What is joy?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives the following:
"The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good." (Locke)
It is also described as, "a glorious and triumphant state," citing Heb. 12:2, and as, "gayety; mirth; festivity." (Dryden).
The online dictionary simply gives, "a feeling of extreme gladness, delight and exultation." Other offerings are, "a source or cause of delight; inner contentment of well-being; a reward for meeting an objective, or something you want."
Where does it come from?
The above definitions offer the sources of natural, human joy that all can experience, in the suggested possible situations or conditions. However, this article will focus on the spiritual aspects of joy that are on offer in the Scriptures. A verse often quoted in Christian circles is Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the LORD (Yahweh) is your strength." The Concordant Version reads, "it is the exhilaration of Yahweh that is your stronghold." However, the LXX of this verse omits the word "joy," saying, "the LORD is your strength."
Paul seems to take up this theme in Gal. 5:22,
"Now the Spirit's Fruit (or: So the fruit from the Spirit; But the fruit which is Breath-effect; Yet the fruit of the Attitude) is: Love (unrestricted, self-giving acceptance; the drive to overcome existential separation; etc.), Joy, Peace..."
But notice that the word Fruit is singular. Joy is not alone, by itself. It is nestled between Love and Peace (which literally means "a Joining"). Yet, there is more. Elements of this Fruit are also:
"Length of Time before a stirring of emotion (slowness of rushing forward; long-enduring; patience; putting anger far away), useful Kindness (actionable empathy - Caletha Ellis), Goodness ([cf Eph. 5:9; virtuousness; [2 Thes. 1:11b]), Faith (or: faithfulness; trust; loyalty; reliability; allegiance; fidelity), gentle Friendliness (absence of ego dominance; mildness), inner Strength (self-control)." (Gal. 5:22-23a)
In Phil. 1:25, he uses the phrase, "joy that comes from, belongs to, and has the characteristics of, this Faith (or: which is the trust, conviction, loyalty and allegiance)." Then in Col. 1:11, he joins the concept of strength and power to the condition of joy,
"being folks continuously empowered in every ability (being ones progressively enabled within, in union with, and centered in, all Power, and in the sphere of all means of Influence) corresponding to the grasping Force of His glory (or: down from and in the sphere of the Might pertaining to, and having its source in, His reputation or His manifestation of that which calls forth praise; or: = the Might coming from His manifested presence [= His Sh'khinah]) [leading] into every [situation of] persistent remaining under [difficulties] to humbly give patient support (or: unto all relentless endurance) and long-waiting before rushing into emotions (or: long endurance in putting anger far away; a long time before breathing violently with passion; or: perseverance; tolerance towards others). Accompanied by (or: Together with) Joy."
Then, in Col. 1:13, he begins to lay out the realm and condition in which all this exists, and speaks of the Father:
"He who drags us out of danger (or: rescued us) to Himself, forth from out of the midst of the authority of the Darkness (from Darkness's jurisdiction and right; from existing out of gloomy shadows and obscure dimness; or: = the privilege of ignorance; [cf Lu. 22:53b]), and changes [our] position (or: transported [us] to a different location, or sphere, thus, giving [us] a change of standing; transferred [us]) into the midst of the kingdom, reign, and realm, of the Son of His Love (or: into the midst of the sovereign influence of the Son Who has the characteristics and qualities of His accepting love; into union with the sovereign activities of the Son Whose origin is His love; or: into the sphere of the reign of the Son of the Love which is Him; into the center of the kingdom of the Son, which is His love and drive toward union)."
All of this explains the source of spiritual Joy. Paul put it another way, in 1 Thes. 1:6,
"Then further, within the midst of much pressure (or: centered in profound squeezing; or: accompanied by great oppression and affliction) you yourselves were birthed (produced, made to be) imitators of us, and of the Lord, upon receiving (taking in hand and welcoming) the Word (or: Logos; Reason; Idea; Pattern-forming Thought; Blueprint; message;) together with [the] Joy of [the] set-apart Breath-effect (or: in company with Joy from a Holy Spirit; or: [the] Sacred Breath's joy; or: accompanied by a joy which is different from the common attitude),"
These folks were birthed into the consciousness of the Lord by "receiving the Word, together with the Joy of the Spirit (etc.)."
Paul spoke of wanting to see Timothy so that he (Paul) could be "filled full of joy" (2 Tim. 1:4b). This would most likely apply both to his natural emotions, as well as to the spiritual joy which he already had, in Christ.
We find the following view of joy in Ps. 16:11: "You will cause me to know the Path of Life: fullness of joy before you; pleasures at Your right hand evermore." That is a rendering of the Heb. text. For the word joy, the LXX uses a word which I have rendered as: a "state of gladness, euphoria, a good perspective, a healthy frame of mind, and a disposition of well-being."
How do we get it?
This question has been partially answered in the citations quoted above. But let us look further, first to the sayings of Jesus. In Jn. 15:11, He spoke of His joy remaining in His followers:
"I have spoken these things to you so that My joy would (or: can) remain and continuously exist within the midst of you people, and that your joy may be filled and made full (or: fulfilled)."
What He had spoken is found in Jn. 15:4-5, which involves "abiding (dwelling) in Him (the Vine)" which also involves His Words abiding in us (vs. 7). The Advent of Christ and the gift of the Spirit birthed the new creation and access to the Kingdom of God (Mat. 5:3). In Rom. 14:17, Paul informed us about this Kingdom:
"for you see, God's Realm and Kingdom (or: the reign-and-dominion which is God; the expression, influence and activity of, and from, God's Empire and Sovereignty) is not (or: does not exist being) solid food and drink, but rather (or: to the contrary), [it is] Eschatological Deliverance flowing together in fair and equitable dealing which brings justice and right relationship, in the Way pointed out (or: being Turned in the right direction; Rightwisedness; also = covenant inclusion and participation), Peace and harmony from the Joining (= shalom), and Joy (or: happiness; rejoicing) within the midst of a set-apart Breath-effect (or: centered in union with dedicated spirit and sacred attitude; or: in the sphere of Holy Spirit). [cf 1 Cor. 4:20]
So, when we enter His Kingdom (Realm) we enter into His JOY! Because of God's influence and activity, we live with expectation that God will bring us His Victory (1 Cor. 15:57), so that we can, "In the sphere of, and with, this expectation (or: By the expectant, anticipating hope) [be] people continuously rejoicing..." (Rom. 12:12a).
Likewise, Paul admonished those at Philippi, "continue rejoicing (be habitually glad and delighted) within [the] Lord (centered in union with, and within the sphere of [Christ or Yahweh])" (Phil. 3:1). He repeats this, in 4:4, "Be constantly rejoicing within, in union with, and in the sphere of, [the] Lord [= in Yahweh or in Christ], at all times (or: always)! Again, I will repeat declaring it, ‘Rejoice (or: You folks be habitually rejoicing)!'"
Notice that it is always "within the Lord" that we can have, and express, this JOY! To those at Thessalonica, he gave the same instruction: "Be continuously rejoicing - always (or: Always express constant joy)!" (1 Thes. 5:16).
With regard to "fiery trials," Peter has given us another perspective on rejoicing, which leads us to joy:
"keep on rejoicing and being glad to the extent that, in so far as, or to the degree that, you folks are continually participating with a common share and a common existence in the effects of the experiences, along with the results of the sufferings, of the Christ [cf Col. 1:24], to the end that, while continuously exulting and celebrating exceedingly, you folks can (or: should; would) also rejoice within this unveiling of His glory (or: in union with the disclosure of His reputation; or: in the midst of this praise-inducing manifestation which is Him; in the sphere of this revelation from His assumed appearance)!" (1 Pet. 4:13)
Jacob gave similar advice,
"O my brothers (folks from the same Womb [cf Gal. 4:26]; or: = sibling Israelites, or, fellow believers; or: = My family), lead every rejoicing (or: lead the path of "all joy") whenever you may fall into - so as to be encompassed by - various trials (or: divergent, multi-faceted ordeals; [a tapestry of] tests and provings; or: experiments and attempts of varying hues)" (Jas. 1:2).
It was revealed to John (on the Isle of Patmos) that we have another reason for joy:
"We should (or: may) continually rejoice (be glad; be full of joy), and we should continually celebrate (exult), and we should [other MSS: we will continue to] give the glory to Him, because the wedding (marriage festival) of the little Lamb came (arrived and happened; or: comes) and His Wife made (or: the Woman from Him makes) herself ready (prepares herself)." (Rev. 19:7)
In the Kingdom parable of "the talents (money)," the profitable servants were promoted and told, "You were faithful and trustworthy (or: full of faith and trust) upon [the matter of] a few things; I will proceed to place you (set you down; appoint you) upon (= with responsibility for) many things. Enter at once into your owner's (master's) joy (or: into the state of the joy of your lord; = Come to my celebration)!" (Mat. 25:21, 23).
But the worthless servant was fired, put outside of the owner's business - unemployed (25:30) - a symbolic figure of the Judean leadership losing their place in the Kingdom, which would be given to those who produced Kingdom Fruit (Mat. 21:43). We have a parallel situation in the parable of the sheep and the kids (immature goats - it is the diminutive form, in the text), but here, the Son of Man tells the sheep to "inherit the Kingdom (Realm of sovereign activities)." Recall that "the Joy of the Lord" is one characteristic of "the Kingdom of God" (Rom. 14:17, above).
Our next citation is found in Rom. 15:13,
"So may the God of The Expectation (or: the God Who is this Expectation, and from the Hope) make you folks full of all Joy and Peace-of-the-Joining, centered in, in union with, and in the sphere of this result: to be constantly trusting and continually faithing-and-believing; leading into this result: to continually surround you with abundance within The Expectation (or: in union with this expectant hope) - within [the] power of a set-apart spirit (or: centered in Holy Spirit's ability and potentiality; or: in union with, and in the sphere of, a power and means of influence which is, and is from, a set-apart Breath-effect and a sacred attitude)."
Through these witnesses, we can conclude that Christ (or: the Anointing) is our Source of this Joy. The Gift of God's Joy is a central element of the Good News which Jesus brought to us. Yahweh's agent brought news to the shepherds about "great Joy which will progressively be for, in, and with, all the people (or: will continue existing in the entire general public)" (Lu. 2:10). This Joy is not based upon any "passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good." Neither is it dependent upon "that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire." It is based upon the Presence and Sovereign Action of God, Himself.
Jonathan
Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page