“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Just as we can identify a tree by the fruit it produces, we can often learn a lot about a person by examining the “fruit” (or results) that his or her actions produce. For instance, we wouldn’t expect to harvest peaches off an orange tree nor should we expect to find apples on a pear tree. In a similar way, we can tell if someone is living a Christ-oriented life by looking for what the Apostle Paul describes as the “fruit of the Spirit” in the passage quoted above.
These qualities represent the identifying marks of a life that is directed by the Holy Spirit. In contrast to the self-oriented qualities listed within the previous verses, the characteristics within Galatians 5:22-23 represent the external evidence of the internal working of the Holy Spirit to produce Christ-like character. Nevertheless, this passage presents us with an interpretive challenge regarding the use of the word “fruit”
You see, this passage uses the word “fruit” in a singular form, thus indicating that these characteristics represent a compound unity. In other words, the nine characteristics given to us here in Galatians 5:22-23 represent a single fruit. Here is how various commentators explain this concept…
“The word fruit is singular, which fact serves to show that all of the elements of character spoken of in these verses are a unity, making for a well-rounded and complete Christian life.” (1)
“Since fruit is singular, it apparently sees the following characteristics (love … self-control) as a harmonious unity. It is a multifaceted prism that displays its beauty in diverse but integrated ways.” (2)
“(Fruit is) (s)ingular in number; not nine fruits, but one fruit composed of nine elements. The first three are in relation to God; the next three are in relation to man; and the last three are in relation to one’s own inner life.” (3)
“It is also interesting to note that fruit is SINGULAR in this verse. The use of the SINGULAR can be understood in two ways: 1. love is the fruit of the Spirit, described by the varying terms that follow 2. it is a collective singular like ‘seed.'” (4)
So Galatians 5:22-23 tells us what we should look for as we seek to evaluate God’s work in our lives and the lives of others.
(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (Galatians 5:22-23) Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(2) Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1528). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
(3) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2399). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
(4) Dr. Bob Utley. Free Bible Commentary, Galatians 5 Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07A_05.html