Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Galatians · About this commentary
The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, · WEB
The counterpart to fifteen works is one fruit with nine qualities, and the closing line observes that no law stands against any of them.
The fruit of the Spirit is — and the noun is singular, against the plural works of verse 19. Nine qualities follow, and they are named as one crop rather than nine attainments: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.
The grammar is the argument. Works are performed one at a time and can be tallied; fruit grows whole, from something alive. Nobody cultivates joy on Tuesday and patience on Thursday. And the fruit is of the Spirit — the genitive names the source, so the list describes not nine targets for effort but the output of the walk commanded six verses earlier Galatians 5:16.
Love stands first, and the letter has already said what faith works through Galatians 5:6 and what the whole law is summed up in Galatians 5:14.
Then verse 23 closes drily: against such things there is no law. In a letter arguing for four chapters that the law cannot justify, this is the last word on the law's relation to the Spirit-led life — not opposition but silence. No statute the fruit violates, so no permission needed and no charge to face.
Verse 24 gives the ground in the perfect tense. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts — a completed act, echoing chapter 2 Galatians 2:20.
Then verses 25 and 26 turn it back on the congregation. If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by him. And then, precisely: let us not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
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