In Matthew 5, Jesus offers a list of macarisms (each phrase begins with the Greek word makarios) that define the kind of behavior or people that he expects in God's kingdom.

³ “Happy are people who are downcast, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
⁴ “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
⁵ “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
⁶ “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
⁷ “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
⁸ “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
⁹ “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
¹⁰ “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
¹¹ “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.

Several readers of the CEB have written to say that they do not approve of the term happy in this passage.  We don't get good reasons why this word is wrong, other than some like the KJV word, blessed.  Perhaps some Christians are suspicious of words that evoke human emotion because they prefer a faith that is based on fact or reason. Perhaps others mistakenly assume that happiness as a human condition is about human self esteem and not something that God does or wants.

We might concede that it is possible to trivialize the meaning of happiness in our culture, to mistake happiness for personal self gratification, but the CEB editors are not willing to let a trivial misapplication of the word derail the correct use of the meaning from the Greek.  First, the use of the term in this way is not an innovation. The NRSV uses the term happy throughout the Old Testament for macarisms like these in Jesus' sermon.  The TEV translation used the term happy with the same beatitudes in Matthew. Second, the first sense given the term in the BDAG Greek Lexicon is "fortunate, happy." Makarios actually belongs to a large semantic domain in Greek, reflecting Greco-Roman discussion about what constitutes genuine happiness. Third, contemporary happiness studies identify happiness in terms of growth, integrity, and well-being (flourishing and contentment).

The truly happy person
doesn't follow wicked advice,
doesn't stand on the road of sinners,
and doesn't sit with the disrespectful. (CEB Psalm 1:1, forthcoming)

~~ Paul Franklyn
Associate Publisher

Comments New Comment Created by Rain in 1/14/2012 3:21:15 PM That's clraeed my thoughts. Thanks for contributing. New Comment Created by Anonymous in 11/22/2011 12:45:19 PM We should be happy because we have air to breath everyday and we have food everyday to eat, we are under God's protection so we need to be happy really. http://www.churchmanagepro.com Happy? Created by Jim Dorton in 3/12/2011 8:20:50 PM I see plenty of "good reasons" to choose "blessed" over "happy". The introductory comment to this section says the "CEB editors are not willing to let a trivial misapplication of the word derail the correct use of the meaning from the Greek". The home page says the CEB exists to provide a translation "in a language that readers naturally speak". In common English, "happy", straight from the dictionary meas; “coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly”, “experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight “, “feeling that one's needs or desires have been met”, or“having good luck”. "Blessed" is defined, same common English dictionary means “of, relating to, or being God”, or “set apart or worthy of veneration by association with God “. "Happy", as used in common English, very much has to do with the circumstances at hand and in the flesh, while "blessed" reflects one's state spiritually, in or in spite of circumstances. I am not a scholar of the Greek language, but in the common English that the CEB claims to provide, this passage changes the meaning from God-centered to people-centered. Happy vs. Blessed Created by Daryl Anderson in 11/29/2010 11:12:52 AM "Happy" is a poor choice. Happy are the downcast and those who grieve? That's double-talk! People understand the word blessed and its broader meaning. One who is blessed is experiencing the joy of God's favor... and that joy is possible even in life's most difficult situations (James 1:2). Happiness is situation-dependent (depends on what's "happening"). New Comment Created by Anonymous in 11/28/2010 4:57:26 PM I have been living and working in South Louisiana for the past 2 years. Folks with many physical problems and very little financial resources come into my office to see if they can get their home repaired (for free, thanks to the people of the UMC) because their roof has been leaking and there are holes in the floors and the plumbing isn't working. Then they tell me they are blessed because they had been able to get up that morning. Blessed and happy are not the same. To be blessed comes from God; to be happy comes from us. Maybe there was no difference in the two words in biblical times, but there is today in my experience. Happy vs. Blessed Created by Al in 11/20/2010 6:14:42 PM To be blessed is to be happy. Happy is just fine with me. Keep in mind... Created by RL Thomson in 11/19/2010 11:00:16 AM The purpose of the CEB "...is to make the Bible accessible to a broad range of people; it’s written at a comfortable level for over half of all English readers." One can deduce from this that its target audience is not the scholar or theologian, but the lay person who probably couldn't give you a clear definition of "blessed", much less of "unpacked". I think the reference to Marcionism, while amusing, is out of place. It is impossible to not note that Christianity is currently fractured more than safety glass after a car crash. The highly unlikely return of Marcionism (its own doctrine making it unsustainable) or generation of a new heresy to the scene is hardly more threatening than the unstoppable outbreak of prosperity gospel churches or the growing number of congregations that preach Christian feel-goodery with little to no doctrine. Perhaps a translation geared to those prone to be made victims of these unfortunate trends (i.e. those who are literate but not necessarily well educated) can help reverse the situation by making the scriptures more accessible in a meaningful way to a larger audience. It is possible the CEB will fit this bill. KJV Lovers Created by Seminarian Micah Schmidt in 11/19/2010 10:04:20 AM While the KJV lovers may frown, the very first New Testament in English from the original Greek was made by William Tyndale around a century before the KJV. Guess what word he used for 'makarios?' That's right: 'happy.' Furthermore, I am a huge fan of this word choice. The idea is not that if you do a, b, and c you'll get blessed in return. 'Blessed' may be easier to unpack, but it's also more dangerous if misunderstood. Kudos to the CEB. Disappointed in "happy" Created by Mike Poteet in 11/18/2010 8:12:20 PM I agree with Larry. "Happy" may be a perfectly legitimate translation, but it requires so much more unpacking than "blessed" because our culture understands "happy" purely in subjective terms. There remains an objective status to "blessed," which is why I prefer it as a translation for "markarios." Yes, happiness is something God wants for us and gives us -- but on God's terms, not ours. "Happy" is a weak word in our culture, and a stronger one should have been used. I will say, to Kathryn, in the CEB's defense -- there is a long tradition of publishing the New Testament first in order to get a new translation before the reading public. Both the RSV and the Today's English followed this route, for starters. Happy vs. Blessed Created by Larry Kelso in 11/18/2010 4:35:03 PM Perhaps some of the objection comes, not from a fear of cultural capitulation, but from a fear of the culture misunderstanding. No matter what the Greek says, when you use the word "happy" in 2010 USA, people receive the message of personal wishes filled, not heavenly blessing. why only a New Testament Created by Paul Franklyn in 10/28/2010 1:18:04 PM We thought about the charge of Marcionism when issuing the New Testament first. Marcion of course wanted even less (the letters of Paul and part of Luke). Our intent is of course to provide samples of the emerging translation and get feedback before we release the full Bible in 2011. As for contractions, we certainly think this helps make the reading more accessible, when used in moderation. Associate Priest, St. Johns Episcopal Church, New Haven, CT Created by The Rev Kathryn Greene-McCreight, PhD in 10/28/2010 9:51:08 AM I do not know if my comments belong here or elsewhere. I have no problem with most of Paul's defenses of CEB. However, I cringe at the use of contractions and split infinitives, now seemingly acceptable even in the published work of layfolk, scholars, and CEB. Also, I see absolutely no reason, other than simply the ease of carrying CEB in a purse or briefcase, to publish the New Testament without the Old Testament preceding it. This encourages not only poor English, but more importantly theological error (e.g. a renewed Marcionism) and biblical illiteracy, both of which are so pervasive in the "mainline" denominations. I am heartened, therefore, to see that a full Bible including the Apocrypha will be available in the CEB in October 2011. Happy vs. blessed Created by Cory Howell in 10/4/2010 9:50:05 AM Ah, I was wondering when this topic was going to come up. While I agree with those who say that the term "happy" has often been distorted by our modern culture, I also think Paul is absolutely correct in pointing out that translating "makarios" as happy is not an innovation. No one seems to have any problem with the term "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence, but I think the founding fathers of the USA had a very different idea of what happiness is, compared to the marketers on Fifth Avenue! I think the bottom line is that "happy" in this passage is a choice that will not sit well with everyone, but it is far from being some sort of capitulation to secular culture, as some will no doubt think. Your Name Title Comment New Comment Enter the code