In a previous post in this series, we looked at “kai” as a meaning amplifier in Romans 1:7. Here we want to expand on a huge NT teaching embedded further in Rom 1:7, and then trace it’s repetition, use, and significance in the NT, and finally to connect it, only briefly, with an underlying foundational OT concept.
Romans 1:7
Previously we drilled down on Rom 1:7:
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Rom 1:7 (ESV)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our focus before was on all three occurrence of “kai” in this verse and how such usage can open up a deeper understanding of the text.
We touched on the specific connection made by “kai” of two very important NT words: Grace and Peace. We all too easily pass by this verse and parallel introductions to all of Epistles as simple addressing of an ‘envelope’ (the word “epistle” means “letter” or more accurately a writing of a particular communication). We don’t lend to example such texts for particular doctrinal significance. Doing so is a big mistake, as I will here attempt to show.
Grace
As a standalone word, “Grace” is central to the Gospel (literally “Good New”), the message of the NT, the Character of God, the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, the Ongoing Work of The Holy Spirit.
Overview of the Occurrences of “Grace” in the NT
Numbers do not always tell the story of significance, but here it does. “Grace” (in the ESV translation) occurs 118x in the NT, from John 1:14 to Rev 22:21, with Eph 2:8-9 being just one notable exemplar:
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Rev 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
All veres cited are from ESV.
Overview of the Meaning of “Grace” in the NT
Likely more than one thousand books have been written on even just the keyword “Grace,” and thousand times a thousand on the full implications of the word. It is likely we will spend all of Eternity at the foot of the Lord leaning ever more deeply its full significance. But as a start, the deeper we know the Holiness of God, our sin / sins / sin-nature and utter natural impotency (we were “dead in our trespasses and sin”), the greater our appreciation of, and desire to understand more of, God’s “Grace.”
Below is an excerpt for “Grace” from a Koine-English lexicon.
Strong’s G5485. χάρις cháris; gen. cháritos, fem. noun from chaírō (G5463), to rejoice. Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. Cháris stands in direct antithesis to érga (G2041), works, the two being mutually exclusive. God’s grace affects man’s sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8, 9).
Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers. (Highlights mine; the reference to “Strong’s G” is to the identification of a traditional index of Koine NT words, particularly helpful to non-Koine readers).
Separately, I have collected the expanded definition briefed above with definitions from other lexicons. This is available on this site: Lexical Definitions of the NT Word “Grace”
“Grace” as the Root of Related NT Words
As is common in Koine, any given lemma, such as the above shows for “Grace” (namely Strong’s G5485. χάρις cháris) such word is additionally a component of multiple related words. This is particularly the case for cháris). Such additional words are shown in the image below.