FRUIT OF THE
SPIRIT
The fruit of the Spirit is singular not plural in the Greek
language, thus it is not “fruits” of the Spirit but “fruit” of the
Spirit: a cluster of fruit manifest as “love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness and
temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
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Love is the
Greek word agape meaning a God-like kind of
love, initiative love.
- John 13:35 “ By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
- Romans 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
- I Corinthians 13:1-13 “Though I speak with the
tongues of men and angels, and have not love…Now abideth
faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.”
- I John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for
God is love.”
-
Joy is the Greek
word chara meaning the joy of the presence
of God, which is different from happiness that depends upon
circumstances.
- John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that
my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full.”
- Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praise unto God:”
- I Thessalonians 1:6 “Joy of the Holy Ghost.”
- Hebrews 12:2 “Jesus, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-
Peace is the
Greek word eirene meaning rest, inner
quietness and calmness.
- Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.”
-
Long-Suffering
is the Greek word makrothumia meaning
patience and forbearance in the presence of wrong or
persecution, slowness to take offense.
-
Gentleness is
the Greek word chrestotes meaning tender as
a mother with a child, controlled strength, kindness.
- Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
-
Goodness is the
Greek word agathosune meaning goodness of
God, benevolent, generous, virtuous, valuable, beautiful, of
great worth, find no fault.
- Acts 11:24 Barnabas is described as “a good man, and
full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
-
Faith is the
Greek word pistis meaning trust, relying
upon, grace to rest in God, free from care and anxiety.
- Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of the
things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.”
-
Meekness is the
Greek word praiotes meaning mildness,
controlled strength in our relationship with others.
- II Corinthians 10:1 “I beseech you by the meekness
and gentleness of Christ.”
-
Temperance is
the Greek word egkrateia meaning restraint,
self-control or more accurately, Spirit-control.
- II Peter 1:6 “Add to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience;”
This fruit cluster is the result of our abiding in Jesus and
He is in us as a branch abides in the Vine. As we allow the Holy
Spirit to control our lives, we will bear much fruit that will
glorify God. |