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Examining the Fruits of the Spirit, part two: joy
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The Lord has led me to do the fruits of the spirit as word studies, utilizing my theology training. Thus, the format will take a bit more of an academic tone, examining the etymology, worldly definition (using Mirriam Webster’s), and the transliteration based on the original Greek word used, its roots, and a few key examples of other scriptures where it is used before going into personal insights.
Etymology: 13th Century Middle English, from Anglo-French joie; from Latin gaudia, from gaudere—to rejoice (probably akin to Greek gethein—to rejoice).
- a. 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.
- A state of happiness or felicity: bliss.
- A source or cause of delight.
Original Ancient Greek word: chara (khar-AH), from chairo (KHAH-ee-ro or KY-ro), verb meaning to be cheerful, calmly happy or well-off, well, glad; also used as greeting, hail, joy, joyfully, rejoice, farewell, God speed.
Chara can be translated as cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, joy, joyfulness, joyfully, joyous, exceeding joy. (Hockey fan note: Zdeno Chara had a fitting name when he won the Norris trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman last season!) Here are two other scriptural examples to help put the original word in context:
Matthew 2:10: “When they saw the star (of David, leading them to Christ in the manger), they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Notice how in this passage the joy is repeatedly emphasized—rejoice with exceeding great joy. This is the kind of joy the fruits of the spirit bring.
Acts 12:14: “And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran inside…” At this point, Peter is supposed to be in prison, but had been freed by an angel of the Lord. Rhoda is so overwhelmed at hearing his voice that she runs in to tell everyone he is at the door and forgets to let him in.
It is often said that happiness relies on circumstances while joy is enduring. You may be happy you got a raise, but if your job does not fulfill you, there is a void.
The world seeks happiness, but it is fleeting with a foundation of sand. When the material thing bringing it is lost, it erodes or washes entirely away. Life is like a wilderness, with happiness as a finite quantity of water in the desert—it may bring a pint, quart, gallon, or even a tun (252 gallons), but it does not last.
The believer, on the other hand, has a well to draw from for his or her joy—it is always there. This is perfectly exemplified when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John 4:13-14:
“Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But…the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.”
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