The “fruit of the Spirit” includes specific attributes of a godly life that the Holy Spirit develops in our lives.
These nine attributes include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
You can find the fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians, which is in the New Testament of the Bible.
What Is the “Fruit of the Spirit” in the Bible?
The fruit of the Spirit includes nine attributes of a godly life that the Holy Spirit works to develop in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. These nine attributes are:
Where Is the Fruit of the Spirit Mentioned in the Bible?
The fruit of the Spirit can be found in Galatians 5:22-23 in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. The Scriptures read:
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. — Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
Who Is the Letter of Galatians Written To?
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter of Galatians to the early Christian congregations in the province of Galatia, which is in modern-day Turkey. He completed these writings around A.D. 47.
Paul wrote several letters to new congregations in the ancient world, such as the Ephesians, Thessalonians, Colossians and Corinthians. These letters are included in the New Testament of the Bible.
However, the letter written to the Galatians was perhaps the most strongly worded. It was a response to the influence of Jewish convert teachers who insisted that in addition to faith in Jesus, non-Jewish believers in Galatia must also follow Jewish law to receive salvation.
Paul was distraught by this influence, which he saw as undermining the very foundation of salvation — that it’s God’s gift to anyone who believes in Jesus.
Why Does the Apostle Paul Write About the Fruit of the Spirit?
Paul presents the nine attributes of a godly life, a life led by the Holy Spirit, as a contrast to the attributes of an ungodly life. He refers to the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit as “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19) or “works of the flesh” as the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible describes them.
An ungodly life is one controlled by the sinful nature that every human is born with. Paul describes it this way:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealously, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. — Galatians 5:19-21, NIV
Paul’s purpose in writing Galatians 5 is to encourage the readers that “belong to Christ” (Galatians 5:24) to no longer live as slaves to their sinful nature.
When a person accepts Jesus as Savior, they receive the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome their sin nature and develop the character of Christ. And his character is marked by the fruit of his Spirit.
Why Is the Fruit of the Spirit Also Called Fruits of the Spirit?
Some people refer to the nine Christlike attributes in Galatians 5 in plural form: “fruits of the Spirit.” While it’s true that each attribute is distinct, Scripture refers to them as a united, singular “fruit.”
These nine attributes come together in a Christian’s life to reflect a complete picture of the character of Christ.
What Is the Meaning of Each Attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit?
Love
It’s no coincidence that Paul puts “love” first. The Greek word for love in this instance is agape. It is the highest form of the different kinds of love expressed by distinct Greek words, including eros (romantic love), philia (friendship love) and storge (familial love).
Agape is the kind of love God has for his creation. It’s pure, selfless and self-sacrificing. It always seeks the best for others — even enemies — at all costs. A beautiful description of agape love is found in 1 Corinthians:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
Joy
The joy Paul refers to in Galatians 5 is much deeper than a sense of happiness or gladness from life’s circumstances. It’s a profound delight and rejoicing that comes from knowing and serving God.
The Bible describes the importance of this divine joy to the Christian’s life:
The joy of the Lord is your strength. — Nehemiah 8:10, NIV
Peace
Peace is an unshakeable inner calm that can be a rare quality in turbulent times. The peace that comes from the Spirit is not just a small comfort. Paul describes it as beyond human understanding in this reassuring passage:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
Forbearance
Also called long-suffering, forbearance has the common synonym, “patience.” Patience can be in short supply in a fast-paced world where everyone wants what they want when they want it. But the Holy Spirit has a never-ending supply of patience to flood the Christian’s heart at those times when it’s needed most.
Be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. — Ephesians 4:2, NIV
Kindness
When God’s Spirit begins to develop love in our hearts, treating others with kindness, compassion and forgiveness follows. In fact, once the foundational fruit of love is flowing through our lives, not only kindness but gentleness, forbearance, goodness and other attributes listed in Galatians 5 naturally follow.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32, NIV
Goodness
This fruit of the Spirit is an attribute of action. It means living one’s life with good morals and motives as well as doing good things for others. Producing the fruit of goodness is a true mark of godliness.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us go good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. — Galatians 6:10, NIV
Faithfulness
Trustworthy, loyal, constant, dependable. The Christian who produces the fruit of faithfulness embodies all these attributes.
Faithfulness is especially important to God. No matter what life brings, he expects his disciples to be unwavering in their faithfulness to him as well as to the people in their lives.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. — James 1:12, NIV
Gentleness
The way a Christian engages with others is what the fruit of gentleness is all about. The ability to discern when to use a gentle word is a valuable gift of the Spirit.
Especially in tense moments, when unkind words are the typical first response, the Christian who responds with gentleness is a true reflection of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. — Proverbs 15:1, NIV
Self-Control
Paul concludes his list with self-control. Because of the human sin nature, we all have negative impulses and qualities. Overcoming them can be a constant tug of war.
But we also have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us identify and overcome areas of weakness.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. — Titus 2:11-12, NIV
How Do You Develop the Fruit of the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit alone through God’s grace develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life. The moment you accept Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in your life. And it’s the Spirit’s power that transforms and molds you into Christ’s likeness.
But you do have a part to play. In Galatians 5:25 (NIV), Paul writes: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Keeping in step means trusting and following the Spirit’s lead. To discover the Spirit’s leading, we must be in a close relationship with God by spending time in his presence and immersing ourselves in prayer and his Word.
When we do these things, we’ll begin to develop the fruit of the Spirit.
How Do You Apply the Fruit of the Spirit to Your Life?
Applying the fruit of the Spirit takes action. Each day, there are moments where you can choose to live like Christ instead of the world. For example, if someone treats you poorly, you can respond in kindness and gentleness. In moments of frustration, you can choose to be patient. And when you see someone in need, you can respond in love to care for them.
Around the world, millions of people have responded to the Holy Spirit’s call to action by sponsoring children living in poverty. As sponsors with Compassion, they’re demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in a powerful way to children who truly need it the most.
For example, a sponsor’s kindness and goodness, demonstrated through financial support, provide for a child’s basic needs, including an introduction to the gospel, nutrition, education and medical care. And a sponsor’s love and joy, shared through writing letters, bring a sense of value to a child, as well as hope for a brighter future.
As you share the fruit of the Spirit with a child in need, the incredible attributes of Christ’s character increase in your own life.
