"Unmerited Favor" Is Only Half of Grace: What Charis Meant to Paul's First Readers

Ask almost any Christian to define grace and you will hear the same answer: unmerited favor. It is true, but is it the whole story? In this video we recover the ancient world behind Paul's Greek word charis, a world of gifts, benefactors, gratitude and response, and ask what kind of life a gift like that creates. You will see why Paul's gospel was socially shocking, why it destroys boasting without ending obedience, why Paul can call a fundraising appeal grace, and how Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and Titus fit together once you see the whole word. Scripture referenced: Romans 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 8, 9, 12; Galatians 2, 5; Ephesians 2; Philippians 2; Titus 2. Further reading: John Barclay, Paul and the Gift (Eerdmans, 2015). If this made a familiar word feel bigger, tell me in the comments which passage surprised you most, and subscribe for more words decoded like this. #grace #biblestudy #thescripturecode