Kecharitomene: Luke 1:28

[JC33andDivine]

Kecharitomene..What exactly does it mean and is it a different term used for Stephen in the book of acts when it states that he was full of grace?

Acts 6:8 (New International Version)

Stephen Seized
8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people

Luke 1:28 (Amplified Bible)
28And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [[a]endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! [b]Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

[John Reece]

The word in question in Luke 1:28 — κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitōmenē) — is an inflection of the verb χαριτόω (charitoō), which BDAG defines as 'to cause to be the recipient of a benefit, bestow favor on, favor highly, bless, in our literature only with reference to the divine χάρις (charis)'.

The word in question in Acts 1:8 — χάριτος (charitos) — is an inflection of the noun χάρις (charis), with regard to which in this context C. K. Barrett (ICC, 2004) says 'χάρις (cf. 4:33) is a general term, the favour of God expressed in an abundance of gifts'.

[JC33andDivine]

The word in question in Luke 1:28 — κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitōmenē) — is an inflection of the verb χαριτόω (charitoō), which BDAG defines as 'to cause to be the recipient of a benefit, bestow favor on, favor highly, bless, in our literature only with reference to the divine χάρις (charis)'.

The word in question in Acts 1:8 — χάριτος (charitos) — is an inflection of the noun χάρις (charis), with regard to which in this context C. K. Barrett (ICC, 2004) says 'χάρις (cf. 4:33) is a general term, the favour of God expressed in an abundance of gifts'.

Hi John.

So does kecharitōmenē mean always present and forever and the other term, χάριτος, mean just at this moment?

[RBerman]

Sounds like the word in Luke is an intensive form of the word in Acts. "Very blessed" or "very gifted" instead of just plain "blessed" or "gifted."

[John Reece]

So does kecharitōmenē mean always present and forever[?]

In the context of Luke 1:28, I. Howard Marshall (NIGTC, 1978) says "The participle indicates that Mary has been specially favored by God in that he has already chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah (1:30)."

Mary's having been thus favored by God happened prior to the occasion of the greeting recorded in Luke; she remained so favored at the time of the greeting, and presumably remains so favored forever.

and [does] the other term, χάριτος, mean just at this moment?

The term χάριτος is a genitive inflection of χάρις (charis), which is a noun; so, in and of itself, there is no reference to time.

In the context of Acts 6:8 the term is part of a phrase, πλήρης χάριτος 'full of grace', which likewise has no verbal component; so, there is no inherent reference to time in the phrase.

With regard to this occurrence of χάρις (charis), F. F. Bruce — in The Acts of the Apostles: Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary (Eerdmans, 1990) — says 'Here χάρις may have its earlier sense of "charm," i.e., spiritual charm (cf. 4:33; Lk. 4:22)'.

[JC33andDivine]

Thanks a bunch. You have been a big help.

In the context of Luke 1:28, I. Howard Marshall (NIGTC, 1978) says "The participle indicates that Mary has been specially favored by God in that he has already chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah (1:30)."

Mary's having been thus favored by God happened prior to the occasion of the greeting recorded in Luke; she remained so favored at the time of the greeting, and presumably remains so favored forever.

The term χάριτος is a genitive inflection of χάρις (charis), which is a noun; so, in and of itself, there is no reference to time.

In the context of Acts 6:8 the term is part of a phrase, πλήρης χάριτος 'full of grace', which likewise has no verbal component; so, there is no inherent reference to time in the phrase.

With regard to this occurrence of χάρις (charis), F. F. Bruce — in The Acts of the Apostles: Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary (Eerdmans, 1990) — says 'Here χάρις may have its earlier sense of "charm," i.e., spiritual charm (cf. 4:33; Lk. 4:22)'.