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Distinction: No Fruit vs. Bad Fruit
We are now ready for an expedition into the critical distinction governing divine assessment, moving beyond the simple state of existence to confront the nature of production itself. The scriptural witness demands that a clear line be drawn between life that is unproductive due to separation and life that is corrupted due to inherent flaw. This clarity prevents the misapplication of covenantal relation and ensures the accurate diagnosis of the human condition.
The analysis is anchored by an essential insight: the scriptures present two distinct, yet related, categories of failure, both confirmed by the evidence of their yield.
The “No Fruit” Category The first category establishes the verdict of No Fruit, as proclaimed in the statement concerning the disconnection or separation from the True Vine, Yehoshua. The ultimate failure of this branch is not wicked action, but the absolute cessation of capacity to produce.
The consequence is an irrevocable loss of the intrinsic, eternal power — δύνασθε (dýnasthe) — resulting in οὐδέν (oudén), meaning “nothing” or “not even one thing.” This is the non-negotiable condition of a severed relationship, wherein the life flow has ceased entirely.
Authoritative Source: Original: ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν Transliteration: hóti chōrís emoû ou dýnasthe poieîn oudén Literal Interlinear Etymological Transliteration in English (no western gloss): “Because separate-from me not you are able to do nothing/not even one thing.” (Codex Sinaiticus — Yochanan [Yō-khan-an], John 15:5)
The “Bad Fruit” Category The second category confronts the reality of Bad Fruit, which addresses the issue of corruption of nature — the “Bad Tree.” This teaching is found not only in the discourse of the Messiah but is also recorded in the Synoptic narratives, providing the lens for discernment. The focus here is not whether the life flow is present, but whether the life flow is pure.
Authoritative Witnesses:
Matthew 7:17 The authoritative discourse regarding the nature of the source and its yield is recorded in the ancient witnesses as follows:
Original: οὕτως πᾶν δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς καλούς ποιεῖ, τὸ δὲ σαπρὸν δένδρον καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖ.
Transliteration: houtōs pân déndron agathón karpoùs kaloùs poieî, tò dè sapròn déndron karpoùs ponēroùs poieî.
Literal Interlinear Etymological Transliteration in English (NO WESTERN GLOSS): “In this manner every tree good produce-products excellent/beautiful. But the decaying/rotten tree produce-products evil/wicked make.” (Codex Sinaiticus — Mattthaios [Mat-thai-os], Matthew 7:17)
Luke 6:43 The parallel instruction confirming the non-negotiable principle of source-to-output fidelity is recorded in the ancient witnesses as follows:
Original: οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν δένδρον καλὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν σαπρόν, οὐδὲ πάλιν δένδρον σαπρὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλόν.
Transliteration: ou gàr éstin déndron kalòn poioûn karpòn saprón, oudè pálin déndron sapròn poioûn karpòn kalón.
Literal Interlinear Etymological Transliteration in English (NO WESTERN GLOSS): “Not for it-exists tree excellent/beautiful producing product decaying/rotten. Not-even again tree decaying/rotten producing product excellent/beautiful.” (Codex Vaticanus — Loukas [Loo-kas], Luke 6:43)
The output is irrevocably linked to the source. The καρπὸν πονηρόν (karpon poneron, “wicked/evil product”) is the symptom of the “evil treasure of the heart,” confirming the fruit is the output of the inner source.
The writings of Paulos (Paul) confirm this diagnosis, contrasting the works of the flesh (the corrupt fruit: enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, factions, envy) with the Fruit of the Spirit (the pure fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). The distinction is clear: the Bad Fruit is the product of the corrupted nature, and its presence is the evidence of the “evil treasure.”
Binary Assessment
No Fruit confirms a failure of connection, resulting in complete οὐδέν.
Bad Fruit confirms a failure of nature, resulting in the active production of wickedness.
Both scenarios affirm the absolute scriptural principle: the quality of the fruit is the definitive revelation of the tree’s true condition of union or corruption, and thus the reality of life.
