King James Bible
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"
Paul contrasts this with the 'works of the flesh' just mentioned, emphasizing that these virtues naturally grow from the Holy Spirit's presence rather than human effort. The singular 'fruit' suggests these qualities form one unified character, not a checklist of separate achievements. These first three qualities focus on one's inner state and relationship with God—love as the foundation of all Christian virtue, joy that persists despite circumstances, and peace that transcends understanding. They flow from experiencing God's own nature through the Spirit. This trio emphasizes how the Spirit transforms interpersonal relationships—patience with others' faults, a gentle disposition that doesn't assert rights harshly, and active benevolence toward all. These qualities mirror how God has treated humanity. While sometimes translated 'faithfulness,' this encompasses both trust in God and reliability toward others. As the list continues in verse 23, this quality bridges the God-ward and human-ward dimensions of spiritual fruit.