Version of the Bible translates kindness as gentleness, and here uses the word meekness. The noun of the word translated gentleness or meekness here is what Jesus used when he said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). Meekness or gentleness should not be seen as weakness. It denotes having the authority, justification, and ability to act harshly but choosing not to. It implies possession of the next fruit as well: self-control.
Self-control
Self-control is the ability to prevent urges and emotions from running rampant and unchecked. It filters expression and manages reactions, considering the outcomes such behaviors will have and whether they are consistent with the character of God and are driven by the spirit of Christ. It is one of the most difficult struggles humans face and it has been that way since the dawn of man. That is why Proverbs 25:28 says: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” All the previous fruit largely depends on self-control to manifest itself.
Having the Fruit of the Spirit
A tree does not put too much effort into producing fruit. If the tree has fertile soil and receives water regularly, the fruit comes naturally. Similarly, if the believer is grounded in the word of God and allows the spirit to nourish the soul, fruit consistent with the spirit will come forth.
Jesus was the perfect example of a person manifesting the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He was the epitome of all nine fruits and the spirit manifested in him fully.
The fruit of the spirit is a testament to the nature of a person and reflects the relationship the individual has with God. It cannot be faked, at least not consistently or for long. To a spirit-led believer, manifesting the fruit of the spirit comes naturally due to the effort that goes into nurturing a relationship with God.
