The “fruit of the Spirit” is a biblical phrase describing nine character qualities that the Holy Spirit grows in a believer’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

What are the fruits of the Spirit?

From Galatians 5:22–23, the apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as:

  1. Love
  2. Joy
  3. Peace
  4. Patience (or forbearance/longsuffering)
  5. Kindness
  6. Goodness
  7. Faithfulness
  8. Gentleness
  9. Self-control

These nine traits are understood in Christian theology as evidence that someone is living in step with the Holy Spirit, contrasted with the “works of the flesh” mentioned earlier in the same chapter.

Brief meaning of each fruit

  • Love – Self-giving, sacrificial concern for others, modeled on Christ’s love.
  • Joy – Deep gladness rooted in God, not dependent on circumstances.
  • Peace – Inner rest and wholeness that comes from trusting God’s sovereignty.
  • Patience – Enduring hardship and the failures of others without giving in to anger; often called longsuffering or forbearance.
  • Kindness – A warm, benevolent attitude that seeks the good of others in practical ways.
  • Goodness – Moral integrity that acts rightly; kindness expressed in courageous, ethical action.
  • Faithfulness – Reliability and loyalty to God and to others, keeping promises and standing firm.
  • Gentleness – Strength under control, expressed as humility, tenderness, and a non-harsh spirit.
  • Self-control – Spirit-enabled discipline over desires, impulses, and habits.

In many teachings today, these are treated not as separate “fruits” you pick and choose, but as one unified fruit (singular) that shows up in different facets of a Spirit-led character.

Mini table: the nine fruits at a glance

[5][9] [6][3] [9][3][6] [3][6][9] [6][9][3] [10][1][3] [1][9][6] [9][3][6] [5][3][9]
Fruit of the Spirit Short idea
Love Self-giving care for others, rooted in God’s love.
Joy Deep gladness in God beyond circumstances.
Peace Inner calm and wholeness from trusting God.
Patience Enduring difficulty and people without giving up.
Kindness Helpful, compassionate attitude and actions.
Goodness Doing what is right, even when it costs you.
Faithfulness Steady loyalty to God and people.
Gentleness Humble, controlled strength in how you treat others.
Self-control Spirit-led discipline over desires and impulses.

How Christians say you “grow” in them

Many Christian writers emphasize that these are called the fruit of the Spirit , not the “fruit of your effort,” meaning they grow as a result of walking with God rather than just trying harder. Typical practices they link with growth include:

  • Spending regular time in Scripture and prayer.
  • Asking the Holy Spirit to shape your reactions and decisions.
  • Staying connected to a community of believers for encouragement and accountability.

Over time, this is described as the Spirit steadily reshaping a person’s character so that these nine traits become more natural and evident in daily life.

TL;DR

  • The Bible lists nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
  • They are signs of a life aligned with the Holy Spirit, and are understood to grow gradually as a person follows Christ.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.