Holy spirit fruits vol. 2

HOLY SPIRIT FRUITSVOL. 2
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Galatians 5:22 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness,goodness, faithfulness,
PRECEPTAUSTIN CONTINUED
PEACE
Galatians 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries
Galatians 5:16-26 Fruit of the Spirit - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 - John
MacArthur
Peace (1515)(eirene [word study] from verb eiro = to join or bind together
that which has been separated)literally pictures the binding or joining
togetheragainof that which had been separatedordivided and thus setting at
one again, a meaning conveyby the common expressionofone “having it all
together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace
as a state of concordand harmony is the opposite of war. Peace wasusedas a
greeting or farewellcorresponding to the Hebrew word shalom - "peace to
you". Eirene can convey the sense of an inner rest, wellbeing and harmony.
The ultimate peace is the state of reconciliationwith God, effected by placing
one's faith in the gospel. In eschatology, peace is prophesiedto be an essential
characteristic ofthe Messianic kingdom(Acts 10:36).
As believers we now have peace with God because ofjustification by faith (see
note ). That is not the peace Paulis referring to as the fruit of the Spirit. This
peace is the peace ofGod in our heart as we walk in the Spirit and as Wuest
says is a "tranquility of mind basedon the consciousnessofa right relation to
God." (Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse)

Peace is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a
nation from waror enemies or inwardly, as in the current context, within the
soul. Peaceimplies health, well-being, and prosperity.
When the Spirit bears the fruit of peace in a believer, it brings an inner
tranquility of soul and spirit even in the midst of adversity. Jesus addressing
His disciples just before He went to the Cross promised...
Peace Ileave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I
give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)
These things (see John 14-16)I have spokento you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;I have overcome
the world. (Jn 16:33) (Comment: Peacethat Jesus gives is not the absence of
trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is with us in and through the
fiery furnace of trouble - cp Daniel 3:24-25)
This peace which our Lord gives transcends human understanding, as Paul
explains in his exhortation to...
Be anxious (present imperative with a negative = stop having this attitude of
worry) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known (present imperative =
continually) to God and the peace ofGod, which surpasses allcomprehension,
shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Php 4:6, 7-see notes
Php 4:6; 4:7)
An interesting side note is that the Greek word eirene is the root the English
word serene which conveys the idea of that which is clearand free of storms
or unpleasant change, stressing anunclouded and lofty tranquility!
I rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Wilt keepme still in perfect peace.
---Charles Wesley.

The picture of eirene is reflectedin our modern expression"having it all
together." Everything is in place and as it ought to be. When things are
disjointed, there is lack of harmony and wellbeing. When they are joined
together, there is both. Thus Hamlet cried,
The times are out of joint. O, cursed spite that I was ever born to set them
right.
Peace is defined by Cremeras
"a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being.”
Peace contrasts with strife and thus denotes the absence orend of strife. Peace
is not the absence ofdanger but in the presence ofGod.
Eirene includes both the conceptof an agreement, pact, treaty or bond and of
an attitude of restor security.
Websterdefines peace as a state of tranquility or quiet, freedom from
disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, harmony in personal
relations, a pact or agreementto end hostilities betweenthose who have been
at war or in a state of enmity, state of repose in contrastwith or following
strife or turmoil.
Peace in the Hebrew mindset (especiallyas implied in the Hebrew word
shalom - click discussionof "JehovahShalom" the LORD our Peace)implies
health, wholeness, soundness, welfare,health, well-being, prosperity and
peace as opposedto war. For example in the Greek translationof the Hebrew
(Septuagint = Lxx) of (2Ki 5:22) the phrase "All is well (shalom)" is translated
by eirene. In (Judges 18:15-note)we have the phrase "askedhim of his
welfare (shalom)" where "welfare" is translatedby eirene.
Eirene is used in the famous Aaronic blessing
Jehovahlift up His countenance onyou, and give you peace (shalom> eirene
in Lxx). (Nu 6:26) (Comment: In a sense, Gal5:22 is the New Testament
answerto that prayer.)
Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart.

In his first epistle Peterprayed for his his afflicted readers...
May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure (be abounding, be
multiplied, be increasedgreatlyin extent). (1Pe 1:2-note)
Peteris asking God to "multiply" the subjective, internal sense ofcalm and
serenity, the peace of God. As believer's yield more and more to the control of
the Spirit, His peace will be multiplied in answerto this prayer.
Wuest agreesexplaining that the peace Peterprays for is what Wuestrefers to
as "sanctifying peace, that state of untroubled, undisturbed tranquility and
well being produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 5:22). We have this peace to the extent that we are yielded to the
Spirit and are intelligently conscious ofand dependent upon His ministry for
us. (Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse)
Objectively saints in Christ Jesus are at peace with God (Ro 5:1-note). The
war betweenthe believer and God is over and the peace treaty was "signed"
in blood, the precious blood of Christ. Becauseofthis greattransaction,
believers can be at rest and secure in experience or practice as well as in
position. Speaking ofthe experiential peace now available to all believers, Paul
writes
And the peace of God, which surpasses allcomprehension, shall guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (see note Philippians 4:7)
Paul prays for experiential peace (peace ofsanctification, sanctifying peace,
peace ofGod on a moment by moment basis, ultimately the fruit of the Spirit)
for the saints at Rome, asking
the Godof hope (to) fill you with all joy and peace in believing (i.e., peace
experiencedin the sphere of habitually believing and which [enabled by the
Spirit] is demonstratedin one's obedient thoughts, words, and deeds), that
you may abound in hope by the powerof the Holy Spirit. (see note Romans
15:13)
Paul intercedes on behalf of the believers at Thessalonicato experience the
fruit of the Spirit's peace associatedwith sanctification(peace of God)...

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every
circumstance. The Lord [be] with you all!" (2Thes 3:16)
Comment: Have you everprayed Pauline prayers like those above for other
believers? If not why not? Remember that Paul never prayed for physical
needs for believers but for the deeperneeds of the soul and spirit. The church
must return to these types of prayers and can do so in full confidence that God
is "obligated" to answerthem according to His goodand acceptable and
perfect will. Pray this prayer for your pastor, your elders, your church
members, your family. It will take about 5 seconds to pray it eachday for the
next year or less than 30 minutes for the entire year! And of course pray it in
faith with a pure heart and cleanhands and not as a rote, mechanicalact. God
will answerit although you may not always see His answers. Walk by faith,
not sight!
To reiterate, the peace Paulis praying for and which is manifest as part of the
fruit of the Spirit is not that peace whichresults from cessationoftribulations
and distresses,but is the supernatural calmness ofheart which is independent
of circumstances, in part because it arises out of a belief that the sovereign
God is with you and in controlof the circumstances.
John Macarthur adds that
At the individual level this (experiential) peace, unknownto the unsaved,
secures composure in difficult trouble (cf Jn 14:1), dissolves fear(Phil 4:7-
note) and rules in the hearts of God’s people to maintain harmony (Col 3:15-
note). (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville:Word Pub)
Barclayexplains that eirene or peace "in contemporary colloquial Greek...had
two interesting usages. It was used of the serenity which a county enjoyed
under the just and beneficentgovernment of a good emperor; and it was used
of the goodorder of a town or village. Villages had an official who was called
the superintendent of the village’s eirene, the keeperof the public peace.
Usually in the New Testamenteirene stands for the Hebrew shalom and
means not just freedom from trouble but everything that makes for a man’s
highest good. It is interesting to note that Chara (Grace)and Eirene (Peace ~

"Irene")both became very common Christian names in the Church."
(Galatians 5 Commentary )
Spurgeonwrites the following on peace...
Peace in poverty — I have seenthe Christian man in the depths of poverty,
when he lived from hand to mouth, and scarcelyknew where he should find
the next meal, still with his mind unruffled, calm, and quiet. If he had been as
rich as an Indian prince, yet could he not have had less care. If he had been
told that his bread should always come to his door, and the streamwhich ran
hard by should never dry; if he had been quite sure that ravens would bring
him bread and meat in the morning, and again in the evening — he would not
have been one whit more calm. There is his neighbour on the other side of the
streetnot half so poor, but weariedfrom morning till night, bringing himself
to the grave with anxiety.
Armour of peace — He that hath peace with God, is armed cap-a-pi: he is
coveredfrom head to foot in a panoply. The arrow may fly againstit, but
cannot pierce it; for peace with God is a mail so strong, that the broadsword
of Satan himself may be brokenin twain ere it can pierce the flesh. Oh, take
care that you are at peace with God; for if you are not, you ride forth to to-
morrow’s fight unarmed, naked; and God help the man who is unarmed when
he has to fight with hell and earth.
C Norman Bartlett rightly writes that...
We cannothave the peace ofGod until we have made our peace with God
through Him who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14-note). But being reconciled, we
have the peace whichpassethall understanding (Philippians 4:7-note). If we
abide in Jesus as we ought, there is in our souls a calmness that no outward
hostility can upset: "Thou wilt keep him in perfectpeace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah26:3). For the Christian
surrounded by foes there is everopen a secretpassageto the heart of GOD.
(C. Norman Bartlett: Galatians and You: Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the
Galatians, 1948)
Ray Ortlund encouragesus to

Set no limits where God himself sets no limits. It is not possible to have too
much grace and peace. We have not exhausted the possibilities. Mostof us
don’t even think in terms of the possibilities of what God can do for us. But
the Word of God greets us here with this open-ended encouragement:“Grace
and peace be yours in abundance! May they be multiplied to you!”
An Illustration of Peace - Jim Waltonwas translating the NT for the Muinane
people of La Sabana in the jungles of Colombia. But he was having trouble
with the word peace. During this time, Fernando, the village chief, was
promised a 20-minute plane ride to a locationthat would have takenhim 3
days to travel by walking. The plane was delayedin arriving at La Sabana, so
Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to
bring Fernando back. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left.
Fernando was livid because ofthe mix-up. He went to Jim and launched into
an angry tirade. Fortunately, Waltonhad taped the chief's diatribe. When he
later translated it, he discoveredthat the chief kept repeating the phrase, "I
don't have one heart." Jim askedothervillagers what having "one heart"
meant, and he found that it was like saying, "There is nothing betweenyou
and the other person." That, Walton realized, was just what he needed to
translate the word peace. To have peace with Godmeans that there is
nothing--no sin, no guilt, no condemnation--that separates us. And that peace
with God is possible only through Christ (Ro 5:1-note). Do you have "one
heart" with Godtoday? Do you have peace with Godand the peace ofGod? If
you are a believer, you have peace with God but you may not be experiencing
the peace ofGod. Dearbelieving reader, may His grace and peace be yours in
fullest measure. Amen.
PATIENCE
MacArthur
Patience (3115)(makrothumia [word study] from makros = long, distant, far
off, large + thumos = temper, passion, emotion or thumoomai = to be furious
or burn with intense anger) is literally long-temper (as opposedto "short

tempered), a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to actionor
passion. It describes a state of emotional calm or quietness in the face of
provocation, misfortune or unfavorable circumstances.
Makrothumia - 14xin 14v- Ro 2:4; 9:22; 2 Cor6:6; Gal 5:22; Eph 4:2; Col
1:11; 3:12; 1 Tim 1:16; 2 Tim 3:10; 4:2; Heb 6:12; Jas 5:10; 1 Pet3:20; 2 Pet
3:15
When a believer is walking in the Spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the
flesh, he or she is empowered with an inner supernatural steadfastnessevenin
the face of provocation. This long fuse is a Christ like attitude for as Peter
reminded his readers our Lord Jesus Christin spite of...
being reviled, ...did not revile in return; while suffering, ...uttered no threats,
but kept entrusting Himself to Him Who judges righteously (1Pe 2:23-note)
Comment: The Spirit will enable us to walk in His steps!We cannotmanifest
this attitude in our ownstrength but in submission and yieldedness to His
Spirit!
Makrothumia is the capacityto be wrongedand not retaliate. It enables us to
bear injury without at once avenging ourselves. It is the ability to hold one's
feeling in restraint or bear up under the oversights and wrongs afflicted by
others without retaliating. It is manifest by the quality of forbearance under
provocation. It is used of God's patience towardsinful men (Ro 2:4-note) and
of the attitude which Christians are to display.
Patience is the spirit which never gives up for it endures to the end even in
times of adversity, exhibiting self-restraintsuch that it does not hastily
retaliate a wrong.
Vine says makrothumia is the opposite of anger. It follows that a lack of
patience often leads to wrath or revenge.
Makrothumia is often used in the OT to translate the Hebrew phrase ('erekh
'appayim) which is literally “long of nose” (or“breathing”), and, as angerwas
indicated by rapid, violent breathing through the nostrils, “long of anger,” or

“slow to anger.” This Hebrew phrase ('erekh 'appayim) and the LXX
translation as makrothumia (and the cognates makrothumos, makrothumeo)
is included in the catalog ofHis attributes that runs through the OT like a
refrain, a God "slow to anger" (13 occurrencesofthis phrase in the OT = Ex
34:6; Nu 14:18;Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8;145:8; Pr 14:29; 15:18;16:32;
19:11;Joel2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nah 1:3).
J Vernon McGee writes that makrothumia "means long-burning—it burns a
long time. We shouldn’t have a short fuse with our friends and Christian
brethren. We shouldn’t make snap judgments." (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible
Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Evans writes that makrothumia "could be translated “large emotions,”
signifying wells of endurance that will not dry up, no matter how much is
drawn from them. The Christian with this patience will have refreshing water
to sustain continual effectiveness evenin the face of unrelenting pressures.
Those with such patience and faith are those who receive or “inherit the
promises.” (Briscoe,D. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. The Preacher's Commentary
Series, New Testament. 2003;Thomas Nelson)
Calvin saidmakrothumia refers to that quality of mind that disposes us "to
take everything in goodpart and not to be easilyoffended."
Larry Richards writes that "The NT contains many exhortations to be
patient. But just what is patience? The Greek word group
(makrothumeo/makrothumia) focuses our attention on restraint: that capacity
for self-controldespite circumstances that might arouse the passions or cause
agitation....This is not so much a trait as a way of life. We keepon loving or
forgiving despite provocation, as illustrated in Jesus'pointed stories in Mt
18." (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency)
Spurgeon- Patience, too, is part of the fruit of the Spirit. You will be hourly
tried, but the Spirit of God will give you patience to suffer long and to endure
much.
C Norman Bartlett rightly says that...
Irrigations of Grace

WashAway The
Irritations of Life
There are men and womenwho masticate their dislikes thoroughly, make all-
day suckers oftheir wrongs, and magnify every little pin-prick into a sword
thrust. The temperament manifested in such conduct and attitudes is far
removed from the longsuffering included in this cluster of spiritual graces so
highly commended in Scripture. Irrigations of grace washawaythe irritations
of life as of negligible consequence. In passing, we might observe that there is
not infrequently a vital connectionbetweenthe enduring of injuries from the
world and the bestowing ofbenefits on the world - like destructive floods
disclosing to view rich veins of gold. (C. Norman Bartlett: Galatians and You:
Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, 1948)
William Barclayhas a lengthy discussionexplaining that makrothumia...
"... as the Greeks usedit, usually meant patience with people. It is the ability
not to lose patience when people are foolish, not to grow irritable when they
seemunteachable. It is the ability to acceptthe folly, the perversity, the
blindness, the ingratitude of men and still to remain gracious, and still to toil
on...
This word has two main directions of meaning.
(a) It describes the spirit which will never give in and which, because it
endures to the end, will reap the reward. Its meaning can best be seenfrom
the factthat a Jewishwriter used it to describe what he called“the Roman
persistencywhich would never make peace under defeat.” In their greatdays
the Romans were unconquerable; they might lose a battle, they might even
lose a campaign, but they could not conceive of losing a war. In the greatest
disasterit never occurredto them to admit defeat. Christian patience is the
spirit which never admits defeat, which will not be brokenby any misfortune
or suffering, by any disappointment or discouragement, but which persists to
the end.
(b) But makrothumia has an even more characteristic meaning than that. It is
the characteristicGreek wordfor patience with men.

Chrysostomdefined it as the spirit which has the powerto take revenge but
never does so.
Lightfoot defined it as the spirit which refuses to retaliate.
To take a very imperfect analogy—itis often possible to see a puppy and a
very large dog together. The puppy yaps at the big dog, worries him, bites
him, and all the time the big dog, who could annihilate the puppy with one
snap of his teeth, bears the puppy’s impertinence with a forbearing dignity.
Makrothumia is the spirit which bears insult and injury without bitterness
and without complaint. It is the spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with
graciousness andfools without irritation.
The most illuminating thing about it is that it is commonly used in the New
Testamentof the attitude of God towards men (Ro 2:4-note; Ro 9:22-note;1Ti
1:16; 1Pe 3:20-note). If God had been a man, he would have wiped out this
world long ago;but he has that patience which bears with all our sinning and
will not castus off. In our dealings with our fellow men we must reproduce
this loving, forbearing, forgiving, patient attitude of God towards ourselves.
Paul asks the impenitent sinner if he despises the patience of God (Ro 2:4-
note). Paul speaks ofthe perfect patience of Jesus to him (1Ti 1:16). Peter
speaks ofGod’s patience waiting in the days of Noah(1Pe 3:20-note). He says
that the forbearance of our Lord is our salvation (2Pe 3:15-note). If God had
been a man, he would long since in sheerirritation have wiped the world out
for its disobedience. The Christian must have the patience towards his fellow
men which God has shownto him." (Galatians 5 Commentary )
In another note Barclaywrites that makrothumia is
"the ability to bear with them even when they are wrong, even when they are
cruel and insulting. It is a greatword. The writer of First Maccabees (8:4)
says that it was by makrothumia that the Romans became masters of the
world, and by that he means the Roman persistence whichwould never make
peace with an enemy even in defeat, a kind of conquering patience. Patience is
the quality of a man who may lose a battle but who will never admit defeat in

a campaign" (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed.
Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)
The Christian is to count the longsuffering of God toward evil and injustice
not as slackness,but as evidence of His grace towardevildoers in granting
them time for repentance and salvation(2Peter3:9-note). As His children,
Christians are to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest this family characteristic in
them as well (see note Romans 12:19-21).
Boles writes that makrothumia...
"refers to what we might call“staying power,” to endure hard events and
obnoxious people. While the word was not frequently used in classical
literature, it has a rich history in the LXX. “A man’s wisdom gives him
patience” (Pr 19:11), with which he cancalm a quarrel (Pr 15:18)or persuade
a ruler (Pr 25:15). More importantly, patience makes a man like God, who is
“righteous and strong and long-tempered” (Ps 7:12, LXX). One of the great
truths about God is that he is “slow to anger” (makrothumos), repeatedby
Moses (Exod34:6), David (Ps 103:8), Joel(Joel2:13), Jonah (Jonah 4:2),
Nahum (Nah 1:3), and Nehemiah (Neh 9:17)...Patience is the even temper that
comes from a big heart. It is not the “grit your teeth” kind of angry
endurance; it is loving tolerance in spite of people’s weaknessand failure.
Love is patient (1Cor13:4) and so must Christians be (Ep 4:2-note)...the same
divine quality that allows Godto be patient with sinners (2Pet3:9) enables the
Christian to endure the exasperating behaviorof others. Perhaps the best way
for us to “lengthen” the fuse on our tempers is to remember how much God
has had to overlook and forgive in our own lives." (Boles, K. L. Galatians &
Ephesians. The College PressNIV commentary Joplin, Mo.: College Press)
Makrothumia is patience in face of injustice and unpleasant circumstances
without complaint or irritation. The short-tempered personspeaks and acts
impulsively and lacks self-control. Whena person is longsuffering, he can put
up with provoking people or circumstances without retaliating. It is goodto be
able to get angry, for this is a sign of holy character. But it is wrong to get
angry quickly at the wrong things and for the wrong reasons. It is the attitude
which endures another's exasperating conductwithout flying off the handle. It

is a negative term. It is holding back, restraining yourself from becoming
upset or speaking sharply or shrilly to somebodybe they your mate, your
child, or whoever...despite their conduct you find difficult and exasperating.
Makrothumia always has to do with our reactionnot to circumstances but to
people that God allows (or sends) into our life! Becauseofthe new nature you
can be longsuffering with those with whom you otherwise couldnot be. What
was heretofore IMPOSSIBLE is now ''HIM POSSIBLE''!Hallelujah!
Remember though it is a product of prayer (Col1:11-note)
George writes that makrothumia...
"...is the ability to put up with other people even when that is not an easy
thing to do. Patience in this sense, ofcourse, is preeminently a characteristic
of God, who is “long-suffering” with his rebellious creatures. He is the loving
Lord who in the face of obstinate infidelity and repeatedrejection still says of
his people, “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over,
Israel?” (Hos 11:8). Paul’s point is clear:if God has been so long-suffering
with us, should we not display this same grace in our relationships with one
another? This quality should characterize the life of every believer, but it has
a specialrelevance for those who are calledto teachand preachthe Word of
God. As Paul instructed Timothy, “Preachthe Word; be prepared in season
and out of season;correct, rebuke and encourage—withgreatpatience and
careful instruction” (2Ti 4:2-note)." (George, T. The New American
Commentary. Page 402. Nashville:Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Longsuffering characterizes alllabor that has love for its motive...
Love is patient (verb form = makrothumeo), love is kind, and is not jealous;
love does not brag and is not arrogant(1Co 13:4-note)
Vine writes that...
If forbearance denotes delayin executing judgment, long-suffering denotes
the particular disposition which delays it." (Vine, W. Collectedwritings of W.
E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
Kindness

MacArthur
Kindness (KJV = gentleness)(5544)(chrestotes[word study] from adjective
chrestos = useful, profitable in turn from chraomai = to furnish what is
needed in turn from chráo = lend, furnish as a loan) is a gracious attitude, and
thus describes the quality of being helpful and beneficial.
Kindness is an attribute of God (Ro 2:4-note being a goodexample) and a
godly trait which the Spirit produces in the surrendered saint (contrastthe
unregenerate sinner - Ro 3:12-note "no one who shows kindness (chrestotes)"
NET)who as Trench says has this beautiful grace "pervading and penetrating
their whole nature, mellowing all which would have been harsh and austere
(and producing)...a goodness whichhas no edge, no sharpness in it." (Trench,
R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament. HendricksonPublishers. 2000)
Paul writes to the Colossiansaints regarding their new "Christ-like" garment,
commanding them as
those who have been chosenof God, holy and beloved (powerful "motivating"
truths) (to), put on (aorist imperative) a heart of compassion, kindness
(chrestotes), humility, gentleness and patience. (Col3:12-note)
Comment: Indeed is not the essence ofthis new garment indicative of a saint
who is surrendered, Spirit filled and fruit bearing?
Chrestotes - 10xin 10v- Ro 2:4; Ro 3:12; 11:22;2Cor 6:6; Gal 5:22; Ep 2:7;
Col 3:12; Titus 3:4. NAS = good(1), kindness(9).
Chrestotes - 14xin the non-apocryphal Septuagint -
Esther 8:12; Ps 14:1, 3; 21:3; 25:7; 31:19; 37:3; 65:10;68:10; 85:12;104:28;
106:5;119:65f, 68;145:7;
Eadie - The meaning is kindness—gentleness, affability, the benign heart and
the softanswer, “the gentlenessofChrist;” or a serene, loving, and
sympathizing temper, the fruit of that Spirit who descendedin the form of a

dove upon our greatExemplar, and abode upon Him. (Eadie, John: Epistle of
St Paul to the Galatians)
Barnes writes that chrestotes "is opposedto a harsh, crabbed, crooked
temper. It is a dispositionto be pleased;it is mildness of temper, calmness of
spirit, an unruffled disposition, and a disposition to treat all with urbanity and
politeness. This is one of the regular effects of the Spirit's operations on the
heart. Religion(Ed note: The indwelling Holy Spirit) makes no one crabbed,
and morose, and sour. It (He) sweetensthe temper; corrects an irritable
disposition; makes the heart kind; disposes us to make all around us as happy
as possible. This is true politeness:a kind of politeness which canfar better be
learned in the schoolofChrist than in that of Chesterfield; by the study of the
New Testamentthan under the direction of the dancing-master. (Galatians 5)
Jesus taught that we are to "love (our) enemies, and do goodand lend,
expecting nothing in return and (our) reward will be great, and (we) will be
sons of the MostHigh; for He Himself is kind (adjective chrestos)to
ungrateful and evil men." (Lk 6:35)
Kindness reflects the tender concernof God, providing for helpless, hapless
man what he never could have provided for himself. This is the "starting
point" for our salvation. Expositors calls it God's "pitying kindness that
prompts Him to bestow forgiveness and blessings".
John MacArthur writes that kindness (chrestotes)
connotes genuine goodness andgenerosityof heart. Our salvationfrom sin
and lostness anddeath issuedwholly from God’s kindness, His loving,
benevolent, and entirely gracious concernto draw us to Himself and redeem
us from sin forever.
James MontgomeryBoice adds that kindness "is the divine kindness out of
which God acts toward men. It is what the OT means when it declares that
"Godis good," as it so frequently does. The Christian is to show kindness by
behaving toward others as God has behaved toward him. "(Gaebelein, F,
Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan
Publishing)

C Norman Bartlett says that kindness (gentleness)"is the spontaneous
overflow of love in the heart. It is the spirit that would rather be hurt by
others than hurt others. Would that more of us were as tenderhearted as we
are thin-skinned, as impulsive in kindness as explosive in anger. We need to
cultivate resourcefulness inkindliness, to gain proficiency in the artistry of
applying Christian love to the hearts and lives of those with whom we come in
contactin the multitudinous activities and relationships of life. (C. Norman
Bartlett: Galatians and You: Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians,
1948)
Chrestotes is used in the Greek translationof the Septuagint (LXX) 15 times,
as in the prayer of David in which he asks Godto
not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;according to Thy
lovingkindness remember Thou me, for Thy goodness’(Lxx = chrestotes -
kindness)sake, O Lord. Good(adjective chrestos - kind) and upright is the
Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. (Ps 25:7, 8)
In other words David bases his appeal on God's attribute of kindness for he
recognizes thatit is God's kindness that leads sinners to repentance
("instructs sinners in the way.")
Kindness reflects benevolence in action, kindliness which disposes one to do
goodbut not a goodness qualitatively but a goodnessin action and expressed
in deed. Kindness is that temper or disposition which delights in contributing
to the happiness of others, which is exercisedcheerfully in gratifying their
wishes and which supplies their wants or alleviates their distresses.Kindness
is not just a sweetdispositionbut is a serving trait.
Spurgeon- Considerationfor others, readiness to help them in any way that
we can.
Jesus usedthe adjectivalform (chrestos)in His famous invitation to "all who
are wearyand heavy laden" to come to Him, take His yoke and learn from
Him, for His
yoke is easy(chrestos)and (His) load is light." (Mt 11:28, 29, 30-note)

Jesus'yoke is pleasant, beneficial, useful, and causes no discomfort.
Paul asks the question
"do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness (chrestotes)and
forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to
repentance?" (Ro 2:4-note)
God's kindness does not excuse men of their sin but convicts them of sin and
leads them to repentance. In the next chapter of Romans Paul uses chrestotes
to contrastthe attitude and actionof sinful men writing
"all have turned aside. Togetherthey have become useless. There is none who
does good(chrestotes). There is not even one." (Ro 3:12-note)
And yet when men become beneficiaries ofGod's kindness and repent and
believe, they are new creatures in Christ, now fitted to shine forth
the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (chrestotes),
goodness,faithfulness. (Gal 5:22)
Paul in his famous definition of love writes that
love is patient, love is kind (chresteuomai - the related verb) (1Cor 13:4-note)
Peterwrites that believers
have tastedthe kindness (adjective chrestos)ofthe Lord. (1Pe 2:3-note)
And in another reflectionof God's amazing grace, Paulrecords
that in the ages to come He (will) show the surpassing riches of His grace in
kindness (chrestotes)towardus in Christ Jesus. (Ep 2:7-note)
God's kindness initiated our salvation. His kindness continues throughout
eternity! Simply unfathomable! Even a glimpse of the true meaning of God's
kindness is something that ought to cause us to drop to our knees in grateful
adorationas expressedby Isaac Watts in the hymn below...
WHAT SHALL — I RENDER TO MY GOD
Click to play

What shall I render to my God
For all His kindness shown?
My feetshall visit Thine abode,
My songs address Thy throne.
The Tyndale Bible Dictionary summarizes kindness as that "state of being
that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness,
patience, pleasantness, gentleness,and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown
in the way a personspeaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional.
(Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill.:
Tyndale House Publishers)
One of the most beautiful illustrations of this volitional aspectof human
kindness is King David’s treatment of Mephibosheth (2Sa 9:1ff). Scripture
records David's question -- "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that
I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"David’s desire was to show
“the kindness of God” to King Saul’s family because ofhis covenantwith
Saul’s son, Jonathan. The young man chosenwas Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s
son, who "was lame in both feet." (2Sa 9:13)If David had actedaccording to
justice, he would have condemned Mephibosheth who belongedto a
condemned family. But David actedon the basis of kindness, seeking out
Mephibosheth, assuring him he had no need to fear, inviting him to live in the
king's palace as family and to eatat the king’s table. This is but a veiled
picture of the infinite kindness of God! Indeed every believer has experienced
even greaterkindness, for we are now children of the King and shall revel in
His majestic presence forever!What kindness!
Goodness
MacArthur
Goodness (19)(agathosune [wordstudy] from agathos =benevolent, profitable,
benefiting others)describes active goodness,virtue, excellence orbeneficence.

It is high moral characterreflectedin to being goodin both nature and
effectiveness.
Agathosune - 4x in 4v - Rom 15:14;Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9; 2 Thess 1:11
Agathosune finds its fullest and highest expressionin that which is willingly
and sacrificiallydone for others. It is moral and spiritual excellence
manifested in active kindness.
Agathosune describes a positive moral quality characterizedespeciallyby
interest in the welfare of others. Agathosune refers to active goodnessas an
energetic principle. It is the generositywhich springs from the heart that is
kind and will always take care to obtain for others that which is useful or
beneficial.
Thayer says that agathosune is found only in Biblical and ecclesiastical
writings.
Wuest writes that agathosune refers "to that quality in a man who is ruled by
and aims at what is good, namely, the quality of moral worth. (Galatians
Commentary - Verse by Verse)
Agathosune is a fruit of the Spirit and a fruit of the Light. Agathosune is
moral goodness found only in believers and only as the result of the working
of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who submit to His divine will and
power.
Paul prayed for this fruit of goodness to be manifest in the lives of the
believers at Thessalonica(2Th1:11) and was convincedit was being manifest
in the lives of the saints (the body of Christ) at Rome (Ro 15:14-note). Paul
had heard about their goodness, implying that the way they lived and
interacted with others gave proof of their possessionofthe Spirit and His
fruit.
C Norman Bartlett writes that "The realmeaning of this word is generosityin
things material and things spiritual. Niggardliness impoverishes while
liberality enriches the soul; or, as Scripture puts it, "The liberal soul shall be
made fat." In the realm of the spirit we lose what we keepand keep what we

lose for JESUS'sake (Mt 16:25). (C. Norman Bartlett: Galatians and You:
Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, 1948)
Spurgeon- Not any holiness of which you boast, but such “goodness”as other
people cansee and admire.
Barclaywrites that agathosune
is a peculiarly Bible word and does not occur in secularGreek). It is the
widest word for goodness;it is defined as “virtue equipped at every point.”
What is the difference? Agathosune might, and could, rebuke and discipline;
chrestotes canonly help. Trenchsays that Jesus showedagathosune whenhe
cleansedthe Temple and drove out those who were making it a bazaar; but he
showedchrestotes whenhe was kind to the sinning woman who anointed his
feet. The Christian needs that goodnesswhichat one and the same time canbe
kind and strong. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed.
Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)
Romans 15:14 (see note) And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am
convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filledwith all knowledge,
and able also to admonish one another.
Ephesians 5:9 (note) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and
righteousness andtruth),
2Thessalonians1:11 To this end also we pray for you always that our God
may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness
and the work of faith with power
Faithfulness
MacArthur
Faithfulness is rendered...
Goodfaith (Weymouth)

Trustfulness (NJB)
Faith (BBE, KJV)
Faithfulness (4102)(pistis) as used in Scripture usually refers to one's belief or
faith in God, in His Son, in His Gospelby which one is saved through grace
(Ep 2:8, 9-note).
In the present contextpistis takes ona different meaning, instead referring to
that virtue which makes a person one on whom others canrely
(dependability). This fruit in man is predicated on the truth about God - His
faithfulness. So when a believer manifests this trait in interpersonal
relationships, he or she is becoming a "partakerof the divine nature" (2Pe
1:4-note), acting in godliness or"God-likeness".Evenas a child exhibits
family resemblances, loyalty, trustworthiness and fidelity in a believer
presents to others an accurate (Spirit empowered)manifestation of the unseen
God (cp Mt 5:16-note).
In a word this component of the fruit of the Spirit describes one's
trustworthiness, loyalty, reliability, adherence, constancy, dependability,
devotedness. Another synonym is the word fidelity (from Latin fides = faith,
fidere = to trust) is strict, careful, continuing and exactobservance ofduty, or
performance of obligations.
The personwith this quality keeps his word, his promises, and his vows. This
sense is conveyed in Titus 2 where Paul is speaking ofbelieving slaves as "not
pilfering, but showing all goodfaith (Titus 2:10KJV = fidelity) that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviorin every respect. (Titus 2:10-note)
Jesus castigatedthe Pharisees fortheir lack of this attribute "Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and
have neglectedthe weightierprovisions of the law: justice and mercy and
faithfulness (pistis); but these are the things you should have done without
neglecting the others. (Mt 23:23)
W E Vine - In the majority of its frequent occurrences earlierin this Epistle
pistis signifies the abandonment of oneself, insofaras hope of salvation
through merit or works is concerned, and the casting of oneselftherefore

solelyupon God in Christ, as in Gal 2:16, e.g. But neither this meaning, nor
the less commonone of Gal 1:23 (where it = “whatis believed”) seems to suit
the contexthere. Faith, in the sense ofconfidence in God for salvation, would
necessarilycome at the head of such a list as this if it were to appear at all.
Pistis is, however, sometimes = “faithfulness,” as here rendered; see Romans
3:3 (of God), and Matthew 23:23;Titus 2:10 (of man). There is also a third
idea which pistis may express, that of trustfulness, the habit of mind which
does not doubt that God is working all things togetherfor goodwith those
who love Him, Romans 8:28, that seeksto realize the truth of the apostle’s
word concerning love that it “believethall things,” 1Corinthians 13:7.
Suspicionof God, whether of His love or of His wisdom (few doubt His
power), is a work of the flesh, and so is suspicion of those around us; it
darkens and embitters the soul, hinders efficiencyin service, and makes
fellowship impossible. The choice lies betweenthe secondand third of these
meanings, and on the whole the lastis perhaps more likely to be the intention
of the apostle. (Vine, W. Collectedwritings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas
Nelson)
Witherington - In a list such as this pistis in all likelihood does not refer to
faith, but rather to faithfulness, and so it is once againan attribute of God (Ro
3:3-note) now predicated of the believer. More importantly for our discussion,
Paul sees it as the paradigmatic term to describe the self-giving actionof
Christ, in particular referring to his voluntary surrender to death on the cross
in obedience to God’s will and plan. The faithfulness of Christ is to be likewise
mirrored by Christians. This term in Greek literature refers to
trustworthiness, a personwho acts in goodfaith, and it is perhaps likely that
the Gentile Galatians would hear some of these sorts of overtones here,
especiallyin view of the two terms which follow this one and conclude the list.
As Betz says, faithfulness, gentleness ormildness, and self-controlwere three
famous virtues in Hellenistic ethics. (Grace in Galatia : A Commentary on St.
Paul's Letter to the Galatians. GrandRapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co)
Wuest agreesthat in Galatians 5:22 pistis "does not refer here to faith
exercisedby the saint, but to faithfulness and fidelity as produced in the life of

the yielded Christian by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians Commentary - Verse by
Verse)
Morris - The ability to serve God faithfully through the years and through the
temptations of life is not something we achieve by heroic virtue. It comes from
the Spirit.
Charles Ellicott "trustfulness (Conybeare), faith in God’s promises and
mercies and loving trust towards men; comp. 1Co 13:7-note , all faith (pisteuo
- believing), where, like makrothumia and chrestotes (1Co 13:4), it stands as
one of the characteristics ofagape (Ellicott, C. J. St. Paul's Epistle to the
Galatians)
Hendricksen- Faithfulness to God and to his will is, accordingly, the virtue
which, in all probability, Paul is here commending as a gift of the Spirit. This,
however, does not exclude but includes loyalty toward men. (New Testament
commentary: Exposition of Galatians. Grand Rapids: BakerBook House)
Hansen - Faithfulness is the quality of keeping commitments in relationships.
The Galatians had proved to be fickle in their attitude towardPaul (4:13–16).
Only the Spirit can produce the quality of loyalty no matter the cost.
(Galatians. The IVP New Testamentcommentary series Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press)
Eadie - “faith” (“faythfulnes,” Tyndale, Cranmer)—not simply faith in God in
the theologicalsense (Jerome,Theophylact),—thatbeing implied, as the Spirit
dwells only in those who have faith,—nor merely fidelity or goodfaith
(Meyer), nor veracity (Winer); but trust generally, trustfulness toward God
and towards man. Confidence in God, in all His promises, and under all His
dispensations;and a spirit of unsuspicious and generous confidence towards
men,—not moved by doubts and jealousies, norconjuring up possible causes
of distrust, and treasuring up sadlessons from previous instances of broken
plight. 1Co 13:7.
Barclay- Fidelity; this word (pistis) is common in secularGreek for
trustworthiness. It is the characteristic ofthe man who is reliable.

Spurgeonon faithfulness - Reliability, keeping goodfaith with others, so that
they know that your word is as goodas your bond.
Barnes - The word here may be used in the sense offidelity, and may denote
that the Christian will be a faithful man-a man faithful to his word and
promises;a man who can be trusted or confided in. It is probable that the
word is used in this sense because the objectof the apostle is not to speak of
the feelings which we have towards God, so much as to illustrate the
influences of the Spirit in directing and controlling our feelings towards men.
True religion makes a man faithful. The Christian is faithful as a man;
faithful as a neighbour, friend, father, husband, son. He is faithful to his
contracts;faithful to his promises. No man can be a Christian who is not thus
faithful; and all pretensions to being under the influences of the Spirit, when
such fidelity does not exist, are deceitful and vain.
Adam Clarke - Faith—here used for fidelity—punctuality in performing
promises, conscientious carefulness in preserving what is committed to our
trust, in restoring it to its proper owner, in transacting the business confided
to us, neither betraying the secretofour friend, nor disappointing the
confidence of our employer.
J. B. Lightfoot discussesthe conceptof faith in his commentary on Galatians.
He notes that in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, the definition of the word for faith
"hovers betweentwo meanings:trustfulness, the frame of mind which relies
on another; and trustworthiness, the frame of mind which can be relied
upon....pistis seems not to be used here (Galatians 5:22) in its theologicalsense
‘belief in God.’ Its position points rather to the passive meaning of faith,
‘trustworthiness, fidelity, honesty,’ as in Mt. 23:23, Titus 2:10-note; comp. Ro
3:3 (note).
C Norman Bartlett says that here Paul refers to - Faith which canalso be seen
as faithfulness. Probably capable of a double meaning, of trustfulness and
trustworthiness. The one who is led by the SPIRIT has an unswerving
confidence in GOD and reliance upon His words of promise; at the same time
he manifests dependability in the discharge of the responsibilities which the
LORD sees fit to lay upon him. Having faith in GOD involves keeping faith

with GOD. We trust Him. How far canHe trust us? (C. Norman Bartlett:
Galatians and You: Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, 1948)
Utley - Pistis is used in its Old Testamentsense ofloyalty and trustworthiness.
It was usually used of God (cf. Ro 3:3-note). Here it describes the believer’s
new relationship with people, especiallybelievers. (Paul's First Letters:
Galatians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians)
Of the 243 uses of pistis in the NT only a small percentare used with the sense
of trustworthiness or faithfulness. On the other hand there are a number of
uses of pistis in Septuagint(LXX) with the meaning of trustworthiness or
faithfulness as exemplified in the following passages...
Deuteronomy 32:20 "ThenHe said, 'I will hide My face from them, I will see
what their end shall be; For they are a perverse generation, Sons in whom is
no faithfulness (Hebrew = emuwn = faithfulness; Lxx = pistis)
1 Samuel 26:23 "And the LORD will repay eachman for his righteousness
and his faithfulness (Hebrew = emuwnah = fidelity; Lxx = pistis); for the
LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretchout my hand
againstthe LORD's anointed.
2 Kings 12:15 Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men
into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for
they dealt faithfully (Hebrew = emuwnah = fidelity; Lxx = pistis).
2 Kings 22:7 "Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money
delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully (Hebrew = emuwnah =
fidelity; Lxx = pistis)."
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who
deal faithfully (Hebrew = emuwnah = fidelity; Lxx = pistis) are His delight.
When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea
islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the conceptof
believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that
to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came running

up the stairs into Paton's study and flopped in a chair, exhausted. He saidto
Paton,
It's so goodto rest my whole weightin this chair.
John Patonhad his word: Faith is resting your whole weighton God. That
word went into the translationof their New Testamentand helped bring that
civilization of natives to Christ. Believing is putting your whole weighton
God. If God said it, then it's true, and we're to believe it.
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Galatians 5:21
Galatians 5:23 >>
Galatians 5:22-24
These qualities are aspects ofGod's characterthat we all need to have and
use:
Love: Outgoing concernfor others. True concernfor all of mankind. Not
being self-centered. Doing for others what is right, despite their character,
appearance, socialstatus, etc. (I Corinthians 13).
Joy: Relatedto happiness, only happiness requires right circumstances where
joy does not. Jesus Christ felt joy though He facedheavy trials (Hebrews
12:2). We should all be joyful having been calledby God.

Peace:Peaceofmind and peace with God (Philippians 4:6-7).
Longsuffering: Bearing with others who are working out their salvation.
Being slow to anger(Romans 15:1; Luke 21:19).
Kindness: Behaving toward others kindly, as God has behaved toward us
(Ephesians 4:31-32).
Goodness:Generosityof spirit that springs from imitating Jesus Christ
(Psalm 33:4-5).
Faithfulness:Being reliable. This describes a personwho is trustworthy and
will always stand up for God's way. We can count on, and should work at
imitating, the faithfulness of God (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:5).
Gentleness:Considerate and tactful in conduct and correction. Neverangry at
the wrong time (Matthew 5:22-24;Ephesians 4:26).
Self-Control:Discipline which gives us victory over the wrong pulls of our
mind and body (I John 2:15-17).
John O. Reid (1930-2016)
Time for Self-Evaluation
RelatedTopics:Faith | Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit |
Gentleness | Holy Spirit | Joy| Kindness | Longsuffering | Love | Peace| Self
Control
Galatians 5:22

The Greek and Hebrew definitions of the words translated as "joy" and its
synonyms are virtually the same as their English counterparts, except for one
whose specific definition is not "joy" but "blessed." This word, the Greek
makarios, reveals much about some of the major sources ofbiblical joy. It
frequently appears as the first word in the well-knownBeatitudes of the
Sermon on the Mount, as in Matthew 5:3: "Blessedare the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Strong's defines this word as "supremely blessed;by extension fortunate, well
off, blessed, happy." The King James versiontranslates it as "happy" five
times. In a marginal reference, E.W. Bullinger in the Companion Bible says
the word means "happy," and J.B. Phillips translates it as such in his New
Testamentin Modern English.
Spiros Zodhiates'Complete Word Study Dictionary (p. 937)gives a more
comprehensive definition:
Blessed, possessingthe favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness
from God. It indicates the state of the believer in Christ, . . . said of one who
becomes a partakerof God's nature through faith in Christ. The believer is
indwelt by the Holy Spirit because ofChrist and as a result should be fully
satisfiedno matter the circumstances.Makarios differs from the word
"happy" in that the person is happy who has goodluck (from the roothap
meaning luck as a favorable circumstance). To be makarios, blessed, is
equivalent to having God's kingdom within one's heart. Aristotle contrasts
makarios to endees, the needy one. Makarios is the one who is in the world yet
independent of the world. His satisfactioncomesfrom God and not from
favorable circumstances.
The Amplified Bible translates Matthew 5:3 as:
Blessed(happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—withlife-joy and
satisfactionin God's favor and salvation, regardlessoftheir outward
conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves
insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 5 reads, "Blessed(happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous). .
." and verse 9, "Blessed(enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous).
. . ."
It appears that for us to experience biblical joy, the fruit of God's Spirit, we
need godly inner qualities that we do not possessby nature. As with love—the
love that springs from us by nature that is but a pale reflection of God's
love—so also is it with joy. Until we come to the point where by faith we are
supremely confident of God's presence in our life—of His providence toward
us in the past, present, and future—we will not experience the enduring
fullness of satisfactionGodwants us to have.
A Christian's joy canbe just as short-lived as anyone's in the world if we are
seeking it for itself as the world does. Biblicaljoy is a fruit, a byproduct, an
additional blessing, not the end in itself. It flows into and grows within the
person whose life and energies are not focusedmerely on being "joyful." The
lives of those in this world who are so zealously chasing after it prove this
point. If they are still chasing it, they must not yet have it. God's Word also
substantiates this.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
RelatedTopics:Blessed| Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit |
Holy Spirit | Humility | Joy | Poorin Spirit
Galatians 5:22

Chrestotes in Greek and hesedin Hebrew are most frequently translated into
the Englishword "kindness." Chrestotes, according to The Complete Word
Study Dictionary by Spiros Zodhiates, p. 1482, means
benignity, kindness, usefulness. It often occurs with philanthropy;
forbearance, and is the opposite of severityor cutting something short and
quickly. . . . Chrestotes is translated"good," "kindness,""gentleness."It is
the grace whichpervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be
harsh and austere. . . . The word is descriptive of one's disposition and does
not necessarilyentail acts of goodness.
William Barclay, in The Daily Bible Study Series on Galatians 5:22, p. 51,
adds that the Rheims Version translates chrestotes inII Corinthians 6:6 as
"sweetness";that Christ describes His yoke in Matthew 11:30 as chrestos,
meaning that it does not chafe;and that the Greeks woulddescribe wine as
chrestos, that is, mellow. With these illustrations, it becomes clearthat this
word emphasizes the spirit in which an actis done.
Hesedis more complex, an especiallyrich word that is at times translatedas
"lovingkindness," "mercy," "love," "grace,"and even "loyalty" and
"devotion" in some modern versions. Some modern critics argue that the
word suggests loyalty, something given because ofobligation, because the
writers sometimes use it in a context with a covenantrelationship, such as
God's covenant with Israelor a marriage.
Other scholars review the same material and agree that relationships are
present (love almostnecessitates a subject-objectrelation), but assertthat
hesed(love, mercy, kindness, etc.)is freely given. Freedomof decisionto give
is essential. The help given by the personshowing mercy or kindness is done
freely. This seems to be the correctusage because the other can reduce love,
mercy, and kindness to a merely obligatory, mechanical, legalactrather than
an act of free-moral agencyof the heart.
A Pharisee could meet the legaldemands of a covenantobligation, but the
New Covenantrequires a spirit considerablyhigher (Matthew 5:20). The
TheologicalWordbook ofthe Old Testament, vol. 1, p. 306, quotes Hebrew

scholarDom Rembert Sorg as writing that hesedis "really the Old Testament
reflex [reflected image, likeness, orreproduction] of 'God is love.'"
God's love is hardly just obligatory, given all the expressions offeeling for
Israeland the church accountedto Him in the Scriptures. Thus these two
words, rich in meaning and usage, clearlyrevealthat kindness is an active
quality God greatlydesires His children to exhibit.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
RelatedTopics:Chrestos | Chrestotes |Freedomof Decisionto Give | Fruits of
God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit | Hesed| Holy Spirit | Kindness | Mercy
| Philanthropy
Galatians 5:16-25
"Bear[ing]fruits worthy of repentance" implies a process. Justas a tree does
not produce fruit overnight, a Christian does not fully repent overnight. It is a
lifelong process ofmaking changes, andover time we will produce the fruit of
the Spirit more consistentlythan the works ofthe flesh.
Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines:Repentance

Galatians 5:22
The secondof the three fruits most directly associatedwith personal, human
relationships is kindness. The translators of the King James Versionrender
this Greek wordas "gentleness."Eventhough gentleness is an aspectofbeing
kind, this choice does not adequately describe the qualities the originalword
implies.
When Paul illustrated how love acts, patience leapedinto his mind first:
"Love suffers long" (I Corinthians 13:4). Immediately following, he writes,
"and is kind," giving the impression that love and kindness belong togetherto
such an extent that we can conclude that without kindness no act is truly done
in love!
Patience is love forbearing. Patience suggests self-restraintunder the pressure
of provocation, especiallyundeservedprovocation. Kindness, though, implies
a more active expressionof love toward God and fellow man. Both patience
and kindness are bound in the one quality—love. Those who provoke us may
never notice patient love, but patient love may revealitself in acts of kindness
so that even our provokers are positively impressed. Kindness is such a rare
quality these days that when someone is kind, it has a goodchance of making
the news!
The love Paul expounds in I Corinthians 13 is the love of God, which found its
perfectly balancedexpressionin Jesus Christ. His love was not only
contemplative but also outgoing. BecauseofHis love, He went about doing
acts of kindness, healing, and casting out demons (Acts 10:38). The truth He
preachedalso expressedHis love. His love was not merely congeniality; it was
patient, enduring, and ethical.
In most cases,kindness is not beyond any of us because it usually costs no
money. It may take the sacrifice oftime and energy. It may require the
discipline to be thoughtful of others' needs and to make the effort to act. How
much is required to cultivate smiling rather than frowning? to pay a visit? to

say a word of encouragementorcomfort? to show friendliness by warmly and
sincerelyshaking hands?
The consequences ofkindness are incalculable, for such a spirit can ripple out
to touch the lives of those far removed from the original act. Kindness sows
the seeds that canonly bear goodfruit.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
RelatedTopics:Encouragement| Forbearance| Fruit, Bearing | Fruits of
God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit | Holy Spirit | Kindness | Patience |
Provocation| Self Restraint
Galatians 5:22
What is love? Keeping the commandments (I John 5:3). Does breaking the
commandments bring joy? Are people happy when someone violates them in a
rape or by breaking into their homes and robbing them? No. Joycomes when
people keepthe commandments because there is peace. Theydo not have to
worry about somebodybreaking into their homes or knocking them over the
head on the street.
Paul is so far awayfrom telling people that the law of God is done awaythat
one wonders how in the world people can come to that conclusion—exceptwe
understand that their human nature is causing it. They do not want to be
subject to the law of God (Romans 8:7). Their carnal mind has overpowered
them and enslavedthem. They are in bondage to it.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, andLaw (Part 28)
RelatedTopics:Commandments, Keeping | Joy| Keeping Commandments |
Keeping Commandments as Love | Law "Done Away" | Law Keeping |
Lawkeeping | Love | Love as Keeping Commandments | Slave of Sin | Slave of
Unrighteousness
Galatians 5:22-23
These qualities or virtues are produced by the action of the Holy Spirit in us.
They grow in a personwho, by faith, obeys God's Word through the guidance
and powerof God's Spirit. Clearly, elements of this equation must be used so
that the right fruit is produced—God's Word, His Spirit, faith, and obedience
to God's Word. These, along with some others, produce the major fruits of
righteousness.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit
RelatedTopics:Fruit of Righteousness| Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of
the Spirit | Guidance of Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22
Goodis a very versatile word with many uses in everyday English. It is used
as a noun, adjective, and adverb and is the root of the word "goodness." The
common idea in almost all of its uses is that it suggestsa desirable quality,
something commendable, reliable, welcome, enjoyable, beneficent, kind,
noble, admirable, propitious, exemplary, and very much welcome. In the word
"goodness,"the inner qualities of virtue, excellence ofcharacter, morality,
and attitude that we see in a person's behavior come to the fore.
The Hebrew and Greek uses are similar, but the Hebrew, like the English, has
a broader application. The Greek word, agathosune, atfirst glance seems very
similar to chrestotes ("kindness"). However, closerexaminationof its use in
the Scriptures reveals a word indicating zealous activity in doing good.
Kindness or gentleness (chrestotes)is more passive.
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible commentary on Galatians says ofthese
two words:
It [agathosune]is the widest word for goodness;it is defined as "virtue
equipped at every point." What is the difference? Agathosune might, and
could, rebuke and discipline; chrestotes canonly help. Trench says that Jesus
showedagathosune whenHe cleansedthe Temple and drove out those who
were making it a bazaar; but He showedchrestotes whenHe was kind to the
sinning woman who anointed His feet. The Christian needs that goodness
which at the same time can be kind and strong. (p. 51)
Agathosune is therefore active—evenaggressive—goodness. The English
word "goodness" includes many pleasing qualities whereas the Greek word
indicates one particular quality. It is more than an excellence ofcharacter;it
is characterenergized, expressing itselfin active good. Agathosune is
goodness,but it does not spare sharpness and rebuke to produce goodin

others. Thus God can correct, sometimes very severely, and it is goodness in
action. Thus parents can correcttheir child, and it is goodbecause it helps
produce a responsible adult.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
RelatedTopics:Active Goodness |Agathosune | Aggressive Goodness|
Chrestotes | Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit | Goodness |Holy
Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
Note that Paul writes "fruit" in the singular, indicating that we should
understand that the fruit has a number of components, but at the same time,
all of them will be produced within eachpersonthe Spirit leads. This does not
mean that eachcomponent will be in exactly equal proportions like so many
segments of an orange. Nordoes it give any indication of its quantity or
quality in eachperson. However, it ought to encourage us to know that some
part of eachof them will be produced.
Paul pointedly draws attention to the source of the fruit as being "ofthe
Spirit" to make us fully aware that these qualities do not flow from our
natures. The vices or "works ofthe flesh" listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are the
product of our human heart. But the spiritual fruit is produced by means of a
"foreign" influence, the agencyof the Holy Spirit. Even after conversion, our
heart is not the source of this spiritual fruit.

John W. Ritenbaugh
RelatedTopics:Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit | Holy Spirit |
Spiritual Fruit | Works of the Flesh
Galatians 5:22
It is not difficult to trace the source ofbiblical patience in God's children. I
Corinthians 13:4 states, "Love suffers long and is kind." Patience is directly
associatedwith love and hope. In the "love chapter," Paul lists patience first
among love's works (I Corinthians 13:4). Romans 5:5 adds that "the love of
God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
This makes it evident that God's patience stands behind His children's
patience as its source and pattern and as a link in a chain. Becausethe Bible
lists it with the fruit of the Spirit, it is less a virtue achieved than a gift
received. It comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we reproduce it.
However, since we are beings of free choice, we are still obligated to God to
activate it, exercise it, and use it as a witness that God lives in us. To this end,
Paul writes,
Therefore, as the electof God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,longsuffering;bearing with one
another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:12-13)

"Put on" is literally a dressing term. Used as an idiom, it can also mean to
assume the office, manner, character, disposition, or perspective of another.
We must "put on" Christ, meaning we must conduct our lives as closelyto the
way He would were He in our position. We are to practice His way of life
because it is eternal life—the way God lives His life. It will help prepare us for
His Kingdom, and it enables us to glorify Him here and now.
Patience is a vital part of the process thatenables God to work over a long
span of time, if needed, to produce in us other important aspects ofHis image
so that we "may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." God is the Source
and His Spirit the means of this very valuable fruit.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Longsuffering | Love | Love Chapter | Patience | Putting on Christ
Galatians 5:19-22
Considerthese "works ofthe flesh," and notice how many of them are
elements of disagreement. Do people commit adultery because theyagree with
the one they are fooling around on? Do people murder because they agree
with their victims? How about people who are characteristicallyhostile,
hateful, and contentious? Two of these are on the list. Do people live in
agreementwith one of whom they are jealous? Canpeople dwell togetherin
unity when they are filled with such characterflaws as outbursts of wrath

(explosive tempers), selfish ambition (running over rivals in the rush to attain
a desired thing or outcome), dissensions, heresies(holding ungodly opinions or
doctrines), envies, drunkenness, and so on?
These actions do not reflect the nature of God, and if one does any of these
regularly, then the person is probably unconverted—orconverted but carnal
and weak, as Paulsays in I Corinthians 3—and he is not being led by the Holy
Spirit. It is certainly possible for that to occur.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Division, Satan, Humility
RelatedTopics:Disunity | Division
Galatians 5:22
Various translations use "longsuffering," "patience,"or"forbearance" to
translate the Greek wordmakrothumia. This word combines the roots makro,
meaning "long," and thumos, meaning "temper," so it literally means "to be
long-tempered." It implies the opposite of "shorttemper," describing the
mind holding back a long time before it expressesitselfin action or passion.
Makrothumia is rarely rendered as "patience" andnever as "forbearance"in
the New Testament, althoughboth words are consideredsynonyms of
"longsuffering."
Martin G. Collins

Longsuffering
RelatedTopics:Forbearance| Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit
| Longsuffering | Makro | Makrothumia | Patience | Thumos
Galatians 5:22-25
Once regeneratedby the Holy Spirit from the Father, we must continually be
led by it, bearing spiritual fruit throughout our lives. If we are producing the
fruit of the Spirit, which exhibit a sound mind, we know it is working in us.
The Spirit is the mind and essenceofthe divine nature, and through it God
carries out His will. It empowers the mind to comprehend spiritual matters,
producing conversion. It gives us the strength, will and faith to overcome our
sins.
Martin G. Collins
The Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
Paul names nine qualities. This divides neatly into three generalgroups, each
consisting of three qualities. Of course, we canexpect some overlapping of
application betweenthe groups, but generallythe first group—love, joy, and

peace—portrays a Christian's mind in its most generalaspectwith special
emphasis on one's relationship with God. The secondgroup—longsuffering
(patience), kindness, and goodness—contains socialvirtues relating to our
thoughts and actions towardfellow man. The final group—faithfulness
(fidelity), gentleness,and self-control—reveals how a Christian should be in
himself with overtones ofhis spiritual and moral reliability.
Eachof these virtues is a quality we should greatly desire, for without them,
we cannot rightly reflectthe mind and way of God. The fruit of the Spirit
reflects the virtues God would manifest before mankind. Indeed, when Jesus
became a man, it was by his life He glorified our Father in heaven. God, of
course, is far more than this brief listing describes. But seeking first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness by yielding to His Word will produce
these characteristicsofGod in us. Then, as we become like Christ, we will, like
Him, glorify God.
John W. Ritenbaugh
RelatedTopics:Faithfulness | Fidelity | Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of
the Spirit | Gentleness |Joy | Kindness | Love | MoralReliability | Peace|
Reliability | Self Control | SocialVirtues | Spiritual Reliability
Galatians 5:22
Since love is a fruit, a product, of God's Holy Spirit, could its companion, joy,
be produced in us differently? Like love, joy is not the product of the natural

mind but the product of the supernatural Holy Spirit of God. If it is not a
product of the natural mind, then pursuing it apart from the guidance of the
Holy Spirit will produce only very limited and pale imitations of what God
experiences by nature and greatlydesires to be in us.
David writes, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness
of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm16:11). It is
interesting to compare our joy with God's continual joy and simultaneously
think of what destroys joy for us. As long as we are human, joy diminishes
and eventually ends. We realize this even as we experience it. I have owned
severalnew automobiles. Eachtime I took a new one home, I receivedit with
joy as if I had a new toy. But in eachcase Ieventually acquired the same
attitude toward the new car as I formerly had toward the old one. The joy was
gone, and the car was againnothing more than a toolto conveyme from one
place to another.
No matter how secure the sources ofour joy seem, we know joy does not last
long. We may die; a mate or a friend who brings us joy may die; goodhealth
ceases;comforts vanish; socialtragediesand natural disasters destroyloved
things, properties depreciate and wearout; and our sensesbecome dull so that
we cannot see, hear, taste, feel, or smell as we once did (II Samuel 19:31-35).
The God who createdeverything is aware of all the human tragedies that have
unfolded before His eyes over the past 6,000 years,and He still finds cause to
be joyful. Our greatGod does not find joy in the tragedies themselves. His
Word records times when He expressedregret, sorrow, oranger overthe
conduct of mankind, and yet He still experiences a vibrant, lasting joy. This
seems to imply that His joy generallywells from different sources than
mankind's. It is this joy we need to seek.
John W. Ritenbaugh

Joy
Galatians 5:22
Faithfulness hinges upon what we value as important combined with
commitment. Humans have a powerful tendency to be faithful to what they
think is truly important, be it a family name, spouse, friendship, employer,
school, athletic team, or even certain things like a make of automobile.
This tendency was an issue when the disciples decided to follow Peter's lead
and return to their fishing trade after Jesus'death and resurrection. In John
21:15-17, Jesuspointedly asks Peterthree times whether he loved Him. The
first time He asks whetherhe loved Him "more than these," referring either
to his fellow apostles orthe tools of his fishing trade. The implication is
inescapable:Jesus wantedPeterto hold Him of greaterimportance than
anything on earth. Considering Peter's weightyresponsibility, he could not be
faithful to Jesus without the staunchestcommitment to Him as most
important of all in his life.
The meaning to us is clear. We must love Christ supremely, or we do not love
Him much if at all. If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions,
forsake allearthly friends, and obey Him above all others—including our own
carnaldesires—to be faithful to Him, our attachment to Him is tenuous at
best. Is such a proposition too much? Does not marriage require a similar
faithfulness from eachspouse? Without it, it is no wonder there is so much
adultery and divorce.
Holding true to the course Godhas laid before us is difficult amid this world's
many alluring distractions clamoring for our time and attention. This world is
attractive to human nature and bids us to expend our energies in self-

satisfaction. Jesus warns all who take up their cross that the way is difficult
and narrow, requiring a greatdeal of vision and discipline to be faithful to His
cause. Some have completed the course. Those who held God and His way in
the highestesteemin their lives are awaiting those of us traveling the path
now. Will we be faithful as they were?
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
RelatedTopics:Commitment | Distraction | Faithfulness | Fruits of God's
Holy Spirit | Fruits of the Spirit | Holy Spirit | Love | Loyalty | Loyalty,
Divided
Galatians 5:22
Joy that is a fruit of God's Spirit has its roots in the realization of God's
purpose and its outworking that transforms us into His image. Biblical joy
begins when God calls, and we hear the gospel, understand, and believe it.
Biblical joy is bound up in our relationship with Him and our understanding
of what is happening to our minds. We walk to the beat of a different
drummer than this world because we understand God's overall purpose. We
know we have been forgiven and have a place in His purpose because we now
have His Spirit. No more life-changing experience canever happen to a
human than when God calls and understanding dawns. It forever alters our
perspective on life itself and on the things we formerly trusted to give us
satisfaction.

Henceforth our joys must arise from yielding to fulfill God's great creative
purpose and seeing it accomplished. This is why we were born! Because of
this, we can look forwardto hearing Him say:
Well done, goodand faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I
will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
(Matthew 25:21)
John W. Ritenbaugh
Joy
Galatians 5:22
The Greek wordchrestotes is translated "kindness" in the NKJV and
"gentleness" in the AV and RV. Chrestotes denotes goodnessofheart,
kindness, graciousness,and includes gentleness.Kindness has many
synonyms: benevolence, generosity, mercy, charity, philanthropy, sympathy,
compassion, tenderheartedness, friendliness, etc. Kindness is a major
attribute of moral excellence andis intricately entwined with the other fruit of
the Spirit. Chrestotes is translatedas "goodness" in Romans 2:4 and 11:22 (3
times), so chrestotes is love in tender action, a quality of goodness, and
certainly requires gentleness in word and action.

Martin G. Collins
Kindness
Contextual Overview
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an
occasionto the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14Forall the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15Butif ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed
one of another. 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the
lust of the flesh. 17Forthe flesh lusteth againstthe Spirit, and the Spirit
againstthe flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot
do the things that ye would. 18Butif ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under
the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God. 22Butthe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, https://www.studylight.org/
Fruit of the Spirit Defined and Explained
Bible Study of Galatians 5:22-23
God's Word First

When you are born againyou receive the Gift of Holy Spirit; you become a
new creation, a new man, because a spiritual seedis placed inside you. When
cultivated and grown this seedblossoms into a tree that bears spiritual fruit.
The amount of fruit you bear is dependant on how much you tend to the seed
and grow it... meaning, how close youare to God and how much you are doing
His word. This fruit manifests itself in the following ways:
Galatians 5:22-23 “Butthe fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace,
Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness,Faith, Meekness andTemperance;
againstsuch there is no law.”
Fruit of the Spirit
Let’s get to know eachmanifestation of the fruit of the spirit in better detail.
Depending on how many of these manifest and at what level of activity or
intensity will show you how close to God a personis.
Love:
The primary key to everything. Along with temperance (self-control), love is a
bookendthat helps hold the other fruit in place. It is a love that surpasses
human understanding and causes a person to be filled with the fullness of God
(Ephesians 3:18-19). Its divine characteristics are detailedin 1 Corinthians
13:4-8. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easilyangered, it keeps
no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices withthe truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never
fails".
Joy:
The emotion of greatdelight or happiness causedby something exceptionally
goodor satisfying. Joy gives spiritual strength. Heb 12:2 says, "Letus fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecterof our faith, who for the joy set before
him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God".

Peace:
Primarily, peace with God. When we are sinners doing the works of the flesh,
we are rebels againstGod. When our rebellion ends and we are forgiven, then
we are at peace. This kind of peace doesn'tcome through laying around on
vacation, entertainment, drugs, alcohol, sexor wealth. The spiritual fruit of
peace results from being justified by faith. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore,since
we have been justified [made right; declaredinnocent or guiltless]through
faith [in what Christ accomplishedfor us on the cross], we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ". We must learn to maintain peace in
three important relationships:
With God,
With our fellow man,
And with ourselves.
We maintain peace with God by believing and trusting Him and by not
sinning. We maintain peace with our fellow man by not allowing strife to be a
part of our relationships with other people. We maintain peace with ourselves
by being happy with who we are and by refusing to live in self loathing, guilt,
or condemnation.
Longsuffering:
Long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation. Like when
someone angers youor picks on you. But then you just let it go and you
maintain your self control. Longsuffering is love on trial. It enables you to be
emotionally strong and forgive others. Colossians3:13 says, “Forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel againstany:
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Gentleness:
Being moderate, kind; the absence ofharshness or severity. The Apostle Paul
illustrates gentlenessby the example of a mother feeding her babies (I
Thessalonians 2:7).

Goodness:
Moralexcellence;virtue. God is the ultimate example of goodness.Goodness
is holiness put into practice and results from knowing God. Goodness enables
you to do goodto those who hate you (Luke 6:27) as well as those of the
household of faith (Galatians 6:10). It is the goodness andgrace of God that
leads people to repentance. That's why we need to be goodto people. Our
witness won't have any powerunless we are kind to others. We are called to
be light in a dark world, and we must make up our minds that we are going to
shine!
Faith:
A better translationis "faithfulness", the act of being faithful. Doing what you
say you are going to do. Being knownas someone people cantrust because you
are reliable. Webster's Dictionarydefines faithful as "maintaining allegiance;
constant;loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense ofduty or
responsibility; conscientious;accurate;reliable; exact.
Meekness:
Humble and patient. Meeknessis not being mousy or weak, but rather a
servant-like submission to God and others in your care. Your spirit is free
from rebellion and pride. Meekness orhumility is defined as "freedomfrom
pride and arrogance;modestestimation of our own worth." Humility or
meekness is the opposite of pride. The Bible says in I Peter5:5 that God
resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. And Psalms 37:11 plainly
states that “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in
the abundance of peace.”
Temperance:
Self-control;Moderationor self-restraintin action or statement; It is control
over your entire being (body, souland spirit). A person who has self-controlis
mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercisesself-restraintin both
actions and speech. After all, temperance and love are the bookends that hold
all the other fruit in place.

Bottomline
So now you know what exactly Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 7:20,
“Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.”
http://www.gods-word-first.org/bible-study/fruit-of-the-spirit-explained.html
Galatians 5:22
by Grant Richison| May 8, 2000 | Galatians | 21 comments
ReadIntroduction to Galatians
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness,faithfulness…”
Now we move to a striking contrastfrom the works of the flesh (5:19-21)to
the fruit of the Spirit with its nine characteristics. There is a contrastbetween
the “works”ofthe flesh (5:19) and the “fruit” of the Spirit (5:22).
The nine characteristic qualities of the Spirit form three triads:
1) fruit directed toward selfinternally: love, joy, peace
2) fruit directed toward others horizontally: longsuffering, kindness,
goodness
3) fruit directed towards God vertically: faithfulness, gentleness, self-
control

But the fruit of the Spirit is
Fruit is something produced by living organisms such as trees or vines.
Human beings can produce living organisms calledchildren. Metaphorically,
the Bible uses “fruit” for characterordeeds such as giving praise to God. The
characterof the fruit comes from the organism that produced it.
“Bewareoffalse prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly
they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every goodtree bears
goodfruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A goodtree cannotbear bad fruit,
nor cana bad tree bear goodfruit. Every tree that does not bear goodfruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know
them” (Matthew 7:15-20).
Walking in fellowship with the Spirit yields the fruit of the Spirit. The
Christian does not produce this fruit. He is not the source of the fruit but the
Holy Spirit Himself.
The singular form of “fruit” suggeststhat the Holy Spirit produces a package
of character. Love, joy and peace do not stand alone but in relation to each
other. All nine manifestations of fruit stand in relation to eachother. The
works of the flesh are mutually antagonistic to eachother but the fruit of the
Spirit is the natural, coalescingresultof the Holy Spirit controlling our lives.
The Spirit-filled believer always manifests a unity of nine characterqualities.
He does not love at the exclusionof inner peace. He carries all of these
qualities when he is Spirit filled. It is possible to practice two or three fruit of
the Spirit but the Spirit-filled believer produces all of them. CarnalChristians
can produce some of these qualities but only a Spirit-filled believer produces
all of them.
The idea here is one of complete submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in
our lives. There are nine divine grapes hanging togetherin one cluster that
come from the Spirit filled life.

Principle:
The Holy Spirit is the source of the fruit of the Spirit.
Application:
Romans and Galatians are parallel books but with different emphases.
Romans is the work of the Sonof God for us and Galatians is the work of the
Spirit of Godin us. After God places enormous credit of His own
righteousness to our account, He then piles further blessing on our souls by
giving us operating assets to live the Christian life day by day.
Sin “works”in our sin capacitybut fruit comes from the Spirit. He produces
the fruit, not us. Fruit comes from the root; qualities of the Spirit come from
the Holy Spirit. It is the product of divine energy, the living Holy Spirit. This
is a power that comes from within, not without, like the works of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit is the agentof regenerationand comes to indwell each
believer at the point of salvation. Then the Spirit goes to work immediately
changing the believer. Before Pentecost,the Holy Spirit did not permanently
indwell eachbeliever. He workedaround them but not in them. Since
Pentecost, we have a close, intimate relationship to the Holy Spirit.
The moment we yield ourselves to the Spirit of God, this triggers a process of
dynamic Christian living. By this, the Spirit progressivelymolds us into the
image of Christ and, in turn, reproduces the characterofChrist in us – the
fruit of the Spirit. The purpose of sanctificationis that we might become more
accurate representativesofHis character. Godwill finish this work when we
meet Him face to face.
The Christian who walks in the Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit. The
flesh demands certain activity but the fruit of the Spirit naturally produces
the characterofChrist. The flesh is self-assertive andself-indulgent but the
fruit of the Spirit reaches out to others. The one is human manipulation but
the other is divine production.
The Holy Spirit does not produce some of the fruit of the Spirit in isolation
from others. We cannotseparate them for our convenience. We cannotisolate

one characteristic fromanother. The Holy Spirit does not first produce love in
us and then begins to work on joy at some later point. If that were the case,
none of us would live long enoughto finish the list
The 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit
By: MichaelBradley
Last updated on: December27, 2018
As you will see in the Scripture verse I will give you in this article – there is
one very specialincredible verse that will tell you that God the Father wants
to transmit and impart 9 specific fruits of the Holy Spirit up into our
personalities.
God wants all of us to enter into a true sanctificationprocess with Him so that
He can begin the process ofmolding, shaping, and transforming us into the
express image of His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to make us into a better and
more holy people. He wants to transform us by the renewing of our minds. He
wants to put right thinking into our thought process.
In the “Sanctification,”I gave you the specific verses from Scripture that
showedyou that it is by the powerof the Holy Spirit that this sanctification
process is done with you in this life. However, you will not be a passive robot
in all of this. You have to be willing to work in cooperationwith the Holy
Spirit once He begins to start this sanctificationprocess within you.
Your job will be to get into the Word to find out exactly what it is God is
going to want to change about you. You will need to find out exactlywhat
godly qualities God will want you to try and “put on” into your personality,
and what qualities He will want you to try and “put away.”
This article will be the first of a series of articles giving you all of the
appropriate Scripture verses showing you exactlywhich qualities and

attributes God will want to get workedinto your personality, and which
qualities He will want to pull out of you. And there is no better place to start
this series ofarticles than with the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to start off by keying on some of the more positive, godly qualities
that God would really like to get workedinto your personality – really study
and meditate on these 9 specific qualities.
When God the Fatherpurposely isolates and spells out 9 specific qualities that
will be coming direct from His Holy Spirit – then He is really letting you know
the extreme importance of these 9 specific fruits.
These 9 fruits are major fruits and qualities that are coming direct from God
Himself – and every Christian should do the best they canto work with the
Holy Spirit in getting all 9 of these fruits workedinto their personality.
I will first start off by highlighting eachof these 9 specific fruits so that you
can have all 9 of them isolatedright at the top of this article. I will then give
you the Scripture verse where these 9 fruits are coming from, and then do a
brief commentary on eachone of these fruits so you can fully understand what
eachone of these fruits are all about, and how they candramatically change
the quality of your life and state of well-being if you are willing to allow the
Holy Spirit to start to work all 9 of these fruits into your personality.
Here are the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit listed one right after the other in a
bolded, numbered format:
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Kindness

Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Now here is the specific verse from Scripture where these 9 fruits are being
given to us by the Lord:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness,faithfulness, gentleness,self-control.”(Galatians 5:22)
Before I get into the appropriate commentary on eachof these nine fruits,
note the following:
The word “Spirit” is with a capital “S” – which means these 9 fruits are
coming directly from the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves.
What this means is that God’s love, God’s peace, God’s joy, and God’s
goodness canstartto be transmitted up into our personality. These are His
divine attributes and personality qualities that will start to move into the core
of our personality.
Think about the ramifications of this – that God the Father Himself is
allowing us to share in a part of His divine nature by allowing His Holy Spirit
to transmit and impart these nine divine qualities right up into our soul and
personality!
This is why God the Father is specificallytelling us in this verse that these 9
fruits are coming directly from His Holy Spirit – so that we can all fully
appreciate the magnitude of such an experience.
Jesus has already told us that He is the vine and we are the branches. The
branches draw their life from the vine, not vice versa. Justas the branch
draws its life from the vine, so too must we draw our life directly from Jesus.

Jesus will release His divine life directly into us through the Holy Spirit in the
exactsame way that the vine will release the life of the tree into the branches.
In one short, but incredible powerful Scripture verse, Godthe Father is giving
all of us an incredible revelationon what can go on behind the scenesin the
spiritual realm for those who are willing to work with Him in this
sanctificationprocess.
Now I will go on to describe what eachone of these nine fruits are all about
and give you definitions from some of the different Bible Dictionaries and
Commentaries, thereby making it easierfor you to work with the Holy Spirit
once He starts to move in on you to try and impart some of these divine
qualities and attributes into the core of your personality.
Table of Contents:
An Introduction to The 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit
1. Love – 2. Joy – 3. Peace– 4. Longsuffering – 5. Kindness
6. Goodness– 7. Faithfulness – 8. Gentleness – 9. Self Control
Conclusion
All of the above definitions on eachone of the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit give
you a perfectdescription of what eachone of them are all about, and why God
the Fatherreally wants to work eachone of these 9 fruits into our
personalities.
As you can see when reviewing eachone of them, they are all very powerful –
and they not only have the ability to help change, transform, and sanctify you
– but they also have the ability to touch all of those around you.
Nothing will draw nonbelievers and believers alike to the Lord than a truly
sanctifiedsaint in the Lord who is walking and operating in all 9 fruits of the
Holy Spirit.

If you are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work and transmit all 9 of these
fruits up into your personalityto some appreciable degree in this life – you
will then become a light that will literally radiate the presence of God Himself
through your soul and personality.
You have no idea how many people you will be able to save, touch, witness to,
and help disciple if you have these fruits operating through you. These fruits
will give you a credibility with God and with other people that no degree or
title cangive you in this life.
This sanctificationprocess is the ultimate, highestaim and goalwith God for
our lives.
For those of you who are not afraid to let God begin this deepersanctifying
work in your life – keepthese 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit directly in front of
you.
And then work very closelywith the Holy Spirit once He starts to manifest
these fruits up into your personality.
These fruits will be coming directly from Him. They will be His love, His
goodness,His joy, and His peace that will start to flow into you. But you will
still have to do your part in all of this. Once these divine attributes start to be
releasedinto your personality by the Holy Spirit – your job will then be to
start to walk and operate in them.
If the Holy Spirit starts to release His quality of love into your personality, but
you start refusing to walk and operate in that love in your words and actions
to others – then He will start to pull it back from you after a reasonable length
of time.
If He starts to manifest His quality of self-controlin you in an effort to try and
take out some of the negative qualities that He will not want operating in your
personality, and you refuse to rely on that self-control, and you override it and
continue to operate in those negative qualities – then again, He will pull it
back from you until you are ready to work in cooperationwith Him.
This sanctificationprocess is a two way street.

God is more than willing and anxious to do His part – but you will have to be
willing to do your part. And your part will be to learn what changes Godwill
want to make with you – and then start to live, walk, and operate in those
specific changes once the Holy Spirit starts this supernatural, sanctification
process within you.
This part God cannotdo for you.
Jesus gave Peterthe powerand ability to be able to walk on water. But there
was one thing Peterhad to do before that supernatural powerwas releasedto
him. He had to getout of the boat and start walking straight forward on that
power.
It was only when he got out of the boat and started walking straight forward
did the supernatural powerof God manifest that allowedhim to literally walk
on water!
It’s the exactsame way in this sanctificationrealm with the Lord. God,
through the Holy Spirit, will give you the supernatural powerto change,
transform, and sanctify you – but you will have to be like Peterand be willing
to live and walk in that supernatural power before it can really start to work
to change and sanctify you.
Jesus is coming back for a Bride that will be without spot or blemish. He is
calling His Church to clean up their act and allow His Holy Spirit to begin this
deeper sanctifying work in their lives. However, the choice is up to each
individual believer. Sanctificationis not something that can be forced upon
anyone. God really respects everyone’s free will and He will never force His
will or His ways on anyone.
To those of you who will decide to enter into this sanctificationprocesswith
the Lord – realize that all of this will not occurovernight. The Holy Spirit will
setthe pace and timetable that He will want to work with you on. You can
perfectly trust Him to handle eachof the areas that He will want to get into.

Holy spirit fruits vol. 2

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