Is it the fruit of the Spirit or fruits of the Spirit?

Chuck Smith, Charisma vs. Charismania, chapter 13: You have probably heard that there are nine fruits of the Spirit. I have heard messages on the nine gifts of the Spirit and the nine fruits of the Spirit. But I want you to look closely at Galatians 5:22: “The fruit of the Spirit is agapé.” As I understand English grammar and as I understand Greek grammar, if there were nine fruits Paul would have said, “But the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, etc.” But that is not what he said. It is in the singular: “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” Then what are these other things in the verse? What about the joy, the peace, the long suffering, the gentleness, the goodness, the faith, the meekness, and the temperance? These are all defining the agapé. Our English usage of the word love is so weak that it can mean almost anything. So Paul defines this agapé by using these other words. Scripture, King James Version: Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,". From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-15.

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