Fruit

 

The purpose of this document is to present 2 biblical uses of the word “fruit” by providing scriptures in which each use is implied.

 

Biblical Definition #1:

 

Fruit-  noun.  The behaviorally observable end result of a multiplicative advancement of the Kingdom of God (as defined by the initiation of a continual indwelling of Christ inside another) through you to others, and through those others to even more others.  The following parables

 

John 15:1-10

1        "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

2        He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

3        You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4        Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5        "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

6        If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

7        If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

8        This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9        "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

10      If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

(NIV)

 

John 15:16

16      You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

(NIV)

 

Luke 13:6-9

6        Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.

7        So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

8        "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.

9        If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

 

Matt 25:13-34

13      "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

14      "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

15      To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16      The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

17      So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.

18      But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19      "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20      The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

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 your master's happiness!'

22      "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23      "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 your master's happiness!'

24      "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25      So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26      "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27      Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28      "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

29      For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

30                And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

Matt 12:30

30                "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

 

Heb 6:7-12

7        Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

8        But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

9        Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case-- things that accompany salvation.

10      God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

11      We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

12      We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

(NIV)

 

Matt 3:8-10

8        Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

9        And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

10      The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

(NIV)

 

Matt 7:13-23

13      "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14      But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15      "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16      By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17      Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18      A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19      Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20      Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21      "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22      Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

23      Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

(NIV)

 

Matt 21:19

19      Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

(NIV)

 

Mark 11:13-14

13      Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

14      Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

(NIV)

 

Luke 3:8-11

8        Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

9        The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

10      "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

11      John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

(NIV)

 

Luke 6:43-46

43      "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

44      Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

45      The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

46      "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

(NIV)

 

Luke 13:6-9

6        Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.

7        So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

8        "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.

9        If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

(NIV)

 

Eph 5:5-17

5        For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6        Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

7        Therefore do not be partners with them.

8        For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

9        (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

10      and find out what pleases the Lord.

11      Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

12      For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

13      But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

14      for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

15      Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise,

16      making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

17      Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

(NIV)

 

 

Scriptural Definition #2:

 

Fruit-  an adjective describing interpersonal and intra-personal behaviors or attitudes which characterize the presence of Christ in one’s life.

 

James 3:12-13

12      My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

13                Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

 

Matt 12:33-37

33      "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

34      You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

35      The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

36      But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

37      For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

(NIV)

 

The fruit of the Spirit

 

Gal 5:19-26

19      The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

20      idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

21      and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22      But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23      gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24      Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

25      Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

26      Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

(NIV)

 

Appendix:  Translations of Gal 5:19-26 vices

Here are expanded translations of these fruits that a believer can NOT remain in, if they are to be saved. 

 

167  akatharsia (ak-ath-ar-see'-ah);

from 169; impurity (the quality), physically or morally:

KJV-- uncleanness.

 

766  aselgeia (as-elg'-i-a);

from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices):

KJV-- filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.

 

 

2054  eris (er'-is);

of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:

KJV-- contention, debate, strife, variance.

 

2205  zelos-

excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit

a) zeal, ardor in embracing, pursuing, defending anything

1) zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing

2) the fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal

b) an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy

 

2205  zelos (dzay'-los);

from 2204; properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively, of God], or an enemy, malice):

KJV-- emulation, envy (-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.

 

2372  thumos-

1) passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again

2) glow, ardor, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker insane or kills him with its strength)

 

2052  eritheia-

electioneering or intriguing for office

a) apparently, in the New Testament a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts

b) partisanship, fractiousness;

Before New Testament times this word is found only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. Paul exhorts to be one in the mind of Christ not putting self forward or being selfish (Phil. 2:3). James 3:14 speaks against having selfishness or self-promoting in your heart.

 

1370  dichostasia-

dissension, division

 

1370  dichostsis (dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah);

from a derivative of 1364 and 4714; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension:

KJV-- division, sedition.

 

139  hairesis-

1) the act of taking, capturing: for example, storming a city

2) choosing, choice

3) that which is chosen

4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party)

a) used of the Sadducees

b) used of the Pharisees

c) used of the Christians

5) dissensions arising from a diversity of opinions and aims

 

 

4202  porneia-

1) illicit sexual intercourse

a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc.

b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18

c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12

2) metaphorically, the worship of idols; used of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

 


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