Joy in the New Testament

Book excerpt: A heavy burden of despair weighed down the world into which Jesus was born. But his advent brought a “conquering, newborn joy” which finds expression in Christian experience and theology. “From beginning to end,” says William Morrice in this book, “the message of the New Testament is one of joy: for it declares the ‘good news’ of the Christian gospel.” Morrice here focuses on the various words used in the New Testament to express the joy that comes from belief in the Good News of Jesus Christ. He shows how the New Testament contains a rich profusion of words reflecting aspects of Christian joy. In addition, he examines the distinctive contribution made by each writer and within each group of New Testament books. “Today,” writes A.M. Hunter in his Foreword, “when we live in a modern world where men’s hearts again fail them for fear of what may be in store for mankind, Dr. Morrice’s book is a rousing recall of that radiant optimism which began with the coming of Christ and which fills the pages of the New Testament.”