Paulson Pulikottil

Christian historians call the twentieth and twenty-first centuries the centuries of the Holy Spirit, as the dawn of the twentieth century saw a new interest in the Holy Spirit’s work. New church movements with distinctive emphasis on the Holy Spirit, generally labelled as Pentecostal, redrew the landscape of Christianity forever.

In addition, since the 1960s, the renewal of the Holy Spirit within the Roman Catholic church has spread as wildfire to other established denominations. Most denominations now have a charismatic wing. Though the terms “Pentecostal” and “Charismatic” are fluid and the boundaries are blurred, the work of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives, manifesting in miracles of healing, deliverance of various sorts, etc., is a common factor. The Holy Spirit renewals, being trans-denominational, strengthen ecumenical relationships in the twenty-first century.

However, the renewed interest in the person of the Holy Spirit is more focused on the power than on the person and character of the Holy Spirit. Though ministries focused on powerful manifestations of the Holy Spirit, such as healing and deliverance ministries, draw thousands to Christ, they seem silent on the less conspicuous moral and ethical aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in believers’ lives.

This one-sided understanding of the Holy Spirit has led to many disasters, as the focus shifted toward celebrities who claimed miraculous powers while hiding their darker sides from public scrutiny. This led to the fall of many divine healers and miracle workers caught in adultery, tax evasion, serving prison terms, accused in corruption scandals, and all that even secular states condemn. They did not live in a manner “worthy of their calling” (Eph 4:1).

The shift of focus to the powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit is relatively recent. Before, there was a period when the moral aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work were emphasised, leading to various doctrines of sanctification.

[History of the doctrine of sanctification.]

NT Emphasis on Fruit

The New Testament teaches that the primary work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers is transformation. After elaborating on the various gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:1—31), Paul links that chapter to the following saying “I will show you a still more excellent way (1 Cor 12:31). Then he presents the great poem on love in chapter 13 climaxing in the statement: “the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). Love is the first in the list of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22—23).

Paul argues that special powers, such as speaking in tongues, faith to perform miracles, and prophetic gifts, are worthless without love.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor 13:1–3)

Thus, he sets moral virtues above special powers without denying the importance of the Holy Spirit’s gifts. There is no choice between these two aspects of the Holy Spirit—gifts or fruit, though gifts without the Fruit of the Spirit are useless.

The NT demands that the justified life transform a person’s ethical and moral outlook or character. For example, in the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul mentions three virtues, which he calls the fruit of the light. “… for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph 5:9). Like the list in Galatians, this also follows a vast list of undesirable traits that he calls that are not “proper among saints” (Eph 5:3). The list in Ephesians does not imply that only three virtues are essential. Note also that one of these virtues (“good”) is found in the list we are now considering. The “fruit of the light” are divine virtues—as “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Colossians mentions a similar list of virtues: “compassion,” “humility,” “patience,” “forgiveness,” “love,” and “peace.” This list is not as compact as in Galatians, but each virtue is further explained:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col 3:12—15)

This list includes some virtues found in Galatians, such as love, gentleness, and patience. It extends the array of Christian virtues that should characterise Spirit-led lives.

Moreover, the teaching of moral virtues is treated in detail elsewhere. For example, the love mentioned in the Galatians passage is elaborated on in 1 Corinthians 13. Similarly, the other fruits are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible; thus, our study will extend well beyond the scope of Galatians 5:22— 23. Another example is James’ exposition of the virtue of patience.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7—11)

We can also add 2 Peter 1:5-7 and Phil 4:8 to this list. All of these indicate the importance the NT places on moral virtues.

From my forthcoming book: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Dynamics of a Spirit-driven Life.