The Fruit of the Spirit
Jump to: TopicalGreekLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The "Fruit of the Spirit" is a biblical term that originates from the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. It refers to the nine attributes of a Christian life that are produced by the Holy Spirit. These attributes are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Context and Meaning

In the context of Galatians, Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh, as described in Galatians 5:19-21, include behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to God's will, such as immorality, idolatry, and jealousy. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit represents the qualities that should be evident in the life of a believer who is living in accordance with the Holy Spirit.

The term "fruit" is significant because it implies growth and development. Just as fruit grows naturally from a healthy tree, the attributes of the Spirit grow in a believer's life as they remain connected to Christ and yield to the Holy Spirit's guidance. This growth is not a result of human effort but is a natural outcome of a life surrendered to God.

Attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit

1. Love (Agape): This is the selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that seeks the best for others. It is the foundation of all other attributes and reflects the love of God for humanity.

2. Joy (Chara): Joy is a deep-seated sense of happiness and contentment that is not dependent on external circumstances. It is rooted in the believer's relationship with God and the assurance of salvation.

3. Peace (Eirene): This peace is an inner tranquility and harmony with God, others, and oneself. It transcends understanding and guards the heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

4. Patience (Makrothumia): Patience involves endurance and long-suffering, especially in the face of adversity or provocation. It reflects God's patience with humanity.

5. Kindness (Chrestotes): Kindness is a disposition of benevolence and compassion towards others. It is an active expression of love and concern.

6. Goodness (Agathosune): Goodness is moral integrity and the desire to do what is right. It involves generosity and a commitment to the welfare of others.

7. Faithfulness (Pistis): Faithfulness is loyalty and trustworthiness. It reflects a steadfast commitment to God and His promises, as well as reliability in relationships with others.

8. Gentleness (Prautes): Gentleness is strength under control. It involves humility and a considerate approach to others, avoiding harshness or aggression.

9. Self-Control (Egkrateia): Self-control is the ability to govern one's desires and impulses. It is essential for living a disciplined and godly life.

Theological Implications

The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life. It is a mark of true Christian character and maturity. The presence of these attributes indicates a life that is being transformed into the likeness of Christ. As believers grow in their relationship with God, the fruit of the Spirit becomes increasingly evident, serving as a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

The fruit of the Spirit also serves as a guide for Christian conduct. Believers are called to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and to exhibit these qualities in their interactions with others. This not only glorifies God but also serves as a witness to the world of the reality of Christ's love and grace.
Topical Bible Verses
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Topicalbible.org

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 5:19-26
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Topicalbible.org

Greek
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... boast" (). Gal 5:22,23: " 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,.
patience, kindness, goodness, (4102), 23 gentleness,. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k
Library

May 1. "The Fruit of the Spirit is Gentleness" (Gal. v. 22).
... MAY 1. "The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness" (Gal. v. 22). "The fruit
of the Spirit is gentleness" (Galatians 5:22). Nature's ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /may 1 the fruit of.htm

March 28. "The Fruit of the Spirit is all Goodness" (Gal. v. 22).
... "The fruit of the Spirit is all goodness" (Gal. v. 22). "The fruit of the Spirit
is all goodness" (Galatians 5:22). Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /march 28 the fruit of.htm

"The Fruit of the Spirit is Love"
... "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE". I ... I wish now to dwell upon the passage
found in Gal.5:22: "The fruit of the Spirit is love.". We ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/the fruit of the spirit.htm

The Witness of the Spirit
... The immediate result of this testimony is, "the fruit of the Spirit;" namely, "love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness:" and without these, the ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 11 the witness of.htm

How Sacred Love Contains the Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost ...
... The glorious S. Paul speaks thus: Now the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace,
patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xix how sacred love.htm

John Chapter xv. 17-19.
... These things I command you, that ye love one another." In the same way also the
Apostle Paul, when wishing to commend the fruit of the Spirit in opposition to ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxxxvii john chapter xv.htm

Treats Upon the Actions of Carnal and of Spiritual Persons; Also ...
... again, he proceeds to tell us the spiritual actions which vivify a man, that is,
the engrafting of the Spirit; thus saying, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xi treats upon the actions.htm

On Perfection
... It is the one undivided fruit of the Spirit, which he describes thus: "The fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 76 on perfection.htm

Introduction.
... Preaching is nothing, except as it is a demonstration of the Spirit. Holiness
is nothing except as it is the fruit of the Spirit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macneil/the spirit-filled life/introduction.htm

The Dove and the Lamb
... Read again in Galatians 5 the ninefold fruit of the Spirit ("love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 5 the dove and.htm

Resources
The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

The

The After Life

The Age of Accountability

The Age of Earth

The Alabaster Box

the Amorites Amorite

The Angel of Death

The Angel of Light

The Anointing

The Antichrist

The Apocalypse

The Apostasy

The Appearance of Evil

The Archite

The Ark of Covenant

The Arkite

The Armor of God

The Ashurites

The Babylonish Captivity

The Bachrites

The Baharumite

the Baptize John

The Barhumite

The Battle is the Lords

The Beatitudes

The Beginning

The Belaites

The Beriites

The Bermuda Triangle

The Berothite

The Bible

The Big Bang Theory

The Birth of Christ

The Blood Covenant

The Blood of Jesus

The Body

The Body of Christ

The Body of the Church

The Book Of

the Book Of Daniel

the Book Of Enoch

the Book Of Esther

the Book Of Jeremiah

the Book Of Judith

the Book Of Micah

the Book Of Nehemiah

the Book Of Numbers

the Book Of Proverb

the Book Of Psalms

The Book of the Secrets Of

the Book Of Zechariah

The Bride of Christ

the Brook Besor

the Brook Cherith

the Brook of The Willows

The Canaanite

The Canaanites

The Canon of Scripture

The Chemarim

The Christian Family

The Christmas Tree

The Church

The City Underwater

the Cliff Of Ziz

The College

The Color Blue

The Color Purple

The Color Yellow

The Conscience

The Consequences of Sin

The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost to Follow Jesus

The Cross

The Daniel Fast

The Danites

the Day Of Atonement

The Day of Judgement

The Day of Pentecost

The Earth Orbiting the Sun

The Elonites

The End of Days

The Enemy

The Enslavement

The Environment

The Epicureans

the Epistle Of James

the Epistle of Paul To Philemon

the Epistle To The Colossians

the Epistle To The Ephesians

the Epistle To The Galatians

The Eranites

The Eshkalonites

The Eshtaulites

The Ethiopian Eunuch

The Exodus

The Eznite

The Ezrahite

The Fall

The Family

the Feast Of Tabernacles

the First Epistle General Of John

The First Resurrection

The Five Senses

The Fivefold Ministry

The Flesh

The Four Seasons

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Fullers Field

The Future

The Gadites

the Garden Of Uzza

The Garmite

The Gazathites

The Gazites

The Gederathite

The Gederite

the General Epistle Of James

The Gershonites

The Gibeonites

The Giblites

The Gileadites

The Gilonite

The Girgasite

The Gizonites

The Government

The Great Commission

the Great Synagogue

The Great Tribulation

The Greek Language

The Gunites

The Hagerite

The Haggites

The Hamathite

The Hamulites

The Harodite

The Hebrew Monarchy

The Hebronites

The Hepherites

The Hermonites

the Hill Gareb

the Hill Hachilah

The Holocaust

The Holy Land

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Trinity

The Homeless

the House Of Millo

The Huphamites

The Ice Age

the Jews of The Dispersion

The Jimnites

The Kenite

The Kingdom or Church of Christ

the Land Of Benjamin

the Land Of Canaan

the Land Of Shalim

the Land Of Shalisha

the Land Of Shual

The Last Supper

The Law of Moses

The Lord

the Lord Of Sabaoth

the Lords Brother Judas

The Lords Day

The Machirites

The Mahavite

the Man of God Moses

The Manassites

The Maonites

The Mecherathite

The Median

The Meholathite

The Mehunims

The Meronothithe

The Mesobaite

The Millennium

The Mishraites

The Mithnite

The Moabite Stone

The Moon

The Morasthite

The Naamites

The Nehelamite

The New Jerusalem

The Number 10

The Number 12

The Number 30

The Number 5

The Number 7

The Number One

The Occult

The Ocean

The Pelonite

The Pentateuch

The Perizzite

The Pharzites

The Phoenix

The Plague

the Plain Of Tabor

The Planets

the Pool Of Siloah

The Potters Field

The Power of Prayer

The Praltite

The Priesthood

The Prodigal Son

The Prophet Isaiah

The Puhites

The Punites

The Quicksands

The Ramathite

The Rapture

The Red Heifer

The Resurrection

The Revelation

the Rock Etam

the Rock Oreb

The Rosary

The Rose of Sharon

the Salt Sea

The Sardites

the Sea Of Tiberias

the Second and Third Epistles Of John

the Second Book Of Esdras

The Shaalbonite

The Shearinghouse

The Shechemites

The Sheepgate

The Sheepmarket

The Shelanites

The Shemidaites

The Shillemites

The Shilonite

The Shilonites

The Shimites

The Shimronites

The Shuhamites

The Shulamite

The Shumathites

The Shunammite

The Shunites

The Shuphamites

The Shuthalhites

The Syrtis

The Tabernacle

The Tachmonite

The Tahanites

The Tarpelites

The Tekoite

The Temptation

the Ten Plagues

the Three Taverns

The Thresholds

The Timnite

The Tirathites

The Tishbite

The Tizite

The Tolaites

The Transfiguration

the Tribe Of Benjamin

the Tribe Of Gad

The Twelve Apostles

the Two Thieves

The Uzzielites

the Valley Eshcol

the Valley Of Charashim

the Valley Of Elah

the Valley Of Rephaim

the Valley Of Zared

The Vulgate

the Waters Of Shiloah

the Wife Of Pharaoh

The Wisdom of Solomon

the Wood Of Ephraim

The World Ending

The Worship

The Year 2012

The Year of Jubilee

The Zareathites

The Zarhites

The Zebulunites

The Zemarite

The Ziphim

The Zodiac

The Zorathites

The Zorites

The Zuzim

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Fruit of the Righteous
Top of Page
Top of Page