Bible Dictionaries
Grace

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

has various uses, (a) objective, that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard; it is applied, e.g., to beauty, or gracefulness of person, Luke 2:40; act, 2 Corinthians 8:6 , or speech, Luke 4:22 , RV, "words of grace" (AV, "gracious words"); Colossians 4:6; (b) subjective, (1) on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally, e.g., Acts 7:10; especially with reference to the Divine favor or "grace," e.g., Acts 14:26; in this respect there is stress on its freeness and universality, its spontaneous character, as in the case of God's redemptive mercy, and the pleasure or joy He designs for the recipient; thus it is set in contrast with debt, Romans 4:4,16 , with works, Romans 11:6 , and with law, John 1:17; see also, e.g., Romans 6:14,15; Galatians 5:4; (2) on the part of the receiver, a sense of the favor bestowed, a feeling of gratitude, e.g., Romans 6:17 ("thanks"); in this respect it sometimes signifies "to be thankful," e.g., Luke 17:9 ("doth he thank the servant?" lit., "hath he thanks to"); 1 Timothy 1:12; (c) in another objective sense, the effect of "grace," the spiritual state of those who have experienced its exercise, whether (1) a state of "grace," e.g., Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 5:12; 2 Peter 3:18 , or (2) a proof thereof in practical effects, deeds of "grace," e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:3 , RV, "bounty" (AV, "liberality"); 2 Corinthians 8:6,19 (in 2 Corinthians 9:8 it means the sum of earthly blessings); the power and equipment for ministry, e.g., Romans 1:5; 12:6; 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2,7 .

To be in favor with is to find "grace" with, e.g., Acts 2:47; hence it appears in this sense at the beginning and the end of several Epistles, where the writer desires "grace" from God for the readers, e.g., Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; in this respect it is connected with the imperative mood of the word chairo, "to rejoice," a mode of greeting among Greeks, e.g., Acts 15:23; James 1:1 (marg.); 2 John 1:10,11 , RV, "greeting" (AV, "God speed").

The fact that "grace" is received both from God the Father, 2 Corinthians 1:12 , and from Christ, Galatians 1:6; Romans 5:15 (where both are mentioned), is a testimony to the deity of Christ. See also 2 Thessalonians 1:12 , where the phrase "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" is to be taken with each of the preceding clauses, "in you," "and ye in Him."

In James 4:6 , "But He giveth more grace" (Greek, "a greater grace," RV, marg.), the statement is to be taken in connection with the preceding verse, which contains two remonstrating, rhetorical questions, "Think ye that the Scripture speaketh in vain?" and "Doth the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) which He made to dwell in us long unto envying?" (see the RV). The implied answer to each is "it cannot be so." Accordingly, if those who are acting so flagrantly, as if it were so, will listen to the Scripture instead of letting it speak in vain, and will act so that the Holy Spirit may have His way within, God will give even "a greater grace," namely, all that follows from humbleness and from turning away from the world. See BENEFIT , BOUNTY , LIBERALITY , THANK.

Note: The corresponding verb charitoo, "to endue with Divine favor or grace," is used in Luke 1:28 , "highly favored" (marg., "endued with grace") and Ephesians 1:6 , AV, "hath made ... accepted;" RV, "freely bestowed" (marg., "enduced.").

"comeliness, goodly appearance," is said of the outward appearance of the flower of the grass, James 1:11 .