Divine Grace Unfolded: χάρις (Strong’s G5485: charis) Reveals God’s Radical Love

χάρις

Pronounced: AL-fuh

Strong’s G5485: From root char-, meaning “to rejoice.” Signifies favor, grace, kindness, or gift. In NT theology, represents God’s unmerited favor and transformative power in salvation through Jesus the Messiah. Central concept in Christian soteriology.

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U – Unveiling this Word

χάρις represents one of the most theologically rich concepts in the New Testament. This word embodies God’s unmerited favor, divine enabling power, and the totality of His generous disposition toward humanity. In classical Greek, it carried connotations of beauty, charm, and gracious giving. However, in New Testament usage, it took on deeper theological significance as the cornerstone of God’s redemptive work. The early church fathers extensively developed the concept of χάρις as the foundation of salvation, emphasizing both its gratuitous nature and transformative power. Today, this word continues to illuminate our understanding of God’s character and His radical approach to human redemption – freely giving what we could never earn.

N – Necessary Information

  • Greek Word: χάρις, charis, /ˈkʰaris/
  • Detailed pronunciation: KHA-ris (aspirated ‘k’ sound, followed by short ‘a’, rolled ‘r’, short ‘i’, final ‘s’)
  • Part of Speech: Feminine Noun

Etymology:

  • Root: χαρ- (char-) meaning “to rejoice” or “be favorable”
  • Suffix: -ις (-is) feminine noun formation
  • Related to χαίρω (chairō), meaning “to rejoice”

D – Defining Meanings

  • Unmerited divine favor
  • Gift or blessing
  • Beauty or attractiveness
  • Gratitude or thanks
  • Enabling power

Translation Options:

  • Grace – Best captures both divine favor and enabling power
  • Favor – Emphasizes the bestowing aspect but misses transformative power
  • Gift – Highlights the freely given nature but may miss ongoing aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

  • ἔλεος (eleos) /ˈeleos/ – mercy, focusing more on compassion for the suffering – See G1656
  • εὐχαριστία (eucharistia) /eukhariˈstia/ – thankfulness, derived from χάρις – See G2169
  • χάρισμα (charisma) /ˈkharisma/ – gift of grace, specific manifestation of χάρις – See G5486

R – Reviewing Morphology

  • Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
  • Number: Singular, Plural (χάριτες)
  • Gender: Feminine
  • Declension: 3rd declension

The word follows regular third declension patterns:

Nom: χάρις
Gen: χάριτος
Dat: χάριτι
Acc: χάριν

Cross-references:

  • Verbal form: χαρίζομαι (to show favor)
  • Adjective form: χαριτόω (to bestow grace)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide rich insight into χάρις. BDAG emphasizes its development from classical Greek’s “that which brings delight” to the NT’s “favor freely given” and “power that enables.” Thayer’s highlights the progression from classical beauty to divine favor. LSJ documents extensive secular usage meaning charm or favor. Vine’s emphasizes the word’s centrality to New Testament theology. Strong’s connects it to the joy-producing root. LEH notes Septuagint usage bridging classical and NT meanings. Moulton and Milligan provide papyri examples showing its use in patronage relationships, illuminating NT usage describing God’s relationship with believers.

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T – Tracing Related Scriptures

First appearance:
And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor [χάρις] with God.” Luke 1:30

Additional References:
John 1:14, Acts 4:33, Romans 3:24, Romans 5:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 4:16

A– Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: WorkText
Homer: Odyssey“She poured abundant grace [χάρις] upon his head and shoulders”
Plato: Republic“Justice brings forth grace [χάρις] and harmony in the soul”
Sophocles: Ajax“The gods bestow their favor [χάρις] on those who show reverence”

N – Noteworthy Summary

χάρις stands as a testament to God’s radical love and transformative power in human lives. This word encapsulates the very heart of the gospel – that salvation comes not through human effort but through God’s freely given favor. The concept revolutionizes our understanding of divine-human relationships, showing that God’s love isn’t earned but freely given. This truth liberates us from performance-based religion and invites us into a relationship of grateful response to His overwhelming generosity. The good news is that through χάρις, King Jesus has made a way for all to experience God’s boundless love and enabling power.

D – Did You Know?

  1. χάρις appears 155 times in the New Testament, making it one of the most theologically significant terms.
  2. The common greeting “Grace to you” (χάρις ὑμῖν) opens most Pauline epistles, establishing grace as fundamental to Christian life.
  3. The English word “charisma” derives from χάρις, referring to a special gift or attractive quality.

Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations independently. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.

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