How did the Greek “charis” come to imply “favor?”

Question

Luke 2:52 (ESV) states that "Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." The word "favor" in this passage is translated from the Greek word "charis" (Strong's G5485), which the Strong's defines as "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act."

In my modern, American, English-speaking context, I don't see a straight-forward connection between graciousness and favor, specifically not the kind of favor implied by the common usage of "charisma" (i.e. I don't assume a person who has charisma will necessarily be gracious).

How were "graciousness" and "favor" associated in the ancient Greek context? How is it that the Greek word for "graciousness" also carried a connotation of "favor?"

Answer 1

You might be interested in Moral Transformation, page 166ff, in which Wallace and Rusk argue that "charis" did not have the technical sense many now give it, but always meant "favor" in a reciprocity system, or "favorable" as we would understand it, and that most of the passages in which we see "charis" used in a technical sense, it is referring to the favor that God did for us when he sent his son. They cite Malina and Harrison, among others--might be worth reading their sources.

In other words, perhaps it meant "favor" and has come to imply "charisma" instead of the other way around.

Answer 2

There's no doubt that the word is primarily translated as "grace" (130 times in the King James version). However, there are a few times (6 in total) that this word is translated as "favor".

Luke 1:30, Acts 2:47, Acts 7:10, Acts 7:46, and Acts 25:3 are the other five places (beyond the passage in question).

If you look at all six passages, the idea used is having found "grace" with someone, "grace" for someone, or "grace" towards someone.

The idea is always grace in motion.

If we look at the English definition of "favor" it might help make this translation clearer:

Merriam Webster: favor

1. (1): a friendly regard shown toward another especially by a superior (2): an approving consideration or attention
2. archaic appearance
3. a : gracious kindness; also : an act of such kindness

The first definition shows that "favor" is a regard shown toward another. This is the same type of concept shown in the six passages above. Furthermore, the third definition shows that the idea of favor is connected with grace: "gracious kindness".

This link between "favor" and "grace" can also be seen in that second definition of "grace" is "approval, favor".

Summary

Ultimately, "finding grace with God and man" and "finding favor with God and man" are the same. If someone offers you grace, then they favor you. If someone finds favor with you, they will offer you grace. These two concepts are inextricably linked, to the point of being able to translate between the two.