Nine Fruit of the Spirit
from Galatians 5:22-23
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of one living in harmony with the Holy Spirit, according to chapter 5 of the Epistle to the Galatians.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. “
Love always seeks the highest good for others, no matter what. It is a love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object.
The joy referred to here is deeper than mere happiness; it is rooted in God and comes from Him. Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly happiness, which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time.
The word “peace” comes from the the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by the outward circumstances or pressures. The order in place of chaos.
Patience refers to the “man who could avenge himself but did not.” Exodus 34:6 describes the Lord as “slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”
Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back.
Goodness 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.
Faithfulness 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.
Gentleness was translated “meekness” in the King James Version, but because being meek seemed weak, modern translations of the Bible use gentleness to mean mildness of disposition.
Self-control is ability to control one’s “wants” – physically and mentally – through the power of the Holy Spirit. Self-control relates particularly to moderation. Self-control is the opposite of the indulgence.