What Does Grace Mean in the Bible?

Grace, in the Bible, is God’s favor given freely. The New Testament word in Ephesians 2:8Ephesians 2:8 · King James VersionFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Ephesians 2:8 · King James VersionOpen source is χάρις, charis. That verse says people are saved by grace through faith, and that this is the gift of God, not of works.

Key Points

• Ephesians 2:8–9Ephesians 2:8–9 · King James Version^2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ^2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.Ephesians 2:8–9 · King James VersionOpen source says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
• The word page for charis (G5485) gives the short gloss “grace, favor, kindness.”
• Romans 11:6Romans 11:6 · King James VersionAnd if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.Romans 11:6 · King James VersionOpen source says that if it is by grace, it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace.
• Romans 3:24Romans 3:24 · King James VersionBeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Romans 3:24 · King James VersionOpen source says people are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
• John 1:14John 1:14 · King James VersionAnd the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.John 1:14 · King James VersionOpen source says the Word became flesh, full of grace and truth. Verse 17 says the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
• Genesis 6:8Genesis 6:8 · King James VersionBut Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.Genesis 6:8 · King James VersionOpen source says Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The Hebrew word is חֵן, chen, and the word page glosses it “favour.”
• 2 Nephi 25:232 Nephi 25:23 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgFor we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.2 Nephi 25:23 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen source says “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” That is Latter-day Saint scripture. (9)

What Does Grace Mean in the Bible?

Ephesians 2:8–9 is the sentence people quote. (1)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9 · King James Version

Romans 3:24Romans 3:24 · King James VersionBeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Romans 3:24 · King James VersionOpen source says justified freely by his grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Titus 2:11Titus 2:11 · King James VersionFor the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,Titus 2:11 · King James VersionOpen source says the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. What does the Bible say about salvation? stays with those verses. This page is the word itself.

What Is the Greek Word Charis?

Charis (G5485) is the lemma behind “grace” in Ephesians 2:8. The site’s word page, from the Dodson lexicon, gives the short gloss “grace, favor, kindness.” The page does not add a gloss of its own. Romans 11:6Romans 11:6 · King James VersionAnd if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.Romans 11:6 · King James VersionOpen source draws the line the word is used for: if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. (2)

John 1:14–17John 1:14–17 · King James Version^1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ^1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. ^1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. ^1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.John 1:14–17 · King James VersionOpen source says the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, and that of his fulness we have received, and grace for grace. Verse 17 sets Moses’ law beside grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ. The deity of Christ is who that Word is. 2 Corinthians 12:92 Corinthians 12:9 · King James VersionAnd he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2 Corinthians 12:9 · King James VersionOpen source records the word to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

What Does the Hebrew Word Chen Mean?

Genesis 6:8Genesis 6:8 · King James VersionBut Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.Genesis 6:8 · King James VersionOpen source says Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The Hebrew word page for chen (H2580) glosses it “favour.” That is favor shown, not a wage Noah paid. (5)

How Does the Bible Speak About Showing Grace?

Colossians 4:6Colossians 4:6 · King James VersionLet your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.Colossians 4:6 · King James VersionOpen source says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 4:16 · King James VersionLet us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4:16 · King James VersionOpen source says to come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Those verses name speech and a throne. They are the texts. (6) (7)

Do the Churches Agree About Grace and Salvation?

Ephesians 2:8–9 is the shared sentence. Churches that confess the Trinity do not agree about baptism, or about whether a person who believes can fall away. Is baptism necessary for salvation?, once saved, always saved, and what is Calvinism? quote each church’s own text. They do not add a verdict.

Latter-day Saint scripture adds a line the New Testament verses above do not. 2 Nephi 25:232 Nephi 25:23 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgFor we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.2 Nephi 25:23 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen source says it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (9) What Do Mormons Believe? quotes that verse beside the church’s Gospel Topics page on grace. This page does not turn into that article. The Nicene claim stays the gift in Ephesians 2. Jesus is God. The Trinity is that confession.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Grace Mean?

God’s favor, given, not earned. Ephesians 2:8 calls it the gift of God. Romans 11:6 says that if it is of works, grace is no more grace.

What Is the Greek Word?

χάρις, charis, G5485. The word page’s short gloss is “grace, favor, kindness.”

How Does a Person Show Grace?

Colossians 4:6 says speech is to be with grace, seasoned with salt. That is the verse. It is not a set of manners added beside the text.