Joy

Joy in the Bible

In the Old Testament, the word joy appears most frequently in the Psalms. Psalm 16:11 sings, "in thy presence is fulness of joy." Psalm 30:5 declares, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." In Nehemiah 8:10, the people who weep upon hearing the Law read aloud are told, "the joy of the LORD is your strength." Deuteronomy 16:14–15 commands the people to rejoice during the Feast of Tabernacles together with their children, servants, the Levites, and strangers. Habakkuk 3:17–18 declares that even when the fig tree yields no fruit, the prophet will rejoice in the LORD.

In the New Testament, Luke 2:10 announces the birth of Jesus as "good tidings of great joy." In Luke 15, the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son depict the joy of heaven over what was lost and has been found. In John 15:11, Jesus speaks of his desire that his disciples' joy might be full. Galatians 5:22 lists joy as part of the fruit of the Spirit; in this verse the New Korean Revised Version renders the word as huirak ("gladness"). Philippians 4:4 ("Rejoice in the Lord alway") and 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ("Rejoice evermore") exhort believers to rejoice always.

Terminology and Background

Biblical Hebrew has several words for joy, the most representative of which is simchah. In New Testament Greek, the noun chara and the verb chairō are the principal terms. Chara is generally understood to come from the same root as charis, meaning grace.

In ancient Israel, joy was less a matter of individual mood than a communal experience. It was closely tied to the harvest, the festivals, and worship at the Temple. Psalm 126, which celebrates the experience of returning from exile, likewise contrasts tears with joy.

Meaning Across Scripture

In the Old Testament, joy springs from worship in God's presence and from the experience of salvation. The New Testament carries this theme forward, grounding joy in the coming of Christ and in the gospel. It also describes the kingdom of God as "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).

The New Testament places particular emphasis on joy in the midst of suffering. James 1:2 calls believers to count it all joy when they face trials. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." Although Paul wrote Philippians while imprisoned, he speaks of joy repeatedly throughout the letter, which is why it is often called the "Epistle of Joy."

Interpretations and Issues

• Emotion or state: Many preachers distinguish joy from emotions that rise and fall with circumstances. They frequently describe it instead as an abiding state that flows from one's relationship with God.
• Reformed tradition: Presbyterian and other Reformed traditions often cite the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which answers that man's chief end is "to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever."
• Pentecostal and charismatic movements: Pentecostal and charismatic churches closely connect joy with the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit, and accordingly express joy openly in praise and prayer. Assessments of the so-called "holy laughter" that appeared in the Toronto Blessing of the 1990s were divided: some claimed it was joy given by the Holy Spirit, while critics argued that the phenomenon lacked solid biblical grounding.
• Relationship to prosperity theology: Prosperity theology tends to link joy to material prosperity or health. By contrast, theologians from many denominations criticize this view, pointing out that the joy Scripture describes endures even in the midst of suffering.
• Popular explanations: An explanation that treats "JOY" as an acronym for "Jesus, Others, You" is widely used in Sunday schools and similar settings. However, this is merely a teaching device based on an English word and does not derive from the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks," is among the most widely memorized passages in the Korean church. It frequently appears in church mottos, in church bulletins, and on framed wall hangings. The hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," set to the melody of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," is also a favorite in worship.