A Deeper Understanding
The last aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is egkrateia – self-control, perhaps one of the hardest aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, and yet necessary to exhibit all the fruit of the Spirit. It is through self-control – being able to be the master of your own actions, your own thoughts, your own desires – that allows you to display agape – love, chara – joy, eirene – peace, makrothumia – patient persistence, chrestotes – kindness, agathosune – goodness, pistis – faithfulness, and praotes – gentleness.
Egkrateia is exactly what you may think it is when you think of self-control. It is the ability to be your own master. Self-control is the ability to rise above your humanity, to rise above your sinful desires and animal instincts and do what is right and holy and good.
A Deeper Understanding
Praotes is the Greek word for “gentleness.” Scholar William Barclay says, “praotes is the most untranslatable of words” but then defines it as being “submissive to the will of God.” It also means “being teachable,” and “considerate.” Aristotle describes praotes as that middle point between excessive anger and excessive angerless-ness.
We have to find that middle point between anger and angerless-ness. Gentleness – praotes – is not being a doormat or being weak. Praotes is being strong. It is being considerate to others and sometimes that takes effort and strength; it takes sacrifice and strong will. And sometimes we need to be as harsh as the conditions are so that we can overcome that harshness with gentleness.
A Deeper Understanding
The Greek word for faithfulness is pistis. The Christian who exhibits faithfulness embodies agape – love, and the one who acts in faithfulness will find joy and peace. Those who have faithfulness in their beliefs will live out kindness and goodness, and those who can display faithfulness will be living a faith of makrothumia – persistent patience.
Faithfulness is our faith in action and on display. Faithfulness is that strength within ourselves to keep persisting, to remain constant, to push through to the end. Faithfulness is faith lived out.
A Deeper Understanding
Agathosune is the Greek word for “goodness” under the fruit of the Spirit. The word agathosune is unique to the Bible and does not appear in secular Greek, meaning it does not describe the type of goodness you would see outside of those who believe in God. Agathosune is defined as “virtue equipped at every point.” If we as Christians are going to exhibit goodness – agathosune – then we are always ready to do what is right.
It is different from kindness – chrestotes – in that goodness will offer correction if needed. Agathosune gives good things to others and does good work for God, but at times it can cause discomfort.
A Deeper Understanding
The Greek word for kindness is chrestotes. Chrestotes is defined as goodness that is sweet or mellow, offering no discomfort. Chrestotes gives spiritual and physical help, and keeps the focus off the giver.
In Matthew 6:1 Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
