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Doreen Lovell
Peace is a sense of well-being and fulfilment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence. In the Old Testament it's basic meaning is wholeness or well-being. It is the gift of God, for God alone can give peace in all its fullness (Lev. 26:6). Spiritual peace may be equated with salvation (Isa. 52:7) and is available to all who trust in God (Isa.26:3) and love His law (Ps.119:15). To be at peace is to be upright (Mal.2:6), to be faithful (2 Sam. 20:19), to be an upholder of the truth (Esth 9:30) and to practice justice (Isa. 59:8). Peace is realized when people are rightly related to each other and to God. In the New Testament peace also expresses well-being, restoration, reconciliation with God and salvation in its fullest sense.The Gospel is the good news of peace announcing the the reconciliation of believers to God and to one another.(Eph 2:12-18), through the blood of Jesus. This inner peace is associated with the receptiveness to God's salvation (Matt 10:13), freedom from distress and fear (John 14:27), Security (1Thess. 5:9-10), mercy (Gal. 6:16)grace (Phil.1:2) love (2 Cor. 13:11) life and righteousness(Rom14:17). Such peace is a fruit of the spirit enabling the Christian to withstand the attacks of the forces of evil. JOY is a happy state that results from knowing and serving God. Joy is the fruit of a right relationship with God and is not something on can create by their own efforts. God knows joy, and want His people to know joy. Psalm 104:31 speaks of God rejoicing in His creative works; and Isa. 65:18 speaks of God rejoicing over His people who will be to Him a joy. Luke 15 is the most famous biblical reference to God's joy. Here Jesus told three parables--the lost sheep, the lost coin and the loving father. The theme of each parable is joy over one sinner who repents. The joy of God came to focus in human history in Jesus as shown in the joy and exultation through the entire account of His coming (Luke 1:14,44). The passage is the angel's announcement of "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people"(Luke 2:10). The book Of Acts tells how joy continued to characterize those who followed Jesus. In Samaris after Philip preached people believed and "there was great joy in that city (8:8). In Antioch after the work of Paul and Barnabas, "the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" (13:52). Joy in the christian life is in direct proportion as believers walk with the Lord. Joy is a fruit of the spirit which enables the person who walks with the Lord to rejoice even in times of trouble, rejoice in family(Prov.5:18), in celebration (Deut. 16:13-15 and in fellowship (Phil.4:1) Joy in the Lord enables people to enjoy all that God has given us.
Tim Maas
To me, joy is a more visible and emotive concept than peace that is more readily reflected and apparent in behavior, and one that can transcend external circumstances (which distinguishes joy from happiness). (That was why Paul could exhort the Christians at Philippi to rejoice -- because that response was within their control or volition (Philippians 4:4).) Peace is the inner calm and assurance that results from knowing that one is reconciled to God, and that underlies joy, making joy possible in any circumstances, even those that would not normally be associated with being "happy".
Simplicius Pereira
Peace is serenity and joy is ecstasy. By peace we harmonize ourselves with the tranquility that pervades not only our inner self but also stimulates others who are in contact with us. The brain waves send the signals to others that can easily bring a similar change in them. The Joy is the happiness that generates within ourselves and propels us to live more enthusiastically and cheerfully. The Joy signals and brain waves can spread all around us and stimulate those who come in contact with us verbally or visually for a healthy, positive and enthusiastic change in their behavior.
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