It is surprising in one sense, to note the emphasis which the apostle Paul puts upon

"joy". When we come to think of the life he lived, the nature and revelation made known

to and through him-the stewardship of the Mystery-his bonds and imprisonment, the

loneliness and the abuse that seemed his daily meat, we should not be surprised after the

manner of men, if "joy" never entered his vocabulary.

But, thank God we do not speak after the manner of men, having seen enough of the

grace of God to be prepared for songs in the night and psalms from the innermost prison.

Again and again in the epistle to the Philippians Paul bids his readers "rejoice", even

though some brethren (not merely pagan enemies) were endeavouring to add affliction to

his bonds.

The ministry for which The Berean Expositor was first called in existence, and which

justified its continuance, is one so fraught with problems, and which makes such

demands upon both reader and writer, that it is absolutely necessary that into all the hard

study, and in some cases isolation that the truth entails, should be brought the

remembrance that faith is not cold but warm and living, and that there is a "joy of faith"

(Phil. 1:25) as well as the subject matter of the faith, the fight of faith and steadfastness in

the faith. Faith not only leads to justification, acceptance, and life, blessings indeed

beyond computation, but to "joy and peace in believing"(Rom. 15:13) with which we

should be as much filled, as "with the spirit".

Charles H. Welch

(Continued from May 1974)

Some of the fruits of the Spirit are enumerated in Galatians 5:22,23 which sets forth

a veritable cluster of Eschol, nine in all, including gentleness, temperance, and faith. The

first in order of mention is "love", without which all knowledge, faith, and even

martyrdom are reduced to nothing: and second in order of mentions is "joy". Can we

conceive of gentleness without joy and still associate it with the Spirit? Temperance

without joy may be a mischief-worker and a cause for stumbling. A joyless faith

producing a joyless creed neither commends the gospel nor glorifies the Lord. Joy differs

from happiness largely and depends upon what "happens", whereas joy is deeper, being

independent of circumstances. The Apostle may at one time be exalted and at another