In Galatians we read about love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all being the fruit of the Spirit. One thing I’ve heard quoted almost as much as I have this particular Scripture, is the plural of fruit being used to explain the verse. So often I hear people saying “the different fruits of the Sprit” or the “fruits of the Spirit are thus”, similar to imagining each of the words as a separate kind of fruit. But, guys here’s the thing, that’s not what the Bible says! The "fruit" addressed in this verse is singular, not plural. Therefore, it can’t be referencing different forms of fruit, but rather it must be describing different aspects to one individual.
So then, what does it mean? One way my dad has always described it is by taking an apple and having me list off different adjectives that describe it. Shiny, juicy, red, glossy, small, big, crunchy, all various traits making up one, single thing. Similarly, the attributes listed in Galatians 5:22 all are describing one individual—the Spirit. The Greek word for “fruit” being used in this passage, along with many other places throughout Scripture is "karpos" —a singular noun. So rather than picturing the fruit of the Spirit as a basket of all different types of fruit, try and start picturing it as one single fruit, with many attributes. The fruit is that which God's Spirit produces in our lives; it all attributes to and describes Him and Him alone.
One of the things that especially bothers me when people refer to the “fruit” being plural is that usually right after saying this they go on to talk about how they are praying to God for more of a certain fruit or that they would like to be better at exhibiting and practicing one of the fruits. But, because these attributes are all describing the Spirit, when we accepted Him, we accepted all that He offers us. You wouldn’t tell me that when Jesus entered your heart, He only gave you part of Himself. You got all of Him, pal. Therefore, how could you think that some of His attributes don’t apply to your life now or aren't at work in you as we speak?
Here’s what I mean: Jesus doesn’t just give us love, He is Love. He doesn’t give us peace, He is Peace. Ultimate, universal, complete peace. He’s the definition of peace which all of our earthly definitions and comprehensions of peace stem from. It’s pointless to pray for an increase in something which we’ve already received beyond excess. How cool is it to realize that we have ultimate love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all alive and at work inside of us, all because we have the Holy Spirit alive and at work in us?! We could never receive more of Him than we have, and therefore we could never receive more of Who He is (i.e. His fruit) than we already have.
Now, I’m not saying once we accept Christ our behavior suddenly becomes perfect because we have this good fruit dwelling within us. It’s definitely a growing process we must walk through with Him. But, once we accept Him, we have access to perfection. He is Perfect and our lives as Christians are purposed to be that of being conformed to the image of Christ: His image of Perfection. Now, this topic obviously flows into many others which I’m not going to go into right now, but I just wanted to challenge all of you who have been reading this verse with the plural of fruit in mind. Try thinking about it another way: a way in which you already have complete access to the fruit of Spirit and have no need whatsoever to pray for an increase in one of Christ’s attributes. He’s Sufficient, and He’s got you.
Have a great evening, peeps!
-Sarah