Gr. pistis, which means both “faith” and “faithfulness.” Whereas “faith” is an attitude of confidence in other persons or in truths for which objective evidence is incomplete, “faithfulness” is a quality of conduct that gives others reason for confidence in us. Faith is a mental attitude; faithfulness, a pattern of conduct. Here “faithfulness” would be more appropriate, as being more nearly comparable with the other “fruit” listed. See on Heb. 11:16.
Gentleness.
Or, “kindness,” Gr. chrēstos (see on 2 Cor. 6:6). A gentle person is mild of temper, calm, and quiet in disposition. A Christian is never to be morose or sullen, but ever cheerful, thoughtful of others, and courteous.
That which naturally develops in the life when the Spirit has control (cf. v. 18). The results of such control stand in marked contrast with the works of the flesh (vs. 19-21). The fruit of the Spirit is not the natural product of human nature, but of a power wholly outside of man.
Attention may be called to the fact that the word “fruit” is in the singular, whereas the word “works” (v. 19) is plural. There is but one “fruit of the Spirit,” and that one fruit includes all of the Christian graces enumerated in vs. 22, 23. In other words, all of these graces are to be present in the life of the Christian, and it cannot be said that he is bearing the “fruit of the Spirit” if any one is missing. On the other hand, there are many different forms in which evil may manifest itself, and it is necessary for only one of the evil traits listed in vs. 19-21 to be present in the life for a man to be classified with those who produce the “works of the flesh.” It takes all the Christian graces to make a man a true follower of Christ, but only one of the “works of the flesh” to make a man a follower of the evil one.