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Word Study ("Fruit of the Spirit")
From Faith and Victory Church's "A Word in Due
Season" Newsletter
(April 1991)
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Last month we
considered the Greek words used in the list of
the "Works of the Flesh" in Galatians 5:19-21.
This month we will do a similar study of the
"Fruit of the Spirit," listed in Galatians
5:22-23.
As we said last month, fruit grows in a
Christian's life. We need to be "cultivating"
these fruit in our lives!
Love: (agape) "divine
love."
Joy: (chara) "cheerfulness,
delight;" from a word meaning "happy" and a
salutation meaning, "Be well!" Peace: (eirene)
"peace, by implication, prosperity!"
Longsuffering: (makrothumia) "longanimity,
forbearance, fortitude," from a word meaning "with long enduring
temper." "Endurance, constancy, and perseverance," says Thayer. |
Gentleness: (chrestoles) "goodness of heart,"
"kindness," according to W.E. Vine; "usefulness, moral excellence,"
from a word meaning "employed" or "useful" according to Strong;
"moral goodness, integrity," says Thayer.
Goodness: (agathosune) "goodness, virtue, or
beneficence," according to Strong; "uprightness of heart and life,"
Thayer;
"...sterner quality by which doing good to others is not necessarily
by gentle means," says W.E. Vine.
Faith: (pistis) "persuasion, credence,
conviction, truth toward God," from a word meaning "to pacify or
consent." "A conviction based upon hearing," according to W.E. Vine.
Meekness: (praiotes) "gentleness," by
implication, "teachableness, humility."
Temperance: (egkrateia) "self-control," from a
word meaning "to be strong in a thing, masterful." "The various
powers bestowed by God upon men are capable of abuse, the right use
demands the controlling power of the will under the operation of the
Spirit of God." Vine.
Note that there are nine more "Works of the Flesh" than there are
"Fruit of the Spirit!" Resisting the wrong requires less than
doing the wrong! There are less "fruit" than "works" because
fewer are required! If you let these things abound in you, you will
be well on your way to Christian maturity. Let the fruit grow!!
Cultivate it in your life! Water it with the water of the Word!
(Ephesians 5:26) Return to Article Index |
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