Ephesians 5:9

9 for the fruit of the light^[a] [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-

Ephesians 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 5:9

For the fruit of the Spirit
Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his grace, are the fruit: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read "the fruit of light"; which agrees with the preceding words: and the genuine fruit of internal grace, or light,

[is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth;
the fruit of "goodness", lies in sympathizing with persons in distress; in assisting such according to the abilities men have in a readiness to forgive offences and injuries; and in using meekness and candour in admonishing others: "righteousness" lies in living in obedience to the law of God; in attending the worship and service of him; and in discharging our duty to our fellow creatures; and this as goodness, is very imperfect, and not to be boasted of, or trusted to, nor is salvation to be expected from it: "truth" is opposed to lying, to hypocrisy, to error and falsehood; and where the Spirit of God, and the work of grace are, there will be more or less an appearance of these fruits.

Ephesians 5:9 In-Context

7 Therefore, do not become their partners.

8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. walk as children of light-

9 for the fruit of the light [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-

10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss read fruit of the Spirit; see Gl 5:22, but compare Eph 5:11-14