| Love (Agape) | Joy (Chara) | Peace (Eirene) | |
| Meaning per dictionary | – Affection- Good will- Love- Benevolence- Brotherly love | – Appreciation- Rejoicing- Gladness | – A state of national tranquility -Exemption from the rage and havoc of war – Peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord |
| Keller | To serve a person for their good and intrinsic value, not for what the person brings you.The opposite is fear, self-protection and abusing people.Its counterfeit is selfish affection, where you are attracted to someone and treat them well because of how they make you feel about yourself. | A delight in God for the sheer beauty and worth of who He is.The opposite is hopelessness or despairIts counterfeit is an elation based on experiencing blessings not the blesser causing mood swings based on circumstances. | Confidence and rest in the wisdom and control of God rather than in ourselves.It replaces worry and anxiety.The fake version is indifference, apathy, not caring about something. |
| Weirsbe | Divine love which is God’s gift to us. We must cultivate it and pray that it will increase | Inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances | The peace of God, which passeth all understanding Phil 4:7 |
| Verses | Rom 5:7-8 – Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.John 13:34 – A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.
Mark 12:30-31 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. John 14:15 – If you love me, you will obey what I command. 1 Cor 13:4-7 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. |
1 Th 1:6 – You became imitators of us and of the Lord: in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.1 Th 2:19 – For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
Jn 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Rom 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. |
1 Th 5:23 – May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Pet 3:14 – So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this (the coming of the Lord), make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Rom 8:6 – The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Phil 4:7 – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus |
| In Practice | – We are to love others are Jesus loved us. This is to lay down our interests for the sake of others- Love is the spring from which all the other aspects of the fruit flow from | – Celebration of being in Jesus | – We have a tranquility in our lives.- Received and based on our position with God.- As we move towards sanctification, we will have an abundance of peace in our lives.- Speaks of a harmony within yourself, with others and God. |
| Patience (makrothymia) | Kindness (Chrestotes) | Goodness (Agathosune) | |
| Meaning per dictionary | – Endurance- Long suffering- Perseverance- Slowness in avenging wrongs | – Goodness expressing itself in deeds; yet not goodness expressing itself in indignation against sin – This ‘good’ does not mean to rebuke or to be severe of the good of others – Also described as a kindly disposition towards others – From the base word Chrestos which means to be useful/fit for use |
– Uprightness of heart and life – Goodness that comes from God and showing itself in spiritual, moral excellence |
| Keller | An ability to face trouble without blowing up or hitting outThe opposite is resentment toward God and othersIts counterfeit are cynicism or lack of care | An ability to serve others practically in a way which makes you vulnerable, which comes from having a deeper inner security.Opposite is envy, which leaves unable to rejoice in another’s joy.Its fake alternative is manipulative good deeds, doing good for others so I can congratulate myself and feel I am ‘good enough’ for others or for God. | Being the same person in every situation, rather than a phony or hypocrite.It is not the same as being truthful in an unloving manner. That is to get thing off your chest to make yourself feel or look better. |
| Weirsbe | Long-suffering (courageous endurance without quitting) | Love in action | |
| Verses | Rom 9:22 – What if God choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction.1 Tim 1:16 – But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Jas 5:7-8 – Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because of the Lord’s coming is near. Eph 4:2 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. |
Rom 11:22 – Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will also be cut off.Eph 2:7 – In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Luke 6:35 – But love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Eph 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just a Christ God forgave you. |
Matt 19:16-17 – Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.Rom 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Th 1:11 – With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. |
| In Practice | – God has been patient with us.- Despite our sin, Christ endured eventually dying on the cross.- In response, we therefore need to patiently wait for the Lord’s coming no matter what occurs in our life.- Our patience needs to be reflected in our relationships with each other. | – God showed his kindness to us in sending Jesus to allow for our justification.- We are to replicate this through being kind to our enemies and to one another. | – To do good is to follow the commandments of God.- By following God’s will, we will be able to attest that his will is good.- God works in us to allow us to bring into fruition our desire for good – this is part of being worthy of the calling to be a Christian. |
| Faithfulness (pistis) | Gentleness (Prautes) | Self-Control (Egkrateia) | |
| Meaning per dictionary | – Trust worthiness – Character of one who can be relied upon |
– Meekness – Mild in disposition – Gentleness in Power |
– Virtue of one who masters his desires and passions – Temperance |
| Keller | Loyalty, courage, to be utterly reliable and true to your word.The opposite is to be opportunist, a friend only in the good times.Its counterfeit is to be loving but not truthful, so that you are never willing to confront or challenge. | Gentleness, Humility, self-forgetfulness.The opposite is to be superior or self-absorbed.Humility is not the same as inferiority. | The ability to pursue the important over the urgent.This is rather than being impulsive or uncontrolled.Its counterfeit is willpower which is based on pride, the need to feel in control. |
| Weirsbe | Dependable | The right use of power and authority | Temperance |
| Verses | 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.Matt 25:21 – His master replied, well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!
1 Chron 10:13-14 – Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. 3 John 5 – Dear friends, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. |
2 Cor 10:1 – By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you, refer to Matt 27:11-14Jas 1:21 – 21 – Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility (gentleness) receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Gal 6:1 – Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Titus 3:1-2 – Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. |
Luke 9:23 – Then he said to them all: “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”.Rom 7:19 – For what I do is not what I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.
Rom 8:12-13 – Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. |
| In Practice | – God was faithful to us by sending his Son to die so that if we confess our sins, we will be forgiven- God has given us talents, we need to use them appropriately- We are also called to show hospitality to our fellow brothers and sisters. In this way, we will be faithful | – We are meek before God in that we follow his will as opposed to our own- Although we may be in a position of power, we are to use that power in the interests of others whether it be to Christians or non-Christians | – Our sinful self remains despite our position in Christ- it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to say no to sin and thus master our ungodly passions and desires- We will need to deny and put to death our sinful selves daily |
References
Keller, T 2013. Galatians for You: For Reading, for Feeding, for Leading (God’s Word for You). The Good Book Company.
Wiersbe, W 2001. Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1: New Testament. Cook Communication Ministries, Colorado Springs.
