"a free favor, free gift, Rom. 5:15, 16; 6:23; 2 Cor. 1:11; benefit, Rom. 1:11; a divinely conferred endowment, 1 Cor. 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31"
Definition and meaning
a free favor, free gift, Rom. 5:15, 16; 6:23; 2 Cor. 1:11; benefit, Rom. 1:11; a divinely conferred endowment, 1 Cor. 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31
In the original Greek the word is written: χάρισμα
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of charisma (G5486) across the King James Bible.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
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Common questions
Strong's G5486 (charisma) is a Greek word that means: a free favor, free gift, Rom. 5:15, 16; 6:23; 2 Cor. 1:11; benefit, Rom. 1:11; a divinely conferred endowment, 1 Cor. 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31 It appears 17 times in the King James Bible.
The word charisma (G5486) appears 17 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5486 is charisma, a Greek word defined as: a free favor, free gift, Rom. 5:15, 16; 6:23; 2 Cor. 1:11; benefit, Rom. 1:11; a divinely conferred endowment, 1 Cor. 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
charisma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.