RR Gracious Greetings  Introduction By David Harwood

Shabbat Shalom,

Charis is found over 120 times in the New Covenant Scriptures. I am not going to go through all of them. I believe we have laid a sufficient foundation of identifying charis with chen. In case you forgot, charis is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word, chen, which means favor. Upon that foundation we’re going to explore charis in selected passages and topics.

Let’s begin with the Apostles’ salutations.

Here’s the first greeting we find:

To all those in Rome, loved by God, called to be kedoshim: Grace (charis/favor) to you and shalom (eirēnē) from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah! (Romans 1:7)

The rest of the sixteen greetings are similar to this. In fact, each of the sixteen times charis (grace/favor) is mentioned in the beginning of a letter it is accompanied with peace (eirēnē).

I was taught that the Greek, eirēnē (pronounced ayRAYnay), focuses solely upon a “spiritual” peace, the peace of one’s soul, whereas shalom was holistic and embraced every area of life. This is true: the type of peace shalom indicates is wellbeing in every arena of life.

However, since the material realm was devalued in Greco-Roman spirituality, it was only natural that the greeting of “eirēnē” would be misinterpreted so as to not encompass relationships, health, provision, etc. After all, such things aren’t necessary to the tranquility of one’s “immaterial” soul.

Also, the peace Yeshua gives is not as the world gives, and disciples had peace even when they were imprisoned. Surely there is a uniquely spiritual sense of peace that is not dependent upon one’s circumstances. These realities have caused the concept of peace to be truncated to fit a Greco-Roman, stoically influenced, version of New Covenant faith, i.e. the only important peace for the disciple of Yeshua is the peace one’s soul enjoys in its relationship to God.

But that’s not all it is and this is taking aspects of truth too far, distorting the meaning of peace (shalom/eirēnē).

I looked up the Greek translation of shalom in the Septuagint. As I read, I saw that the translators did not differentiate between shalom and eirēnē. Contrary to those who distinguish between them, the Jewish sages who translated the text equated shalom with eirēnē. That puts a different spin on the way the greetings in the Messianic Writings should be appreciated.

Oh, and by the way, to regain our focus, every time grace is mentioned in the greetings and farewells of these writings, the Greek is charis. Since charis means chen/favor, it may be an interesting exercise to consider translating charis as favor, as well as rendering eirēnē as shalom. The Tree of Life Version employs shalom as the word for peace/eirēnē. So, for me, we’re half-way there. What’s the other half? Translating grace as favor.

Those who are the recipients of God’s favor (charis) receive the benefit of His favor: shalom, which indicates holistic-well-being. Since we live in a hostile cosmos God’s favor is necessary for every aspect of shalom we experience. Father’s desire is for a holistic shalom to be manifest in our lives.

These greetings were the overflow of the revelation of God’s heart through those who knew Yeshua best. “Grace/favor and shalom” was not merely an apostolic adaptation of formal greetings found in Greco-Roman letters. Favor and shalom was a blessing. It was written in faith with the hope (anticipation) that those receiving their greeting would, in fact, experience it. This greeting was not a well-meaning wish; it was a blessing that was motivated by love for the letter’s recipients.

The Messiah’s disciples believed in the efficacy of blessing people.

Consider John’s greeting in his second letter.

Grace (chen/favor), mercy (chesed/eleos), and shalom (shall) be with us, from God the Father and from Messiah Yeshua, the Father’s Son, in truth (faithfulness) and love! (2 John 3)

What a beautiful, faith-filled greeting.

What does the fulfillment of that look like?  

Consider his prayer found in 3 John.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)

That’s a prayer for favor (charis) and shalom.

Let’s join John in that expectation.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat16-Aug 2025 22nd of Av, 5785 Parashat Eikev
De 11:22-25Isa 49:14-51:3Jas 5:7-11