Lessons in Greek
By Elisabeth Duckworth
Fruit of the Spirit
Today's Greek words: Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
This is such a beautiful list of attributes or “fruit” that Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23 are the produce of God's Holy Spirit. This list is not to be confused with the “spiritual gifts” which Paul describes in I Corinthians 12 (cf. also Romans 12:6-13). Those “gifts” include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracle working, prophecy, the ability to distinguish between spirits, and speaking and interpretation of tongues. Paul goes on in this same chapter to list apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, and administrating as further examples of “spiritual gifts”. Chapters 12 and 13 are devoted to explaining the role of these differing gifts within the church body, and how not everyone is blessed with the same abilities or talents, yet all are equally precious in the eyes of God. We know in ourselves that we each have our own innate talents and characteristics that we can use in life and within the church body. No one is expected to possess every spiritual gift, but we are to use whatever God has given us for His purposes.
Spiritual fruit are entirely different from “gifts”. The fruit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 are not assorted, optional talents that vary between persons. The “fruit” are a reflection of the Spirit, Nature, and Attributes of God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, each and every one of us has access to the fullness of the power of God to grow and reproduce all these qualities of God's nature in our own selves. These are not innate human talents; this is God dwelling and working within us as Christians to recreate us into His image.
Fruit (karpos καρπός) – fruit, crop, produce; harvest, blossom; bounty; fruition. Although the Greek word for “fruit” is singular, like in English, “fruit” has a plural and collective significance.
Love (agape αγάπη) – love, between God and humans and, in the New Testament, love between Christians.
Joy (chara χαρά) – a state of joy and delight; cause of bringing joy to others. [Eng.: charity; charisma]
Peace (eirene ειρήνη) – state of peacefulness following a period of war or unrest; state of friendly relations or freedom between parties; tranquility; salutation of well-being for another. [Eng.: Irene]
Patience (macrothymia μακροθυμια) – long suffering, patient, enduring patience. [Eng.: macro-]
Kindness (chrestotes χρηστοτης) – excellence of character, kindness, strong moral principles, goodness of heart, honesty, decency.
Goodness (agathosyne αγαθωσυνη) – good, capable; noble; trustworthy; loyal; useful; benevolent; esteemed, worthy. [Eng.: Agatha]
Faithfulness (pistis πίστις) – trust, confidence, assurance; trustworthy, honest, credible; guardianship, protector.
Gentleness (prautes πραυτης) – gentle, calming, soothing; to behave in a mild manner; pacify; to tame wild animals, wind or waves.
Self-control (egkrateia εγκράτεια) – possessing power; to be in power or in control; effective; self-control, tough, strong; to have the mastery.
I am so grateful that these words describe the attributes of our great and holy God. I am amazed that God, through His Holy Spirit, empowers and enables us to grow into this likeness of God. It is the Spirit that assures us that we are God's own saved and redeemed children. The fruit of the Spirit are the evidence of our salvation. These fruit are not natural to us as fallen human beings. They are the consequence of God within us, and they distinguish us as Christians.
“Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit… Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace… You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you… Christ lives within you… The Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God Who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you… All who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” –Romans 8:5-11
~ Next time we'll look at blots and blemishes. (II Peter 2:13)
