Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit

Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit

In the early and medieval Church, the “gifts of the Spirit” normally referred to the sevenfold gifts described in Isaiah 11:2 (in its Greek and Latin versions): wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and the fear of the Lord.

In contemporary use, and especially in churches influenced by the charismatic renewal movement, “gifts of the Spirit” often refers to the pneumatikoi listed in places like 1 Corinthians 12, where the apostle Paul writes that “each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). He continues, “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28). This is not a comprehensive list; the same chapter also mentions utterances of wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8), and elsewhere Paul also mentions gifts of service, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy (Romans 12:6-8). Ephesians says that God has given “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12), though interpreters debate whether this is describing gifts or particular offices within the Church. Some interpreters also include things like celibacy (see 1 Corinthians 7:6-9) or craftsmanship (see Exodus 31:2-5); again, there are questions about what fits within this category.

These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, some to one person and some to another, according to the divine design, for the good of the whole Church. First Corinthians compares individual Christians to different parts of the body: no single part can do everything, and no part is meant to function alone, without the other parts.

The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, is something that should be produced in the life of every member of the Church, as he or she is conformed by the Spirit’s power to the image of Jesus Christ. Galatians sets the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s action in a believer’s life in contrast with the un-spiritual “works of the flesh… sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:19-23).

This work of the Holy Spirit is accomplished in the fellowship of the Church, which is the body of Christ, and particularly through her spiritual and sacramental life. The Book of Common Prayer describes how we are filled with the Holy Spirit in Baptism, empowered by the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, and sustained and united with Christ in the Eucharist, so that by the Holy Spirit "he may dwell in us, and we in him." Saint Paul affirms that it is appropriate to "earnestly desire" the Spirit's gifts and fruit, and to seek them in prayer: above all the greatest gift, which is love (1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:13).

Resources

The Fruits of the Spirit, Evelyn Underhill

Ascetical Theology

a. Prayer life and spirituality of minister b. Understanding of Spiritual Disciplines c. Spiritual Direction d. Rule of Life e. Daily Office f. Monasticism & its role in the development of our liturgy g. Missional applications of ascetical theology h. Monasticism and mission i. Mystical & Contemplative Spirituality j. Tools for Prayer and Scripture Reading k. Vocation l. Discernment m. Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit n. Stewardship