Words · Greek Words · Lesson 2, word 2 of 5
χάριςcharis
Grace: favour freely given, and the thanks it wakes.
Why this word is here. The word of Ephesians 2:8 and of every letter opening ('Grace to you'); Thayer's entry shows a wider and more human range than the slogan.
What it means
Thayer's entry, read first-hand: first, 'that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech' (Luke 4:22; Colossians 4:6). Then, subjectively, 'good-will, loving-kindness, favour', especially in the New Testament of the divine favour, 'the kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved', with Romans 11:6 as the proof: if it is by grace, it is no longer by works. Then, on the receiver's side, a sense of favour received: thanks, gratitude (Romans 6:17). And, of the effect: a state of grace, and concrete gifts that grace gives.
Abbott-Smith agrees and adds the oppositions: charis stands opposite to debt (Romans 4:4, 16) and to works (Romans 11:6). In the Greek Old Testament it chiefly renders hen, favour.
Where you meet it
All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
Luke 4:22 (BSB)
At Nazareth the crowd marvels 'at the gracious words (words of charis) that came from His lips'. Charis as the loveliness of speech, before any doctrine of grace is stated.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 1:7 (BSB)
Anchor verse 'In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (charis).'
And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:6 (BSB)
'And if it is by grace (charis), then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.' The definition by exclusion, in an argument.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52 (BSB)
'Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour (charis) with God and man.' Charis as favour enjoyed, echoing 1 Samuel 2:26.
Why it matters
Charis is the New Testament's load-bearing word for how God treats sinners: favour that is free because it is his to give, rich because he is who he is, and effective because it actually delivers people. The greetings of the letters ('grace to you and peace') put this word at the door of nearly every New Testament book.
Watch out
The slogan 'grace means unmerited favour' is a good summary of the central Pauline sense, and Thayer supports it, but preached as the word's total definition it becomes an over-claim: charis is also gracious speech (Luke 4:22) and plain thanks (Romans 6:17, 'thanks be to God'). Acronym definitions ('God's Riches At Christ's Expense') are memory aids invented later, not lexicon entries, and an honest word study says so. The centre holds: in Paul, grace is God's free, undeserved, effective favour, proved from his arguments, not from word magic.
In this lesson
- euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον): Good news, the gospel of the kingdom and of Christ.
- doxa (δόξα): Glory, honour, splendour, the translation of kavod.
- sarx (σάρξ): Flesh: the body, human nature, or life organised against God.
- pneuma (πνεῦμα): Wind, breath, spirit, above all, the Holy Spirit.
Sources
- Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (1889)
- STEP Bible lexicon data (Abbott-Smith)
- SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.