Got Thanks?
Did you know that, in the ancient Greek the New Testament was written in, the word for thanks is the same word for grace?
For example, in “Now thanks be unto God…” (2 Corinthians 2:14), the Greek word for thanks is xaris. The root is xairo, which means “to be full of cheer”. And in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”, the Greek word for grace is once again xaris.
Interesting enough, the same root word xairo is also used for joy. The phrases “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,…” (Luke 2:10), “…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10), “that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11), and “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22) all use xairo as the root word for joy.
Yes, even “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrew 12:2) has the same root word xairo used for joy.
Finally, the root xairo is even used for forgiveness. In the passage “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31), xairo is the root word both times when forgive is used.
Xairo is not always the root word used for forgiveness or for joy or even for thanks. But, as far as I can tell with my very limited knowledge of Greek, it is always the root word used for grace.
This Thanksgiving, when giving thanks to God, don’t forget to thank (xairo) Him for his grace (xairo) towards us, Jesus Christ, (G)od’s (r)iches (a)t (C)hrist’s (e)xpense (GRACE).
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
(Acknowledgement to King James Version Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D. King James Version Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
This text of this book is in the public domain.
Electronic files Copyright © 2015 by Laridian, Inc.)
For example, in “Now thanks be unto God…” (2 Corinthians 2:14), the Greek word for thanks is xaris. The root is xairo, which means “to be full of cheer”. And in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”, the Greek word for grace is once again xaris.
Interesting enough, the same root word xairo is also used for joy. The phrases “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,…” (Luke 2:10), “…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10), “that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11), and “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22) all use xairo as the root word for joy.
Yes, even “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrew 12:2) has the same root word xairo used for joy.
Finally, the root xairo is even used for forgiveness. In the passage “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31), xairo is the root word both times when forgive is used.
Xairo is not always the root word used for forgiveness or for joy or even for thanks. But, as far as I can tell with my very limited knowledge of Greek, it is always the root word used for grace.
This Thanksgiving, when giving thanks to God, don’t forget to thank (xairo) Him for his grace (xairo) towards us, Jesus Christ, (G)od’s (r)iches (a)t (C)hrist’s (e)xpense (GRACE).
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
(Acknowledgement to King James Version Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D. King James Version Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
This text of this book is in the public domain.
Electronic files Copyright © 2015 by Laridian, Inc.)
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