What Are the Fruit of the Spirit? Bible Verse and Meaning (2024)

The Fruit of the Spirit is a phrase found in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23. It refers to nine attributes of a Christian life inspired by the Holy Spirit living within them. These attributes are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each of these qualities is important for living a life that is pleasing to God. When we seek the presence of God with humility and faith, we can experience true joy and peace from living according to God's will. The Fruit of the Spirit is something to strive for daily: a fruitful life in communion with God.

“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)

The Greek word translated as “fruit” refers to the natural product of a living thing. Paul used “fruit” to help us understand the product of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer. The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit, not by the Christian. The Greek word is singular, showing that “fruit” is a unified whole, not independent characteristics. As we grow, all the characteristics of Christ will be manifested in our lives.

Yet, like physical fruit that needs time to grow, the fruit of the Spirit will not ripen in our lives overnight. Like a successful gardener must battle against weeds to enjoy the sweet fruit they desire, we must constantly work to rid our lives of the “weeds” of our old sinful natures that want to choke out the work of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to reject those old sinful desires. We can say “no” to sin and accept the “way out” God faithfully provides (1 Corinthians 10:13) by following the Holy Spirit’s leading. As we give the Spirit more control of our lives, He begins to do in and through us what only He can do - to shape us and grow us to look like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Since God’s goal for all His children is for us to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29), the Holy Spirit constantly works to rid our lives of the“acts of the sinful nature” (Gal 5:19) and display Hisfruit instead. Therefore, the presence of the “fruit of the Spirit” is evidence that our character is becoming more like Christ’s.

Paul uses nine characteristics to describe the fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians. Let's take a look at the fruit of the Spirit list and what each one means:

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