Spiritual Gifts: χάρισμα (Strong’s G5486: charisma) Empowers Kingdom Service

Strong’s G5486: A divine endowment or supernatural gift freely bestowed by God’s grace (charis) for the edification of the Church and advancement of His kingdom. Derived from χαρίζομαι, it emphasizes the gracious nature of the gift and its source in God’s unmerited favor.

U – Unveiling the Word

The word χάρισμα embodies the concept of a divine gift or special ability graciously bestowed by God. This term powerfully connects to God’s grace (χάρις) and emphasizes that these abilities are freely given, not earned or deserved. In the New Testament, χάρισμα frequently appears in contexts discussing spiritual gifts given to believers for building up the Body of Messiah. The early church understood these gifts as concrete manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s work, enabling believers to serve one another and advance God’s kingdom. Today, χάρισμα remains central to understanding how God equips His people for ministry, reminding us that all spiritual abilities are expressions of His grace rather than human achievement.

Save with code – FOG20

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χάρισμα, charisma, /khárisma/
• Pronunciation: khä’-rē-smä (stress on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• χάρις (charis) – root meaning “grace, favor”
• -μα (ma) – suffix forming concrete nouns from verbs, indicating result of action
  The combination creates a word meaning “the result/product of grace”

D – Defining Meanings

• A gift of grace
• A divinely conferred endowment
• A supernatural ability for ministry
• A concrete manifestation of divine favor

For compound words:
The root χάρις conveys divine grace or favor, while the -μα suffix transforms this into a concrete noun representing the result or product of that grace.

Translation Options:

• “Spiritual gift” – emphasizes the supernatural nature
• “Grace gift” – highlights its connection to divine grace
• “Divine endowment” – stresses its origin in God

E – Exploring Similar Words

• δῶρον (doron, /dō’-ron/) – general gift or present See G1435
• δωρεά (dorea, /dō-re-ä’/) – free gift, emphasizing its gratuitous nature See G1431
• χάρις (charis, /khä’-rēs/) – grace, the source of charisma See G5485

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular (χάρισμα) and Plural (χαρίσματα)
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: 3rd

The word follows regular neuter noun patterns. In English, we might compare this to how “gift” becomes “gifts” in plural, though Greek adds case endings:

• Nominative/Accusative: χάρισμα (singular), χαρίσματα (plural)
• Genitive: χαρίσματος (singular), χαρισμάτων (plural)
• Dative: χαρίσματι (singular), χαρίσμασι(ν) (plural)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

χάρισμα represents a specialized theological term in the New Testament that builds on classical Greek understanding of divine favor. BDAG emphasizes its connection to divine grace and its function in the early church. Thayer’s highlights its usage as a concrete manifestation of divine benevolence. LSJ notes its development from secular usage to specifically Christian contexts. Vine’s emphasizes the gratuitous nature of the gift, while Strong’s connects it to divine grace. Moulton and Milligan provide papyri evidence showing its transition from general benefaction to specifically divine gifts. The lexicons consistently emphasize that χάρισμα represents not just any gift, but one specifically given by divine grace for spiritual purposes.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Romans 1:11: “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift [χάρισμα], to the end ye may be established.”

Additional References:
Romans 5:15, Romans 6:23, Romans 11:29, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4, 2 Corinthians 1:11, 1 Timothy 4:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χάρισμα beautifully illustrates God’s gracious provision for His church through spiritual gifts. This word reminds us that every ability we possess for ministry comes from His grace, not our merit. It proclaims the good news that God not only saves us through His grace but also equips us to serve in His kingdom. The presence of χαρίσματα in the church demonstrates God’s ongoing work through His Spirit, empowering believers to build up the Body of Messiah and advance His kingdom purposes. This profound truth encourages believers to humbly receive and faithfully exercise their spiritual gifts for God’s glory.

D – Did You Know?

1. χάρισμα entered modern English as “charisma,” though its meaning has shifted from its biblical usage.
2. Paul uses χάρισμα more than any other New Testament writer.
3. The plural form χαρίσματα appears primarily in contexts discussing diverse spiritual gifts in the church.

Strong’s G5486: A divine endowment or supernatural gift freely bestowed by God’s grace (charis) for the edification of the Church and advancement of His kingdom. Derived from χαρίζομαι, it emphasizes the gracious nature of the gift and its source in God’s unmerited favor.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: spiritual gifts, grace, divine endowment, ministry, Holy Spirit, church, supernatural abilities, divine favor, spiritual empowerment, service​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​