Some Nuances of Charis By David Harwood
Some Nuances of Charis
By David Harwood
Let’s briefly survey various ways charis is used in the New Covenant Scriptures.
Charis and words with charis at its root are found in different contexts and may have varied shades of meaning. Here are some nuances as to how charis is used in the Apostolic Writings.
Generosity
Charis may describe generosity. Charis can be a gift or an award given to someone who does something that finds favor. In rewarding a person, the award giver is demonstrating charis due to the excellence of what has been done. It is special appreciation.
Gratitude
Along these lines, charis may be used to convey thanks.
An example of charis, as gratitude in everyday life, is found in the saying of “grace” before a meal. When Yeshua gave thanks for seven loaves and some small fish, the Greek word is euCHARISteo. Notice charis in the word? This word also describes Yeshua offering a blessing over the bread and the cup. It is where we get the word euCHARISt from.
Here’s a suggested progression of this use of charis as gratitude: “You have shown me favor in what you have given, and you have found favor with me because you demonstrated favor to me. Thank you.”
Graceful
We’re familiar with the word graceful, or someone acting graciously. Along those lines, another nuance of charis is this: it can describe that which a person finds attractive. Beauty in appearance, action, or speech, may stir favor/charis in the beholder.
Enabling Favor
Charis can mean the favor that enables someone to accomplish a task. We need favor to fulfill our service to the Lord. We need favor to overcome obstacles. This imparted strength is the result of favor the recipient received. As with all manifestations of charis, the receiver of empowering charis has found favor in the eyes of the grace-giver. Enabling favor can also be seen in God’s benevolent providence when circumstances line up to enable favored ones to finish what they started.
Favor that Forgives
This is the most common view of charis. Charis may communicate the manifestation of saving love. Paul wrote, “By charis/grace/favor you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:5b) Yes, God favors and saves.
Mentions of charis in the New Covenant Scriptures begin in Luke. We mentioned four in the prior meditation. Here are the remaining four.
If you love those who love you, what credit (charis) is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are doing good to you, what credit (charis) is that to you? Even sinners do this.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect to take, what credit (charis) is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same. (Luke 6:32–34)
Do we find unusual favor (charis) in God’s sight when we love those who love us? Friends, there’s nothing particularly virtuous about this which would especially provoke charis in the nuance of “special appreciation.”
Here is the remaining reference.
“But if you have a slave who is plowing or tending sheep, who among you will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come right in, and recline at table’? But won’t he instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat! Dress yourself and wait on me while I eat and drink; and afterward, you may eat and drink’?
“He doesn’t thank (charin) the slave because he did what he was commanded, does he? So you too, when you’ve done everything you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves. We have done only what we were supposed to do.’ ” (Luke 17:7–10)
The master doesn’t reward the slave as if he had done something noteworthy. He didn’t say, “I’m especially pleased that you followed my instructions. You’ve really won my charis!” No, the slave only did what he was “supposed to do.”
Charis/favor is found in these examples of communicating special appreciation or gratitude.
Consider what Messiah Yeshua has done for us.
Let’s give thanks (euCHARISteo).
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat12-July 202516th of Tamuz, 5785 Parashat Balak
Nu 24:14-25:9Mic 5:7[6]-6:82 Pe 2
By David Harwood
Let’s briefly survey various ways charis is used in the New Covenant Scriptures.
Charis and words with charis at its root are found in different contexts and may have varied shades of meaning. Here are some nuances as to how charis is used in the Apostolic Writings.
Generosity
Charis may describe generosity. Charis can be a gift or an award given to someone who does something that finds favor. In rewarding a person, the award giver is demonstrating charis due to the excellence of what has been done. It is special appreciation.
Gratitude
Along these lines, charis may be used to convey thanks.
An example of charis, as gratitude in everyday life, is found in the saying of “grace” before a meal. When Yeshua gave thanks for seven loaves and some small fish, the Greek word is euCHARISteo. Notice charis in the word? This word also describes Yeshua offering a blessing over the bread and the cup. It is where we get the word euCHARISt from.
Here’s a suggested progression of this use of charis as gratitude: “You have shown me favor in what you have given, and you have found favor with me because you demonstrated favor to me. Thank you.”
Graceful
We’re familiar with the word graceful, or someone acting graciously. Along those lines, another nuance of charis is this: it can describe that which a person finds attractive. Beauty in appearance, action, or speech, may stir favor/charis in the beholder.
Enabling Favor
Charis can mean the favor that enables someone to accomplish a task. We need favor to fulfill our service to the Lord. We need favor to overcome obstacles. This imparted strength is the result of favor the recipient received. As with all manifestations of charis, the receiver of empowering charis has found favor in the eyes of the grace-giver. Enabling favor can also be seen in God’s benevolent providence when circumstances line up to enable favored ones to finish what they started.
Favor that Forgives
This is the most common view of charis. Charis may communicate the manifestation of saving love. Paul wrote, “By charis/grace/favor you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:5b) Yes, God favors and saves.
Mentions of charis in the New Covenant Scriptures begin in Luke. We mentioned four in the prior meditation. Here are the remaining four.
If you love those who love you, what credit (charis) is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are doing good to you, what credit (charis) is that to you? Even sinners do this.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect to take, what credit (charis) is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same. (Luke 6:32–34)
Do we find unusual favor (charis) in God’s sight when we love those who love us? Friends, there’s nothing particularly virtuous about this which would especially provoke charis in the nuance of “special appreciation.”
Here is the remaining reference.
“But if you have a slave who is plowing or tending sheep, who among you will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come right in, and recline at table’? But won’t he instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat! Dress yourself and wait on me while I eat and drink; and afterward, you may eat and drink’?
“He doesn’t thank (charin) the slave because he did what he was commanded, does he? So you too, when you’ve done everything you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves. We have done only what we were supposed to do.’ ” (Luke 17:7–10)
The master doesn’t reward the slave as if he had done something noteworthy. He didn’t say, “I’m especially pleased that you followed my instructions. You’ve really won my charis!” No, the slave only did what he was “supposed to do.”
Charis/favor is found in these examples of communicating special appreciation or gratitude.
Consider what Messiah Yeshua has done for us.
Let’s give thanks (euCHARISteo).
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat12-July 202516th of Tamuz, 5785 Parashat Balak
Nu 24:14-25:9Mic 5:7[6]-6:82 Pe 2
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