What Are the Fruit of the Spirit? Bible Verse and Meaning

Kathy Howard Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Updated Dec 16, 2024

“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 Fruit of the Spirit is a phrase found in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23, written by the apostle Paul. It refers to nine attributes of a Christian life inspired by the Holy Spirit living within them. These attributes are:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience (forbearance)
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

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).

Why Paul Writes About the Fruit of the Spirit

Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 as a way to contrast what it looks like to live a life led by the Holy Spirit versus a life dominated by the flesh. It’s such a relatable passage because it speaks directly to the tug-of-war we often feel between what our sinful nature wants and what God calls us to through His Spirit.

Just a few verses before describing the fruit of the Spirit, Paul lists the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21): things like sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy, and selfish ambition. These are the natural tendencies of a heart disconnected from God. Paul isn’t just giving a list of “don’ts”; he’s showing us what happens when we rely on our own desires instead of walking in step with the Spirit. When the flesh is in control, chaos follows—not just in our lives but in our relationships and even in our connection to God.

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 His fruit 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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The Fruit of Love

True, biblical love is a choice, not a feeling. It deliberately expresses itself in loving ways and always seeks the welfare of others. Biblical love is dependent on the giver’s character, not emotion. For instance, a mature believer demonstrating love will not exercise his or her freedom if that action might harm another Christian in some way. Rather than risking the possibility of causing the immature Christian to question and stumble, the mature believer will not exercise his freedom out of love for his brother (Romans 14:1-15). Love chooses to set aside one’s own preferences, desires, and sometimes even needs to put the other person first (Philippians 2:1-3).

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:7-8

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The Fruit of Joy

ometimes we Christians tend to downplay the meaning of joy. But, the Greek word translated as “joy” in Galatians 5 means “gladness and delight” – basically the same thing the world means when it talks about joy. It is a feeling of gladness based on our circumstances. Sadly, the world’s joy cannot last because it is based on fleeting, physical circumstances. But the joy of the Lord is established in our spiritual, eternal circumstances. As we cling tight to Jesus, abiding daily in our saving relationship with Him, we will experience the fullness of joy He promised (John 15:4-11).

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

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The Fruit of Peace

The world doesn’t offer much peace. Just look around. The world cannot give it because the world doesn’t know the One who is peace. But for those who have the Spirit of peace within us, the inner peace of Christ is possible, no matter our circumstances John 14:27 tells us, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.. We can reject the chaos of the world and embrace God’s peace." First, choose to rejoice in God and who He is. Second, bring all your worries, fears, and concerns to God in prayer. Third, fill your mind with God’s truth. And fourth, choose to think about the things of God.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." - Isaiah 26:3

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The Fruit of Patience (Forbearance)

Also called long-suffering, The King James Bible's usage of "forbearance" is known by it's common synonym - patience. We don’t see much patience in the world today, not even in the church. Maybe part of the reason is our fast-paced, want-it-now culture. But Christians have everything we need to be patient because we have the Holy Spirit living in us longing to display His character to those around us. Patient people put up with circumstances and other people, even when severely tried. Patient people display endurance, longsuffering, and perseverance. The New Testament also specifically connects patience with sharing the Gospel. God is patient as He waits for the lost to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9) and He calls His people to be patient as we extend the offer of salvation in Christ to others (2 Timothy 4:20).

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2

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The Fruits of Kindness and Goodness

The characteristics of the fruits of “kindness” and “goodness” are closely related. Together they present the picture of one who not only possesses moral goodness and integrity, but also generously expresses it in the way they act toward others. This “goodness in action” reflects God’s kindness and goodness toward us. God demonstrated His kindness and goodness to us in our salvation (Titus 3:4) and will continue to “show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us” for all eternity (Ephesians 2:7)!

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness..." - Colossians 3:12

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The Fruit of Faithfulness

To be “faithful” is to be reliable or trustworthy. For the Christian, this is faithfulness specifically to the Savior who redeemed us. Christian faithfulness therefore, is continued and consistent submission and obedience to the same Spirit who provides the ability for us to be faithful. This attitude is in direct contrast to our previous “faithfulness” to our own sinful desires and ways. The word also describes someone willing to suffer persecution and even death for Christ’s sake. “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." (2 Thessalonians 1:4)

"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" - Matthew 25:21

The Fruit of Gentleness or Meekness

Closely linked to humility, gentleness is grace of the soul. It is not weakness, but instead it is strength under control. For instance, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote that the “Lord’s servant” will “correct his opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:25). And in Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he wrote that those who have been caught in sin should be restored in a “spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). Gentleness, being the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest, is also a key ingredient in unity and peace within the body of Christ. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2)

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” - Philippians 4:5

The Fruit of Self-Control

The last characteristic in Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit points us back to his list of the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21. Those of us with the indwelling Holy Spirit have the strength to control our sinful desires, to say “no” to our flesh. Self-control gives us the power to say “yes” to the Spirit and foster a beautiful, bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit!

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

Concluding Remarks - Walk in the Spirit

The beautiful thing about the fruit of the Spirit is that it’s not about striving or perfection. It’s about abiding in God and allowing Him to do the work in us. Paul’s message is clear: we have a choice. We can either give in to the acts of the flesh, which lead to destruction, or we can walk with the Spirit, experiencing the life and freedom God desires for us. It’s a reminder that real change happens not by our efforts but by letting God cultivate His fruit in us, one step at a time.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:24-26)

Kathy Howard helps women live an unshakeable faith for life. The author of 8 books and a former “cultural Christian,” Kathy encourages women to stand firm on our rock-solid God through difficulties or ease by embracing real, authentic faith. Find out more and get free discipleship tools and leader helps at www.kathyhoward.org.

This article is part of our extensive resource library of terms important to the Christian faith. From heaven and hell to communion and baptism, we want to provide easy-to-read and understand articles that answer your questions about theological terms and their meaning.

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