Love
Greek: ἀγάπη
Transliteration: agapē
Strong’s number: 26
Seek another’s good.
Love takes its pattern from God’s love for us and becomes visible in how we treat one another.
Start with God’s initiative, not your own capacity. John grounds our love for others in God’s love shown through his Son.
Jesus makes his own love the pattern for his disciples’ love. Notice that this love is meant to be recognisable.
Observe the verbs and contrasts. Love is patient and kind; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing. KJV “charity” here means love.
Self-giving love is not the same as approving everything. This passage holds love and truth together.
Joy
Greek: χαρά
Transliteration: chara
Strong’s number: 5479
Delight rooted in Christ.
Jesus speaks of sharing his joy with his disciples; Paul directs believers to rejoice in the Lord.
Read joy alongside abiding in Jesus’ love. The passage joins love, obedience and the fullness of joy.
Notice the location of rejoicing: “in the Lord.” Paul’s instruction is not merely to arrange pleasant circumstances.
Read both halves. Christian community makes room for shared rejoicing and shared grief.
Joy does not require denying sorrow. Rejoicing with some people and weeping with others both belong to love for a community.
Peace
Greek: εἰρήνη
Transliteration: eirēnē
Strong’s number: 1515
Receive peace. Pursue peace.
These passages connect peace with Jesus’ gift, prayerful trust in God, and a willingness to live peaceably with others.
Notice who gives peace, and how Jesus distinguishes his gift from what the world gives.
Trace the movement from anxiety to prayer, thanksgiving and God’s guarding peace. KJV “careful” here means anxious.
Pay attention to the qualifications: “if it be possible” and “as much as lieth in you.” We are responsible for our part, not for controlling everyone.
Pursuing peace is not a promise that every relationship will become peaceful. Paul explicitly recognises limits to what depends on us.
Patience
Greek: μακροθυμία
Transliteration: makrothymia
Strong’s number: 3115
Make room before reacting.
Patience appears with humility, forbearance and forgiveness. James also pictures the patient waiting of a farmer.
Look at patience’s companions. Paul links bearing with people and forgiving them to Christ’s forgiveness.
Trace how humility, gentleness, patience and love serve the unity of the Spirit.
Notice the farmer’s waiting and the call to establish your heart. Patient waiting is not the same as indifference.
“Longsuffering,” “long-suffering” and “patience” represent the same item in our five renderings of the fruit passage.
Kindness
Greek: χρηστότης
Transliteration: chrēstotēs
Strong’s number: 5544
Let care become tangible.
Kindness is shown in tenderhearted forgiveness and in doing good even to people who do not return it.
Notice the pattern behind our forgiveness: what God has done for us in Christ.
Observe that God’s kindness reaches the unthankful and evil. Jesus connects this with love and doing good.
God’s goodness is directed toward repentance. His kindness is not presented as approval of wrongdoing.
In the KJV fruit list, “gentleness” names chrēstotēs, the item other included versions call “kindness.” It is distinct from the later item “meekness.”
Goodness
Greek: ἀγαθωσύνη
Transliteration: agathōsynē
Strong’s number: 19
Choose what is truly good.
Goodness belongs with righteousness and truth, and is worked out through doing good and helping others grow.
Read goodness with righteousness and truth. The instruction is to discern what pleases the Lord.
Notice both perseverance and opportunity. Doing good reaches everyone, with particular care for the household of faith.
Paul joins goodness with knowledge and the ability to instruct one another. Goodness is not merely being agreeable.
Kindness and goodness overlap. These readings emphasise goodness that is truthful and constructive, not simply whatever wins approval.
Faithfulness
Greek: πίστις
Transliteration: pistis
Strong’s number: 4102
Be someone others can trust.
These readings explore both faith working through love and the trustworthiness expected of someone entrusted with responsibility.
Before the fruit list, Paul speaks of faith working through love. Keep the wider use of “faith” in the letter in view.
Notice the connection between small and great responsibilities. Faithfulness is not reserved for impressive moments.
A steward is entrusted with something that belongs to another. Paul names faithfulness as a requirement.
Pistis can mean faith, trust or faithfulness depending on context. Our versions render it “faith,” “faithfulness” or “fidelity.” The vocabulary does not settle every interpretive question by itself.
Gentleness
Greek: πραΰτης
Transliteration: prautēs
Strong’s number: 4240
Let humility shape your strength.
Jesus describes himself as meek and lowly; Paul instructs believers to restore and correct people with gentleness.
Notice Jesus’ invitation to learn from him. His meekness and humility are connected with rest for the burdened.
The goal is restoration, not humiliation. Gentleness is paired with watchfulness over our own vulnerability.
Teaching and correction remain present, but quarrelling does not. Look at the manner required of the Lord’s servant.
Gentleness need not mean refusing to confront a problem. In these texts, it shapes how restoration and correction happen.
Self-control
Greek: ἐγκράτεια
Transliteration: enkrateia
Strong’s number: 1466
Choose your response with care.
Self-control is pictured through disciplined training, the restraint of speech and anger, and growth in a life that bears fruit.
Paul uses athletic training as an analogy for deliberate discipline. Keep the illustration in its context of faithful service.
Notice the different speeds: quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
Temperance appears alongside faith, knowledge and love. Peter connects growth in these qualities with a fruitful knowledge of Jesus.
Self-control is part of the Spirit’s fruit, not a way to replace dependence on the Spirit with sheer willpower.
King James Version
Traditional English
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
World English Bible Classic
Modern English
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The WEB Classic footnote gives “or, faithfulness” for “faith” in verse 22.
American Standard Version (1901)
Formal, traditional English
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Darby Translation
A distinctive formal rendering
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity,
meekness, self-control: against such things there is no law.
Young’s Literal Translation
Closely follows original-language form
And the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law;
Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:16–26
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, 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.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:25
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
John 15:1–8
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
John 13:34–35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 4:9–11
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
John 15:9–11
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Philippians 4:4
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Romans 12:15
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Philippians 4:6–7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 12:18
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Colossians 3:12–13
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Ephesians 4:1–3
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
James 5:7–8
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Ephesians 4:32
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Romans 2:4
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Luke 6:35
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Galatians 6:9–10
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 5:8–10
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Romans 15:14
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
1 Corinthians 4:1–2
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Galatians 5:6
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Matthew 11:28–30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Galatians 6:1
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Timothy 2:24–25
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
1 Corinthians 9:25–27
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2 Peter 1:5–8
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:19–20
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 10:12
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 17:17
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 15:13
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 17:22
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:1
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Proverbs 12:20
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Proverbs 14:29
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Proverbs 15:18
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 11:17
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Proverbs 12:25
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Proverbs 11:27
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
Proverbs 14:22
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
Proverbs 14:5
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Proverbs 11:13
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Proverbs 15:1
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 25:15
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Proverbs 25:28
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Proverbs 10:19
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.