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Bible Dictionaries
Cheerfulness
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or (O.E. chere, ‘face,’ ‘look’; L. Lat. cara, ‘the face’)
The abundance of expressions of buoyant gladness in a weak and persecuted community, as was the Christian Church of the first century, is striking. Whereas we might expect depression and sighing, we find everywhere singing at midnight in the prison houses (Acts 5:41; Acts 16:25, Romans 8:35-37, 1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 1:6, etc.). Although St. Paul is described as once saying that his service has been with tears (Acts 20:19; Acts 20:31), and in his letter to Corinth confesses that he writes with many tears and with deep suffering and depression of spirit (2 Corinthians 2:4), such utterances stand isolated among a multitude of phrases suggestive of rejoicing and exultation. The Apostle’s references to depressing circumstances of life are usually to indicate his triumph over them (Philippians 3:7-8, 2 Corinthians 4:7 f.; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Is there affliction? That may be joyfully regarded as filling up what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24), as building up character (Romans 5:3; cf. Hebrews 12:11, James 1:2), as winning an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Even martyrdom for faith is a thought inspiring joyfulness (Philippians 2:17-18). Are there those who preach Christ out of envy and contentiousness? No matter, Christ is being preached (Philippians 1:15-18). St. Paul’s very imprisonment is having happy results-the Imperial guards have thereby heard of Christ, and other brethren have been inspired by St. Paul’s sacrifice to bolder service (Philippians 1:12-14). There is much in human life to give gladness-meetings with friends (Philippians 2:28-29, 2 Timothy 1:4, 2 John 1:12), even the very remembrance of them (Philippians 1:4), the sharing of the joys of others (Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26), the success of one’s work (Philippians 2:16), the faithfulness of converts (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20), their repentance after error (2 Corinthians 7:9), their thoughtful liberality (Philippians 4:10). One may rejoice in a good conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12), in the joy set before those running the good race (Hebrews 12:2), in the inspirations and consolations of Christian faith (Romans 5:2; Romans 5:11; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 5:6 f.; Philippians 1:25; 1 Peter 1:8). Not only is there cause for joy in the argued inferences from Christian beliefs-in the direct experience of the Holy Spirit there is joy and peace which the world cannot give (Romans 14:17, Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; cf. the characteristic features of mysticism in W. James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, London, 1902, lects. 16 and 17). Christian cheerfulness is not based on a denial of the reality of the dark things of life, but on the proportioning of them by the larger elements of joyful Christian faith and experience. A shallow, worldly cheerfulness must not be confused with the joy of the Christian in God. Human good cheer is only for a season (1 Corinthians 7:30); there is a laughter which should be turned to grief, and gladness to shame (James 4:9). Exhortations to rejoice are found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Romans 5:8 (cf. Colossians 1:11) Romans 12:12, Philippians 3:1; Philippians 4:4 (‘χαίρετε expresses the predominant mood of the Epistle, a mood wonderfully characteristic of Paul’s closing years’ [H. A. A. Kennedy, Expositor’s Greek Testament , ‘Philippians,’ 1903, p. 466]).
H. Bulcock.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Cheerfulness'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/c/cheerfulness.html. 1906-1918.
