Both Old and New Testaments use a variety of words to express the many aspects of joy, gladness, contentment and rejoicing. Joy is a characteristic of God, and he wants it to be a characteristic that is evident throughout all creation, particularly among his people (Job 38:7; Ps 16:11; 104:31; Luke 2:10,14; John 15:11; Phil 4:4). Gladness and rejoicing are part of the everyday life that God desires for human society. God wants people to enjoy him and all that he has given them for life in this world (Deut 14:26; Eccles 5:18-19; 9:7- 9; Luke 1:14; 15:22-24; 1 Tim 6:17). However, all such enjoyment must be linked with right behaviour and self-discipline (Prov 23:16-21; Amos 6:4-7; Rom 13:13; 14:17; 1 Thess 5:7-8; 1 Peter 4:3).
Expressions of gladness and joy were a feature of public worship in ancient Israel (Deut 12:5-7; Ps 81:1-3; 100:1-2; 150:3-6). They were also a feature of the life of the early church (Acts 2:46-47; 5:41; 8:39; 13:52; Col 3:16). Joy in a special sense becomes the possession of believers when by faith they come into union with Jesus Christ (John 15:4,11). This joy is more than simply a feeling of happiness when all is going well. That sort of joy will be only temporary (Eccles 2:1-11). The joy that Christ gives is something that no circumstances can take away (John 16:22,33; 17:13; Rom 15:13).
It is a quality of peace and strength that enables believers to rejoice even amid trouble and sorrow (Hab 3:17-18; Matt 5:10-12; 2 Cor 6:10; Col 1:24; James 1:2; see PEACE). Sin in the lives of believers can spoil their experience of the joy God has given them. For this reason they must resist sin, along with its accompanying tendency to despondency. They must make a constant and wholehearted effort to be positive and joyful at all times (Phil 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16-18). The more believers grow in their new life in Christ, the more the indwelling Spirit of Christ develops the quality of joy within them (Gal 5:22). This joy is inseparable from faith, love, peace and hope (Rom 5:1-5; 15:13; 1 Thess 1:3,6; Heb 10:34). The fulfilment of their joy will be to meet Christ at his return and enter with him into the full joy of the age to come (Isa 65:17-19; Matt 25:21; Jude 24; Rev 19:7-9). This glorious hope is a further cause for their rejoicing amid present sufferings (Rom 5:2; 8:18,24; 1 Peter 1:6- 8; 4:13; see HOPE).