And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
that your joy may be full: Authorities disagree about whether this passage should read "your joy" or "our joy." A little common sense, which is one of the best tools available in Bible interpretation, might be called for in deciding which pronoun should be used. Is John saying that he and the others are writing to make themselves happy and to make their own joy complete? It seems unlikely. They are declaring and writing the wonderful truths of the word to bring joy to the erstwhile joyless populace of the earth and to Christians around the world. Alford suggests that if "our" is correct, it means "the joy of us and you" (425), thus making joy the benefit of the writers and the readers. At any rate, we know that the things written in the Bible are written that our joy might be "full." A joy that is full is a gladness that is total and complete. Our Lord wants His people to have such a joy (John 16:22-24). Today, we do not use the words, "that your joy may be full." In modern vernacular, John would say, "These things we are writing unto you that your life might be great, super, fantastic, tremendous, marvelous." We must believe that "the things" written in God’s word are there to bring great enjoyment in Christian living. When one plugs into God’s word, internalizes its teachings, and applies its principles, he finds joy "unspeakable and full of glory." Jesus said that the purpose of His coming is that we might "have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). There is a joy in Christian living that does not depend upon circumstances. It is ours regardless of the problems of life, and "no man taketh it from you" (John 16:22).