Biblical Vocabulary:

Notes:

• The above chart groups nouns and their related verbs, adjectives, and adverbs together.
• The verb chairō is used six times in the Gospels in the form chaire (sg.) or chairete (pl.), often translated “Hail!” or “Greetings” (Matt 26:49; 27:29; 28:9; Mark 15:18; Luke 1:28; and John 19:13). Its relation to “joy” is similar to the English expression sometimes used in greetings: “So glad to see you!”
• The adjective makarios, often translated “blessed,” is included here since it connotes happiness, a state of being considered fortunate in the eyes of God.
• Not included below are biblical verses that use other Greek words for “blessing” and “blessed” that stem from the verb eulogeō, which literally means “to speak well of.”
• The verb skirtaō often refers simply to physical jumping, without connotations of happiness; but Luke uses it in the sense of “jumping for joy.”

Introduction & Analysis:

• In the New Testament overall, joy and gladness, rejoicing and celebration usually are connected with Jesus, his disciples, and later generations of Christians. Only rarely are the opponents of Jesus and the enemies of Christians said to rejoice, such as when Judas agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests.
• Mark's Gospel contains almost no mentions of joy and rejoicing, which is understandable given the situation of severe persecution faced by the early Christian community for which this Gospel was most likely written (in Rome, in the late 60's of the first century).
• Matthew's Gospel uses the adjective makarios ("blessed; happy") 13 times, but has fairly few other mentions of joy and rejoicing.
• LUKE's Gospel has by far the most references to joy and rejoicing of all the Gospels, while the Acts of the Apostles adds only a few more.
• JOHN's Gospel uses makarios only twice, but mentions joy and rejoicing (noun chara and verb chairō) almost as often as Luke, including some very prominent and important references (e.g., John 15:11, the chiastic center of the Last Supper Discourse, and John 17:13, the chiastic center of Jesus' great prayer).
• Paul often speaks of joy and rejoicing, especially in the seven authentic/undisputed Pauline Letters; surprisingly, the six disputed or Deutero-Pauline Letters have far fewer texts, with not a single mention in the Letter to the Ephesians!
• The three Johannine Epistles have a few but very prominent mentions of joy, some in formulations very similar to John's Gospel. The other Catholic Epistles have only a few texts related to this theme.
• The Book of Revelation does not use the words "joy" and "blessed" very often, but a fuller account of the theme of rejoicing might also include many other words related to worship and celebration, especially around the heavenly throne and in the New Jerusalem.

Biblical Texts:

• Mark 4:16-17 [Interpretation of Parable of Sower & Seed] – “And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”
• Mark 6:20 [John Baptist’s murder by Herod Antipas] – “…for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” [lit. he “listened gladly”]
• Mark 12:37 [Jesus questions the scribes] – “David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight. [lit. “gladly”]
• Mark 14:11 [Judas arranges to betray Jesus to the chief priests] – When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
• Mark 15:18 [soldiers mockingly greet Jesus] – And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

• Matt 2:10 [Magi come to Bethlehem] – When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
• Matt 5:3-12 [Sermon on the Mount: Beatitudes] – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
  6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
  8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
  10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
  12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• Matt 11:6 [Jesus answers John the Baptist’s question] – “And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
• Matt 13:16 [Jesus tells why he speaks in parables] – “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”
• Matt 13:20 [Interpretation of Parable of Sower & Seed] – “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;” (cf. Mark 4:16)
• Matt 13:44 [Parable of Treasure] – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
• Matt 16:17 [Jesus’ response to Peter’s confession] – “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”
• Matt 18:13 [Parable of Good Shepherd] – “And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.”
• Matt 24:46 [Parable of Good & Wicked Servants] – “Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.”
• Matt 25:21 [Parable of the Talents] – “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” (repeated in 25:23)
• Matt 26:49 [Judas greets Jesus] – At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
• Matt 27:29 [Soldiers mockingly greet Jesus] – and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
• Matt 28:8-9 [Women and the risen Jesus on Easter Morning] – So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

• Luke 1:14 [Angel Gabriel to Zechariah] – “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,”
• Luke 1:28 [Angel Gabriel greets Mary] – And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
• Luke 1:41 [Visitation] – When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…
• Luke 1:44-45 [Elizabeth to Mary] – “For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
• Luke 1:46-48 [Mary’s Magnificat] – And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;”
• Luke 1:58 [Elizabeth gives birth] – Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
• Luke 2:10 [Christmas angel to shepherds] – “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people”
• Luke 6:20-23 [Sermon on the Plain: Beatitudes] – Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.”
• Luke 7:23 [Jesus answers John the Baptist’s question] – “And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
• Luke 8:13 [Interpretation of Parable of Sower & Seed] – “The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away.” (cf. Mark 4:16)
• Luke 10:17, 20-21 [After the mission of the 70] – The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” … 20 [Jesus] “Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
• Luke 10:23 [loose saying] – Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!”
• Luke 11:27-28 – While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
• Luke 12:19 [Parable of Rich Fool] – “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’”
• Luke 12:37-38, 43 [Parable of Faithful Servants] – “Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves… 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.”
• Luke 13:17 [after Jesus heals a crippled woman] – When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
• Luke 14:14-15 [instructions on inviting guests] – “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
• Luke 15:5-7 [Parable of Lost Sheep] – “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
• Luke 15:9 [Parable of Lost Coin] – “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
• Luke 15:16 [Parable of Lost Son] – “He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.”
• Luke 15:23-24 [Lost Son: Father] – “And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.”
• Luke 15:29 [Lost Son: elder brother] – “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.”
• Luke 15:32 [Lost Son: Father] – “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
• Luke 16:19 [Parable of Rich Man & Lazarus] – “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted (lit. “celebrated”) sumptuously every day.”
• Luke 19:6 [Zacchaeus meets Jesus at Jericho] – So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
• Luke 19:37 [Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem] – As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,
• Luke 22:5 [Judas arranges to betray Jesus to the chief priests] – They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money.
• Luke 23:8 [Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas] – When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.
• Luke 23:29 [Apocalyptic Discourse] – “For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’”
• Luke 24:41 [Risen Jesus appears to his disciples] – While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
• Luke 24:52-53 [After Jesus ascends to heaven; Gospel conclusion] – And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

• John 3:29 [John Baptist testifies about Jesus] – “He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.”
• John 4:36 [Jesus to his disciples] – “The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
• John 5:35 [Jesus about John Baptist] – “He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”
• John 8:56 [Jesus to the Jews] – “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
• John 11:15 [Jesus to his disciples about Lazarus’ death] – “For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
• John 13:17 [Jesus to his disciples about service] – “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
• John 14:28 [Last Supper Discourse] – “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.”
• John 15:11 [Last Supper Discourse] – “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
• John 16:20-22, 24 [Last Supper Discourse] – “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22 So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you…. 24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
• John 17:13 [Jesus’ great prayer] – “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.”
• John 20:20 [Risen Jesus appears to his disciples] – After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
• John 20:29 [Risen Jesus to Thomas] – “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

• Acts 2:26, 28 [Peter, quoting Ps 16:9-11] – “therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope…. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.
• Acts 2:46 [believers in Jerusalem] – Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,
• Acts 5:41 [apostles in Jerusalem] – As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
• Acts 7:41 [part of Stephen’s speech] – “At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and reveled in the works of their hands.”
• Acts 8:8 [Samaria] – So there was great joy in that city.
• Acts 8:39 [on road to Gaza] – When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
• Acts 11:23 [Barnabas & Christians in Syrian Antioch] – When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion;
• Acts 12:14 [maid Rhoda at Mary’s house] – On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.
• Acts 13:48 [Paul & Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch] – “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.”
• Acts 13:52 [Paul & Barnabas in Iconium] – And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 14:17 [Paul’s speech in Lystra] – “yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”
• Acts 15:3 [Paul & Barnabas go from Antioch to Jerusalem] – So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.
• Acts 15:31 [Christians in Antioch] – When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.
• Acts 16:34 [Jailer with Paul & Silas in Philippi] – He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
• Acts 20:35 [Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders] – “In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Acts 21:17 [Paul & traveling companions] – When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly (or “gladly”).
• Acts 26:2 [Paul’s self-defense speech] – “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,”

• Rom 4:6-9 – “So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 7 ‘Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.’ 9 Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, ‘Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.’”
• Rom 7:22 – “For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self,”
• Rom 12:8 – “the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”
• Rom 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”
• Rom 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
• Rom 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
• Rom 14:22 – “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.”
• Rom 15:10 – and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
• Rom 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
• Rom 15:32 – “so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.”
• Rom 16:19 – “For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.”

• 1 Cor 7:30 – “and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,”
• 1 Cor 7:40 – “But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
• 1 Cor 12:26 – “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”
• 1 Cor 13:6 – “it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.”
• 1 Cor 16:17 – “I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence;”

• 2 Cor 1:24 – “I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith.”
• 2 Cor 2:2-3 – “For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? / And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.”
• 2 Cor 6:10 – “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
• 2 Cor 7:7 – “and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.”
• 2 Cor 7:9 – “Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.”
• 2 Cor 7:13 – “In this we find comfort. In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you.”
• 2 Cor 7:16 – “I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.”
• 2 Cor 9:7 – “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
• 2 Cor 11:19 – “For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves!”
• 2 Cor 12:9 – “but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
• 2 Cor 12:15 – “I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”
• 2 Cor 13:9 – “For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect.”

• Gal 4:15 – “What has become of the good will you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.”
• Gal 4:27 – “For it is written, ‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birthpangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.’”
• Gal 5:22 – “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,”

• Phil 1:4 – “constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,”
• Phil 1:18 – “What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,”
• Phil 1:25 – “Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,”
• Phil 2:2 – “make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
• Phil 2:17-18 – “But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you / and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.”
• Phil 2:28-29 – “I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. / Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people,”
• Phil 3:1 – “Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.”
• Phil 4:1 – “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”
• Phil 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
• Phil 4:10 – “I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.”

• Col 1:11 – “May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father…”
• Col 1:24 – “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”
• Col 2:5 – “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”

• 1 Thess 1:6 – “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,”
• 1 Thess 2:19-20 – “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? / Yes, you are our glory and joy!”
• 1 Thess 5:16 – “Rejoice always,”

• 1 Tim 1:11 – “that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
• 1 Tim 6:15 – “which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

• 2 Tim 1:4 – “Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.”

• Titus 2:13 – “while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

• Philemon 1:7 – “I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.”

• Hebrews 1:9 – “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
• Hebrews 12:2 – “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.”

• James 1:2 – “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,”
• James 1:12 – “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
• James 1:25 – “But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”
• James 4:9 – “Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.”
• James 5:11 – “Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

• 1 Peter 1:6 – “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,”
• 1 Peter 1:8 – “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,”
• 1 Peter 3:14 – “But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,”
• 1 Peter 4:13-14 – “But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.”

• 1 John 1:4 – “We are writing these things so that our JOY may be complete.”

• 2 John 4 – “I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.”
• 2 John 12 – “Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our JOY may be complete.”

• 3 John 4 – “I have no greater JOY than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

• Jude 1:24 – “Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing…”

• Rev 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.”
• Rev 11:10 – “and the inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to the inhabitants of the earth.”
• Rev 12:12 – “Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
• Rev 14:13 – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”
• Rev 16:15 – (“See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed, not going about naked and exposed to shame.”)
• Rev 18:20 – “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints and apostles and prophets! For God has given judgment for you against her.”
• Rev 19:7 – “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready;”
• Rev 19:9 – “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’”
• Rev 20:6 – “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years.”
• Rev 22:7 – “See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
• Rev 22:14 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.”

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