What is joy? How can it be defined? C.S. Lewis, an atheist and journalist, who later became a Christian wrote:“joy is the seriousness of heaven.” Others said: “joy is the happiness that does not depend on what happens.” “Joy is the holy fire which keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow “spoke Helen Keller. “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” “Joy is a lens through which we can view life as positive even when we experience the negatives.” “We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day” wrote Henry Nouwen, a priest, professor, writer, and theologian. Lastly, Ben Carson said, “happiness does not result from what we get, but from what we give.” Therefore, joy brings forth happiness, renewal, laughter, gratitude, and optimist. . Is joy real? Can we see it, taste it, smell it, touch it. No, it is felt and experienced like love, happiness, faith, gratitude, and laughter. I believe true deep and everlasting joy comes from God and not man. The world see joy as ephemeral and obtained for the moment through enjoying time with friends, partying, drugs, winning the lottery or through success. But real and lasting joy comes to redeemed Christian eternally through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Joy appears in the dictionary as: 1 the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety 2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss 3 : a source or cause of delight (Merriam Webster Dictionary). The Bible’s early manuscripts for the New testament, Koine Greek was written. Joy comes as follows: Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 1 Peter 1:8. Although you have not seen Jesus, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. Luke 6:21 - Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh!

Three Greek words for used in the New Testament

There are three Greek words relating to joy I wish to explore. They are as follows: agalliao (ἀγαλλιάω), euphraino ( εὐφραίνω ), and chairo (χαίρω). It will be explored through the XLL, Classical Greek, Old Testament in the Hebrew, and lastly the New Testament (i.e. translated from the Koine Greek). Let me explain each one as follows:

First, agalliao (ἀγαλλιάω) appeared as: to rejoice, be glad (Webster Dictionary) and exult, rejoice greatly, be overjoyed, exultation, great joy (E. Beyreuther - Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol 2 pp. 352-361 with my professor Colin Brown). In the classical sense, from Homer, Plato, and Aristotle expressed the idea of boasting, to enjoy, experience pleasure in something. Joy reveals the basic human emotion possesses the whole man. Next, the Old Testament gil ( גיל ) meaning a bright promise, joy, or happiness; and ranan ( רנ) meaning to produce a ringing cry. Gil ( גיל ) and ranan ( רנ) appeared as a public Jewish festive joy which showed God’s acts of salvation is the past and present (Psalms 32:11). “The who aim of the Jew’s life was to glorify God. Jubilation thus accompanied their religious life” (p.353). God continues to help and helping his people of Israel. Lastly, the New Testament meaning of joy (remember the NT was a time after the Christian experience the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit) came from the Koine Greek word agalliao (ἀγαλλιάω). The word appears 11 times in the NT. “…the rejoicing turns to the God who now in Jesus Christ who already inaugurated … the age of salvation” (p. 353) and will be completed in Christ’s return. In the gospels there seems a rejoicing and jubilation Christ’s birth (Luke 1:14) and when Elizabeth became pregnant with John (Luke 1:44). “The beatitudes conclude with the exhortation: rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven”(Matt. 5:12, Luke 6:23). In addition, the early church rejoiced (Acts 2:26), the Philippians jailer rejoiced with whole family for their salvation (Acts 16:34, and John writes “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory” (Revelation. 19).

The second word appears as: euphraino ( εὐφραίνω ). Euphraino is a Greek verb that . …means to cheer, make merry, to gladden, make joyful, to be glad, to be merry, to rejoice, to . …rejoice in, be delighted with a thing. E. Beyreuther explains further it means “gladden, cheer …up, joy, gladness, and cheerfulness”(Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol.2 pp. 352-361 …with my professor Colin Brown). In the Classical Greek, Homer used it to mean active voice . . to cheer, to gladden a person, and merriment, joy , and good cheer as at a banquet. It was . / , never used in the spiritual sense. The OT comes the Hebrew words samah (שָׂמַח) rejoice,, . .. . …gladden, ranan(רָנַן) crying joy, and sis (שוש) rejoice were used in the sacrificial and …celebrated feasts. Isaiah used for God’s rejoicing (p. 355). Specifically there appeared joy in …emotion (ps.16:11), keeping the commandments (Ps. 119:162), and time of salvation (Isaiah …35:10;52:12). The New Testament uses euphraino 14 times mostly in Luke. He used in the …merriment of a banquet sense but also in the joy of the father for his son in the parable of the …prodigal son (Luke 15:23,32) and an envious elder son wanting a similar experience (Luke ...15:29). Euphraino, therefore, expresses …the joyous message of the gospel.

Third is the word used: chairo (χαίρω), a Greek word that means to rejoice, be glad., and salutation (Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol. 2 pp. 356). Starting with the classical Greek, Homer used it as an intense greeting or rejoicing over someone or something. In the Old Testament, the LXX translated the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) meaning rejoicing over the peace (Isa. 48:22; 57:21) and chairo as a joy in worship. Proverbs takes a pejorative view of the word. In Proverbs 14:13, joy is ephemeral of life: after laughter (sense of joy) comes mourning and grief. In addition, God provides all joy and blessings (I Kings 8:66). He turns tears into joy (Ps. 126:5), and rejoicing over salvation and peace (Joel 2:21, 23; Isa. 66:10, 14). Then chairo (xaírō ) expresses itself in the NT. Chairo (χαίρω) appears 74 times as a verb and chara (χαρά, ᾶς, ἡ) 59 times as a noun. Chairo is found abundantly in Paul’s writings. The word is found in Luke, Acts, John, Matthew, Phil., Rom, I Thess. The central theme for joy is a “proclamation of God’s saving work in Christ” (G. Finkenrath -Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol. 2 p. 357). The Synoptic Gospels trumpet out that Jesus brings a time of joy (Matt. 9:15,Mark 2:19, Luke 5:34). The lame can walk, the blind can see, the lepers are cures, and the deaf can hear proclaimed that joy results from Jesus’ work and preaching (Luke 19:6). Even with persecution and suffering of the saved results in the“ joyful assurance of salvation should not be lost.” “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven!” (Matt. 5:12). The joy Christ brings is not temporary but eternal as the faithful reside in heaven (Matt. 13:20, Mk. 4:16, Lk. 8:13) with great joy (Matt. 28:8, Mk. 16:8, Lk. 24:9). Therefore, joy is a great part of Jesus miracles and ministry. Now the “Pauline Epistles testify to the paradox that Christian joy is to be found only in the midst of sadness, affliction, and care. Indeed this is precisely where it gives proof of its power. This joy has its source beyond mere earthly, human joy. And therefore, outside ourselves” (E. Beyreuther - Dictionary of New Testament Theology vol. 2 p. 359) and to show it (Phil 3:1, 4:4, 10; Rom.12:12, 2 Cor. 6:10). While in prison, Paul wrote his letter of encouragement to Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. It seems important to mention that Paul was at the beginning of his Roman imprisonment while writing to Philippi in 135 A.D. . Paul had hope that he would be released after his trial. He wrote “rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice!”(phil. 4:4)He continued to write not to worry, be kind, prayer and petition God for your needs, be thankful, and experience God’s peace. The following is the Koine Greek verse 4:4 :

Χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε

Chairete en kurio piantote pialiv ero chairete

Χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε.

. Rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice

“Rejoice” is written in second person plural (you plural)(i.e., you rejoice) present tense active voice (Active voice is a quality of a verb that describes when its subject is acting out the verb. The active voice is used to show that the subject of the sentence is active and is performing an action on an object. In active voice sentences, the subject is the 'doer' of the verb. For example, John hit the ball. The subject John acts upon the object ball. John is more important than the ball. Passive voice would be the Ball was hit by John. The ball is more important than John. The point is that “Rejoice is doing the acting. Also it is the indicative mood (The indicative mood is a verb form that makes a statement or asks a question. The vast majority of verbs are in the indicative mood. The indicative mood contrasts with the imperative mood (used for orders) and the subjunctive mood (used for wishes, suggestions, and uncertainty) (cf. www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/indicative_mood.htm).

. ……In conclusion, Paul exemplified how we Christian should behave during turmoil and suffering both individually and corporately. The world cannot give this joy to us. The joy, as I mentioned earlier, the world gives is ephemeral and false compared to the depth of joy the Lord gives. We have experienced the joy given to us as believers through the Holy Spirit. The New Bible Dictionary says it best:”…a quality, and not simply an emotion, grounded upon God Himself and indeed derived from Him” (Ps.16:11; Phil 4:4; Romans 15:13) which characterizes the Christian’s life on earth (I Peter 1:8)and …the joy of being with Christ forever in the kingdom of heaven”(Rev. 19:7). Joy is finally the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22- the fruit of the Spirit). We redeemed Christian should share this joy of Christ by “daily walk with Him and a daily practice of rejoicing in the knowledge of Him and His salvation (I Thes 5:16; Phil. 3:1, 4:4; I Peter 1:8) (S. Smilalley; Gulin Die Feude im Neuen Testament and J. Moffatt, Grace in the New Testament –The New Bible Dictionary 1978 pp.665-666

In my final thoughts, I ask the question. Why can’t we show our joy in our countenance with actions? We should show and share our joy with others. Since we know where we will spend our eternity, we need to be happier, laugh more, give gratitude, and be more optimistic . Paul sums up joy through the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 that lists nine qualities of the Christian life. These qualities are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The joy in the Old Testament corporate experience through banquets and joy of a nation Israel. Joy in the New Testament, however, is an individual experience through the Holy Spirit and what Christ did for us on the cross. So go forward with our speech, actions, and countenances. Praise the Lord!!!

by AJ Grauf A.A., B.S., M.Div.