UNFOLDED · CHÁRIS

One Greek word that turns grace into daily fuel

Author

christopher Drei
June 09, 2025

In partnership with

Today’s Menu 🍞

  • Word Brief – what cháris really means

  • Verse Spotlight – 3 key passages

  • Why It Matters – everyday impact

  • 60‑Second Practice – live it today

Read Time: 3 Minutes

1 · Word Snapshot 🎯

Cháris (χάρις) (KHAH‑rees) is the Greek noun for grace, favour, gift—a goodness you didn’t earn that also empowers you to live differently.

Root verb: χαρίζομαι / charízomai “to show favour, freely give.”
Literally: a generous current of kindness that carries strength with it.

Appears in the Greek New Testament (NT) about 156 times (NA‑28 text).

In classical Greek it meant charm or goodwill between friends. NT writers filled it with fresh depth: grace both forgives and enables (1 Cor 15:10).

In plain English: cháris is God doing for you—and in you—what you could never pull off alone.

2 · Verse Spotlight 📖

“By grace (chariti) you have been saved through faith…” — Ephesians 2:8

“My grace (charis) is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Cor 12:9

“The grace (charis) of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all…” — Titus 2:11

All three show cháris as gift → power—it pardons and propels.

Pro tip: when you read grace in English, ask “Is this pardon, power, or both?” The NT usually means both.

3 · Why It Matters Today ✨

  • Quit the treadmill – grace starts where earning stops.

  • Plug into power – God’s strength flows in your weakness, not your perfect shine.

  • Pass it on – you can treat others with the same unearned favour you received.

These three shifts turn dry doctrine into daily fuel.

4 · 60‑Second Practice ⏱️

1. Spot the striving.
Name one area where you’re trying to “deserve” approval—work, prayer, parenting.

2. Pray the promise.
Whisper 2 Cor 12:9: “Your grace is enough; your power works in my weakness.”

3. Give a grace‑act.
Offer a small, undeserved kindness today—cover a task, forgive a slip, write a thank‑you note.

Grace isn’t grace until it moves.

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