Inexpressible (412) (aneklaletos from a = without + eklaléo = to speak out, to disclose) means literally unable to be told out, what cannot be spoken and so unutterable, unspeakable, ineffable (incapable of being expressed in words). This verse represents the only Biblical use of this adjective. This joy defies all human efforts at understanding or explanation. The joy they experienced could not be adequately expressed in words. This quality of joy contradicts the experience of natural fallen man. Kelly adds that This is a mystery of faith contradicting everyday experience, and so the joy is inexpressible. Christians do not rejoice because of sufferings but because of their present perception of Christ (in the Word) and the certain expectation of His future return and reign. What they believed rightly, radically affected what they experienced. Albert Barnes comments that joy inexpressible is a "very strong expression, and yet verified in thousands of cases among young converts, and among those in the maturer days of piety. There are thousands who can say that their happiness when they first had evidence that their sins were forgiven, that the burden of guilt was rolled away, and that they were the children of God, was unspeakable. They had no words to express it, it was so full and so new: Tongue can never express. The sweet comfort and peace Of a soul in its earliest love And so there have been thousands of mature Christians who can adopt the same language, and who could find no words to express the peace and joy which they have found in the love of Christ, and the hope of heaven. And why are not all Christians enabled to say constantly that they "rejoice with joy unspeakable?" Is it not a privilege which they might possess? Is there anything in the nature of religion which forbids it? Why should not one be filled with constant joy who has the hope of dwelling in a world of glory forever?" (Barnes Notes on the Bible) Would the majority of the church in America be described this way? Spurgeon once asked... Why is this joy of the Christian so unspeakable and full of glory? I think it is because it is so altogether divine. It is God's own joy; it is Christ's own joy. Full of glory (1392) (doxazo - see word study on doxa) means to be give praise, to magnify, to extol. Doxazo is in the perfect tense (past completed action with present ongoing result or effect) passive voice (action produced from outside source) which pictures Christian joy as suffused ( spread over or through) with glory which is their permanent state and which will culminate when we "gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2Th 2:14). This fact would help explain why this joy is inexpressible. And yet it is a joy that is available now to saints who are steadfastly suffering for their Lord. The picture brings to mind the writer of Hebrews description of the perfect Man Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame" (Heb 12:2-note) thus "leaving (us) an example...to follow in His steps." (1Pe 2:21-note) A T Robertson writes that full of glory is like the glorified face of Moses. The Septuagint (Lxx - Greek translation of the Hebrew OT) in fact uses this same verb doxazo recording that when Moses went down from the mountain, there were the two tables in the hands of Moses,-- as then he went down from the mountain, Moses knew not that the appearance of the skin of his face was glorified (doxazo), when God spoke to him." (Ex 34:39) Even as Moses' face reflected a glow associated with being in the presence of Jehovah, the joy these believers possessed somehow was infused with heavenly glory, a glory which ultimately gives a proper opinion of the Lord, the only One to Whom glory is due. The Life Application Commentary agrees adding that that the believer's present joy is infused with a heavenly glory. While we await Christ’s return, we are already experiencing a touch of heaven through the joy of our relationship with God. (Barton, B, et al: The NIV Life Application Commentary Series: Tyndale or Logos) Barnes explains "full of glory" as speaking (1) Of anticipated glory - of the prospect of enjoying the glory of heaven. (2) of present glory - with a joy even now which is of the same nature as that in heaven; a happiness the same in kind, though not in degree, as that which will be ours in a brighter world. (Barnes' Notes on the Bible) Jameison adds that this joy full of glory speaks of a joy that is now already encompassed with glory. The "glory" is partly in present possession, through the presence of Christ, "the Lord of glory," in the soul; partly in assured anticipation. Gill explains that "full of glory" is a joy on account of the glory of God, which the believer lives in the hope and faith of; and it is a beginning, a presage and pledge of it; it is a glory begun here; it is the firstfruits, and a part also of it; and by it saints may know a little what heaven itself will be." (And I would add that by this glory, the lost world might also see and come to know something of the heavenly glory of God in the face of the believer who radiates such a joy full of glory!) (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible) Matthew Henry adds that this joy is full of glory, full of heaven. There is much of heaven and the future glory in the present joys of improved Christians; their faith removes the causes of sorrow, and affords the best reasons for joy." (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible) J Vernon McGee has some pithy comments Does this set your heart to beating faster? Are you really in love with Him, or do you have a dead religion that is quite meaningless? Oh, my friend, Christ is so wonderful! Simon Peter loved Him. Paul loved Him, and all of those who have genuinely served Him have loved Him. I hope you love Him today. If you do, it will solve a lot of your problems. It will help the husband-wife relationship. It is wonderful how the love of Christ draws our hearts together. Not only will it help you in your home, it will help you in your church. Loving Christ draws believers together. It will help you in all your relationships if you love Him....Are you a rejoicing Christian, my friend? You should be. You are a child of the King, and you have an inheritance coming to you some day. How wonderful it is to be His child! (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) ><> ><> ><> October 30, 2003 Reasons To Rejoice READ: 1 Peter 1:1-9 Though now you do not see Him, . . . you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. —1 Peter 1:8 The New Testament gives us many reasons to rejoice. For example, Jesus said, "Rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). The apostle Peter spoke of the reasons believers can "rejoice with joy inexpressible" (1Peter 1:8). We're not asked to pretend that problems don't exist but to rejoice even in the midst of them. The word rejoice reminds me of my friend Carol. She chose to rejoice throughout her long struggle with cancer. Her Christian life began within hours of surgery, when she prayed and trusted the Lord for her salvation. During her recovery she walked the hospital corridors saying to everyone, "Isn't this a beautiful day!" Because one of her eyes had been removed, Carol had a number of decorative eye patches made to match different dresses. Every day she delighted in choosing an attractive eye patch, especially when sharing her testimony. When she became bedridden, she hung a large sign at the foot of her bed that read, "Rejoice!" On my last visit before she died, she pointed to the sign and whispered, "Rejoice!" Carol's reason for rejoicing was her deep gratitude to Jesus for loving and saving her. Whatever you're facing today, let Carol's reason for rejoicing be yours too. —Joanie Yoder (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Amid the thorny trials of life God's buds of beauty grow; If we'll rejoice and not complain, His peace and love we'll know. —Sper If you know Jesus, you always have reasons to rejoice. 1 Peter 1:9 obtaining (PMP) as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: komizomenoi (PMPMPN) to telos tes pisteoo [humon] soterian psuchon Phillips: and all the time you are receiving the result of your faith in him - the salvation of your own souls. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: upon the occasion of your receiving the promised consummation of your faith which is the (final) salvation of your souls. (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: receiving the end of your faith -- salvation of souls;