The New Testament letter to the Galatians contains the “fruit of the Spirit” passage.
Galatians 5:22–23 lists the qualities produced by the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The passage contrasts these qualities with the “works of the flesh” listed immediately beforehand.
The letter is traditionally attributed to Paul and is addressed to Christian communities in Galatia. Its central argument concerns freedom from relying on circumcision and other aspects of the Mosaic law as requirements for Gentile Christians. Paul presents life guided by the Spirit as the proper expression of Christian freedom.
A common mix-up is to call the list the “fruits of the Spirit.” Many English translations use the singular “fruit,” reflecting the passage’s presentation of these qualities as a unified result of the Spirit’s work. Galatians 5 is also distinct from the “gifts of the Spirit” discussed elsewhere in the New Testament.