The Fruit of the SpiritSýnishorn

Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. —Galatians 5:22–23, AMP.

Goodness means, simply, being good, being decent, showing unselfishness. It’s when we make an effort to do something helpful. We often use the expression “That is good of you to do.” It is the opposite of being bad, wicked, or immoral.

Luke says of Barnabas that he was “a good man” (Acts 11:24). For a human being to be called “a good man” in Holy Writ, you may safely mark it down that Barnabas was unusual. Those who knew Barnabas held him with such respect that when all were keenly suspicious of Saul of Tarsus—even after Saul’s conversion—Barnabas was able to cause others to accept him (9:27). The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch when Barnabas was around (11:26).

When I first went to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville in 1953, I remember going to a store to buy something. I realized I forgot to bring money. The manager of the store said, “Did you say you were from Trevecca?” I responded in the affirmative. “Then you have good credit here. We all know those people are good.” What a reputation!

Faithfulness means being trustworthy, being loyal, having integrity. A husband who is faithful is one who avoids sexual activity with another woman. Yes, a faithful man, who can find? Take loyalty, for example. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way one can know in advance whether a person will be loyal. I know of no test one can take, no question put in an interview, that will help you determine whether a person will be faithful. A leader needs an assistant who will be loyal; a wife needs a husband who will be faithful; a wealthy person needs someone around him or her who not only has wisdom but also will be trustworthy.

In any case, the fruit of the Spirit results in a person having the rare quality of integrity. Think about this for a moment. A person who follows the Holy Spirit will not cheat, lie, or betray. Yet, sadly, many church leaders today are discovered to be lacking in financial integrity or sexual faithfulness. Whatever else this indicates, it shows that such a person lacks the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If all Christians consistently obeyed the Lord by showing the fruit of the Spirit, there would be no unfaithfulness, sexual immorality, disloyalty, or mistrust in the church!

Gentleness comes from a Greek word meaning mild and sometimes translated as “meekness.” The funny thing is, in the Greco-Roman world this was no quality to be admired! Quite the opposite; the Greeks saw this as being cowardly and weak.

The Christian faith, however, has taken over this word to make it something to be not only admired but also sought after. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (Matt. 5:5). Meekness means that you won’t be defensive if someone speaks against you. You will take criticism lying down. You will turn the other cheek.

Gentleness, then, means being mild-mannered or tender. Love is “not easily provoked” (1 Cor. 13:5, kjv), “not irritable” (esv). Jesus said of Himself, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). Moses was “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3).

Meekness is not a quality the ancient Greeks admired. In today’s world it is certainly not the way you win elections if in politics! However, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and if you and I follow the Spirit with all our hearts, we will display this fruit of gentleness.

Self-control comes from the Greek word egkrateia. It denotes “the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.” It was reckoned to be a cardinal virtue by Socrates (c. 470–399 BC). For Philo (c. 20 BC–AD 50) it meant superiority to every desire. It was expressed in restraint relating to food, sex, and use of the tongue. Paul used it regarding an athlete: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25).

The fact that it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit is challenging for most of us. We all need self-control—whether in regard to eating, exercising, watching television, or taking time off when we are working too hard. Because we have the Holy Spirit, says Paul, we can control how much we eat and whether we exercise, resist temptation, or give in to pleasure. It is surprising that we don’t see this word more often. It is not in the four Gospels. It is also remarkable that Paul lists this fruit at the bottom of his list! He might have put it first!  

The King James Version wrongly translates the Greek as “temperance,” which brings to mind the old movement against legalizing alcohol in the United States. Don’t let that mislead you into thinking this is about avoiding alcohol. The fruit of the Spirit will enable us to resist overdoing anything—whatever habit or temptation—that militates against godliness.

We are not responsible for having the gifts of the Spirit, but—like it or not—we are responsible for having the fruit of the Spirit.

Personal Reflection

Think back to a few people in your life about whom you would say, “That was a good man or woman.” What qualities did they possess that would cause you to say that about them? How did their goodness impact your life?  

Proverbs points out that faithfulness is a rare quality in a person. (See Proverbs 20:6.) Have you experienced the loyalty of a friend or family member? How did that make you feel? Have you showed up in a moment of crisis with faithfulness toward another?  

What do you think is the difference between meekness and weakness? Where does self-control manifest in your life?