The Doctrine Of The Fruits Of The Spirit
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 22, 2025 (Donate)
The Fruits of the Spirit are popular in all
denominations and church splits globally. Very little controversy surrounds
them and precious few Christians would dream of denying any one of them!
The biggest problem with the Fruits of the Spirit is our
fallen and sinful ability to live up to them from a personal, familial, civil,
and local church perspective. They sound so simple, and yet we struggle living
them out in our daily lives.
What Are The Fruits Of The Spirit?
There are two primary passages that mention the Fruits of
the Spirit. Neither give a complete list but give us a taste of them. These
passages are:
[1] 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, NKJV)
[2] …(for the fruit of the Spirit is
in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)… (Ephesians 5:9, NKJV)
Two of the Fruits of the Spirit are reiterated in Ephesians
but the another is revealed to us—truth. This is often the forgotten
Fruit of the Spirit. Let’s look at these 10 fruits as each are individual
doctrines in and of themselves but collectively, they are doctrines of the
Fruits of the Spirit.
· Love—In short, this is selfless, sacrificial care for others that reflects God’s own character (1 John 4:8). It goes beyond feelings—it’s an active choice to seek another’s good even at personal cost. For extended discussion on Love, see here.
· Joy—It is a deep and abiding gladness that flows from knowing and trusting God, not from changing circumstances. It helps sustain believers even in trials because it is rooted in the assurance of salvation and God’s faithfulness.
· Peace—It is an inner calm and stability given by the Holy Spirit, even amid conflict or hardship. It reflects reconciliation with God and brings harmony in relationships with others.
· Longsuffering (Patience)—This means enduring difficult people or circumstances without anger or public complaint. It reflects God’s own patience toward man and allows believers to respond with grace rather than retaliation.
· Kindness—It is genuine concern and tenderness toward others, expressed through helpful and considerate actions. It’s love in motion—meeting needs gently and encouraging others.
· Goodness—It involves moral integrity (being respectful, decency, and honorable) and active benevolence (thoughtfulness and compassion to help). It means doing what is right and just, motivated by a desire to do God’s righteousness in daily life.
· Faithfulness—This is loyalty and reliability in one’s relationship with God and others. It shows consistency, honesty, and steadfast trustworthiness in both our Christian belief and Christian behavior. For more on Faith, see here.
· Gentleness (Meekness)—This is strength under control—responding to others with humility and compassion rather than harshness. It’s not weakness but a calm spirit that trusts God’s justice over personal vengeance.
· Self-Control—This is the Spirit-empowered ability to restrain sinful impulses and live disciplined lives. It keeps desires, words, and actions in harmony with God’s will and moral order.
· Truth (this is often the forgotten Fruit of the Spirit)—Truth is living to mimic God’s Word, reflecting His nature since God is the truth (John 14:6). It means speaking and acting honestly, guided by the Spirit to reject being deceitful and walk with integrity before God and others.
All these are a taste of the infinite power of the Holy Spirit.
Early Church Father’s View Of The Fruits Of The Spirit
The significance of the Fruits of the Spirit once the New Testament
was completed shouldn’t be overlooked. Unlike the Old Testament, we Christians
have a witness of the Holy Spirit indwelling us to grow in sanctification (i.e.,
holiness, pureness).
These fruits were an essential work of the Holy Spirit seen
in believers. They were important to the first few generations of the early Church
too! The Fruits of the Spirit represented the visible evidence of the Holy
Spirit’s indwelling presence in those who follow Christ and the moral
transformation expected of faithful Christians.
These virtues were seen as the distinguishing marks
separating the Church from both pagan society and heretical groups. It shows
that Christians, by the power of the Holy Spirit, were indeed different from the
world. Consider the impact of the fruits to church fathers in the early years.
Clement of Alexandria (~AD 150–215) viewed the fruits as the
mature outcomes of faith and knowledge in The Stromata (Book VII). He
wrote that, “he who lives by the Spirit will bear the fruit of the Spirit,” which
shows that the Spirit guides the believer. So for Clement, Christian virtue was
not abstract and empty philosophy but the evidence of a renewed soul, where the
Spirit restores the saved to the image of Christ.
Another church father, Tertullian (~AD 160–225), in Against
Marcion (Book V, ch. 10), contrasted the works of the flesh with the fruits
of the Spirit to defend the moral integrity of God’s law. He argued that these
fruits proved the unity between Old Testament righteousness and New Testament
grace, “The works of the Spirit are opposed to those of the flesh… by them we
recognize the true discipline of Christ.” Thus, for Tertullian, the fruits proved
the continuity of God’s moral nature across both the Old and New covenants.
Popular early church father, Origen (~AD 184–253), interpreted
the fruits in more of a spiritual fashion, seeing them as the steps of
sanctification within the believer’s soul. In his Commentary on Romans
(Book VII), he taught that, “The soul that yields to the Spirit becomes
fruitful with love, joy, and peace.” This spiritual “fruitfulness” shows the
Spirit’s transforming power of the new man in Christ.
Irenaeus of Lyons (~A.D. 130–202) in Against Heresies
(Book V, ch. 11) used the fruits to confirm the Spirit’s active role in
sanctification (growing in holiness and purity) and the restoration of man to Christ’s
likeness. He wrote, “Those who bear the Spirit are led to the end of life
eternal; for the Spirit gives them fruit unto righteousness.” The fruits served
as proof that the Spirit who raised Christ also renewed believers.
For the early church fathers (called “Ante-Nicene fathers”),
then, the fruits of the Spirit were not optional but the evidence of
regeneration. They revealed the ongoing work of the Spirit in sanctifying
believers, distinguishing the true Church from worldly corruption and false
teachings.
How Does This Relate To The 7 Spirits Of God?
In the Old Testament, the 7 Spirits of God are mentioned in
Isaiah 11:2. The verse says:
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest
upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and
might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2, NKJV)
In the same way that the Fruits of the Spirit in Ephesian
and Galatians do not give a complete list, this too only reveals certain things
about the Spirit, It shows some of the working attributes or characteristics of
the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s 7 characteristics listed here are:
· Spirit of the Lord (1)
· Spirit of wisdom (2)
· Spirit of understanding (3)
· Spirit of counsel (4)
· Spirit of might (5)
· Spirit of knowledge (6)
· Spirit of fear of the Lord (7)
These characteristics of the personhood of the Holy Spirit inform
us in a small way how the Holy Spirit works the Fruit of the Spirit in us. He
is the third person of the one Triune God after all. These 7 Spirits are revealed
names and attributes or characteristics of the one Holy Spirit.
In the same way Jesus is called Immanuel, Christ, the Word; or
how the Father is called Elohim, Jehovah-Jireh, Adonai; the Holy Spirit also
reveals to us some of His names. Another revealed name of the Holy Spirit is
Spirit of truth (John 14:17). Even so, these 7 Spirits are also brought up again
in the book of Revelation several times (Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6). So
there should be no doubt as His importance across the Old and New Testament.
Conclusion
The doctrine of the Fruits of the Spirit is powerful
confirmation of indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer. Though each fruit is
technically a doctrine individually, their connection here shouldn’t go
unnoticed.
But for believers, we shouldn’t resist the Holy Spirit’s
work, but embrace Him and let Him work through us to produce fruits of
righteousness. I get it—it is tough. None of us are perfect due to our sin
nature, but remember something intriguing—the Holy Spirit who lives in us is
perfect.
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist
since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website.
He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer,
and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He
was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015
as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3).
He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches,
colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
