Fruit of the Spirit: The 9 Qualities of Galatians 5:22-23
The nine-part fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 explained one by one, with the deeds of the flesh, practical examples, and a prayer.
October 4, 2026 12 min read
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The fruit of the Spirit is the list of nine character qualities Paul gives in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. The text says “fruit,” singular: one Christlike character that the Holy Spirit grows in people who walk with Him, in contrast to the “deeds of the flesh” listed just before it.
“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.” (Galatians 5:22-23, WEB)
What does Galatians 5:22-23 mean?
Galatians is a letter from the apostle Paul “to the assemblies of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2). Its main subject is the freedom believers have in Christ and the danger of going back to relying on the law to be accepted by God. In chapter 5, Paul makes clear that this freedom is not permission to do whatever we want: “through love be servants to one another” (Galatians 5:13).
That is where the fruit of the Spirit comes in. Paul sets two ways of living side by side: the flesh, which produces deeds, and the Spirit, which produces fruit. The closing line, “against such things there is no law,” shows that no one needs a rule to forbid love or goodness. This kind of character already fulfills what the law was aiming at.
This page quotes the World English Bible. Other English translations use different words for some items: where the WEB has patience, some older versions say longsuffering; where it has faith, many translations say faithfulness; and for self-control some use temperance. The idea behind each quality stays the same.
Why does the Bible say “fruit” and not “fruits”?
Notice the difference inside the passage itself. Paul speaks of the “deeds of the flesh,” plural, and then says “the fruit of the Spirit is,” singular, followed by nine qualities. The shape of the sentence suggests that these are not nine separate items to pick from a menu, but one fruit with many sides.
In practice, that changes how we look at the Christian life. You can’t say, “I have joy, but patience just isn’t my thing.” The Spirit shapes the whole character, little by little, and the qualities grow together: love holds up patience, peace supports gentleness, self-control protects faithfulness.
The picture of fruit also speaks of a process. A tree does not produce fruit in a day by straining; fruit grows because the tree is connected to its roots. Jesus used the same image when He spoke about the vine:
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, WEB)
Deeds of the flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit
Just before, in Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists the deeds of the flesh, including sexual immorality, uncleanness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies. He says they are “obvious.” Almost all of them tear relationships apart: they separate, wound, and divide.
The fruit of the Spirit moves in the opposite direction. Where the flesh produces strife, the Spirit produces peace. Where there are outbursts of anger, gentleness grows. Where there is envy and rivalry, kindness and goodness appear. The contrast is not between perfect people and bad people, but between two forces competing for the same life, as Paul says in verse 17.
That makes room for an honest self-check without despair. The question is not “Am I perfect yet?” but “What is growing in me: more deeds of the flesh or more fruit of the Spirit?” Jesus taught the same test when He said a tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 7:16-20).
What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?
Before the list, Paul gives a command; after it, he repeats the idea. They frame the whole passage:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, WEB)
“If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25, WEB)
Walking is an everyday word: one step after another. Walking by the Spirit means letting God guide the small decisions, not just the big ones. It involves listening to Scripture, praying, confessing sin, staying connected to a church, and obeying what you already understand.
The fruit is the result of that walk, not a goal you reach by gritting your teeth. You don’t manufacture fruit; you stay connected to the vine and tend the soil. A daily reading like today’s devotional is a simple way to take that step every day.
What are the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit?
Here is each of the nine words in the WEB, what it means, and a concrete example of how it shows up on an ordinary Tuesday.
1. Love
It comes first and gives meaning to the rest. Paul has just said the whole law is fulfilled in loving your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14). It isn’t only a feeling: it is a decision to seek the other person’s good, even when it costs you. In daily life: choosing to really listen to the coworker who always complains, instead of cutting them off, and asking how you can help.
2. Joy
This is the joy of knowing you belong to God, so it doesn’t depend on everything going right. It can live alongside tears and hard days. In daily life: thanking God for three specific things before bed, even after an exhausting day, and noticing how gratitude changes the tone of the evening.
3. Peace
It is the calm of someone who trusts God and also the willingness to live at peace with others. It is the opposite of the strife and divisions in the earlier list. In daily life: when the family group chat starts heating up, not sending the sharp reply, and if needed, talking privately and calmly.
4. Patience
This is the ability to bear with people and situations for a long time without exploding or giving up. Some translations call it longsuffering, a word that pictures suffering long without losing heart. In daily life: explaining to your dad for the third time how to use his phone, without sighing or raising your voice.
5. Kindness
Kindness is active gentleness, a warm way of treating people, including those who don’t deserve it. It shows up in your tone and in small gestures. In daily life: treating the server who got your order wrong with respect, knowing they may be having a hard day too.
6. Goodness
If kindness is the warm manner, goodness is actually doing good. It is generosity that moves from words to action. In daily life: bringing a meal to a neighbor who just got home from the hospital, or offering to pick up the kids for a friend who is overwhelmed.
7. Faith (faithfulness)
The WEB uses “faith” here; many translations render it “faithfulness.” In this list it points to being trustworthy: keeping your word and staying steady with God and with people. In daily life: showing up on time, returning what you borrowed, and keeping a commitment even when something more interesting comes along.
8. Gentleness
Gentleness is not weakness or having no opinion. It is strength under control, the ability to correct and disagree without humiliating anyone. Paul himself asks that a believer caught in a fault be restored “in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). In daily life: when your child messes up, correcting firmly and without yelling, showing the right way instead of shaming them.
9. Self-control
It is governing your own impulses, desires, and reactions instead of being governed by them. Several deeds of the flesh, like drunkenness and outbursts of anger, are exactly a lack of self-control. In daily life: putting the phone down at the bedtime you set, or waiting for anger to pass before answering that email.
Fruit of the Spirit vs. spiritual gifts
Spiritual gifts appear in 1 Corinthians 12, in another of Paul’s letters. There he mentions the word of wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, languages, and interpretation, given by the Spirit “to each one separately as he desires” (1 Corinthians 12:11).
“Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4, WEB)
The main difference is this: gifts are abilities for serving, and they vary from person to person; the fruit is character, and Paul presents it as what should grow in every believer. Someone can have a visible gift and still show little fruit, and Paul himself, right after discussing gifts, points to “a most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31) and goes on to love in chapter 13.
Evangelical churches understand differently which gifts continue today and how they work. That debate doesn’t change what Galatians teaches: the fruit of the Spirit is for everyone, in any tradition.
How to grow the fruit of the Spirit day to day
Start with Scripture. Read all of Galatians 5 slowly, ideally more than once this week. You can open the chapter in the online Bible and note which of the nine words caught your attention most.
Pray honestly. Tell God which part of the fruit you feel weakest in. Ask for specific help: “Lord, I need patience with my son,” not just “make me better.” To go deeper, read about the power of prayer in the Christian life.
Pick one small step. Choose one concrete situation today where that quality can show up: a conversation, a task, a familiar temptation. At night, look back without beating yourself up: where did I walk by the Spirit, and where by the flesh?
Aim for consistency. Fruit grows over time, not all at once. A set time with God helps a lot; see tips on building a daily devotional habit. If you’d like the devotional on your phone, the Presente com Jesus app is free for Android and iPhone.
Don’t walk alone. Paul ends the chapter by asking believers not to become conceited or envy one another (Galatians 5:26). Fruit shows up in relationships, and friends in the faith help you see what you can’t see on your own.
A prayer for the fruit of the Spirit
Lord, thank You for calling me to freedom in Christ. You know the deeds of the flesh that still show up in me: impatience, irritation, envy, lack of self-control. I can’t produce fruit on my own, so I want to remain in You. Fill me with Your Spirit and grow in me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let the people in my home and at my work notice Your character in small things today. Teach me to walk by the Spirit, one step at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 9 fruits of the Spirit?
According to Galatians 5:22-23 in the World English Bible, they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Other translations use words like longsuffering, faithfulness, and temperance for some of them. The list describes the character the Holy Spirit forms in a believer.
Where is the fruit of the Spirit in the Bible?
It is in Galatians 5:22-23, in Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. The context starts in verse 13 with Christian freedom, moves through the deeds of the flesh in verses 19-21, and ends with the call to walk by the Spirit in verse 25.
Is it “fruit” or “fruits” of the Spirit?
The text says “the fruit of the Spirit is,” singular, while it speaks of the “deeds of the flesh” in the plural. That suggests the nine qualities form one character that grows together, not separate items to choose from. Many people still say “fruits of the Spirit,” and both refer to the same passage.
What is the difference between the fruit of the Spirit and spiritual gifts?
Gifts, described in 1 Corinthians 12, are abilities for serving that the Spirit gives differently to each person. The fruit, in Galatians 5, is Christian character that should grow in everyone. One is about what a believer does in service; the other is about who they are becoming.
How do I know if I have the fruit of the Spirit?
Look at your relationships and reactions, especially under pressure: at home, in traffic, at work. Compare them with Galatians 5:19-23 and ask what has been growing over time. No one has the fruit fully ripe; the sign is growth, not perfection.
What does self-control mean in the Bible?
Self-control is the ability to govern desires, impulses, and reactions with the Spirit’s help instead of being ruled by them. Some translations use the word temperance. It shows up in simple choices, like controlling your tongue, your appetite, or your use of time.
Can someone have the fruit of the Spirit without being a Christian?
People of any belief can be kind or patient. But Paul speaks of a fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who belong to Christ (Galatians 5:24), and it grows from being connected to Him, like a branch on the vine (John 15:5).
