5486. charisma
Lexical Summary
charisma: Gift, grace-gift, spiritual gift

Original Word: χάρισμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: charisma
Pronunciation: khar'-is-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (khar'-is-mah)
KJV: (free) gift
NASB: gifts, gift, free gift, favor, spiritual gift
Word Origin: [from G5483 (χαρίζομαι - forgiven)]

1. a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion)
2. (specially), a (spiritual) endowment
3. (subjectively) religious qualification
4. (objectively) miraculous faculty

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
free gift.

From charizomai; a (divine) gratuity, i.e. Deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty -- (free) gift.

see GREEK charizomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5486 xárisma (from "grace," 5485 /xáris) – properly, the operation of grace (divine favor), i.e. a grace-endowment to edify the Church (note the -ma suffix, focusing on the end-result of the endowment of grace).

5486 /xárisma ("grace-gift") divinely empowers a believer to share God's work with others, i.e. Spirit-empowered service to the Church to carry out His plan for His people.

[5486 /xárisma (but not limited to) "spiritual gifts." xarismata (the plural form) literally means "grace-endowments."]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from charizomai
Definition
a gift of grace, a free gift
NASB Translation
favor (1), free gift (3), gift (5), gifts (7), spiritual gift (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5486: χάρισμα

χάρισμα, χαρίσματος, τό (χαρίζομαι), a gift of grace; a favor which one receives without any merit of his own; in the N. T. (where (except 1 Peter 4:10) used only by Paul) the gift of divine grace (so also in Philo de alleg. legg. iii. § 24 at the end δωρεά καί εὐεργεσία καί χάρισμα Θεοῦ τά πάντα ὅσα ἐν κόσμῳ καί αὐτός κόσμος ἐστιν); used of the natural gift of continence, due to the grace of God as creator, 1 Corinthians 7:7; deliverance from great peril to life, τό εἰς ἡμᾶς χάρισμα bestowed upon us, 2 Corinthians 1:11; the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue, Romans 1:11; the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith, Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; plural of the several blessings of the Christian salvation, Romans 11:29; in the technical Pauline sense χαρίσματα (A. V. gifts) denote "extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit" (cf. Cremer in Herzog edition 2 vol. v. 10ff, under the word Geistesgaben): Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 31; 1 Peter 4:10; χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30; specifically, the sum of those powers requisite for the discharge of the office of an evangelist: 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6. ((Of temporal blessings, 'Teaching 1, 5 [ET] (cf. δώρημα in Hermas, mand. 2, 4 [ET])); ecclesiastical writings.)

Topical Lexicon
Essence of the Gift

Strong’s 5486 speaks of a “gracious endowment” freely conferred by God. It never focuses on human merit or attainment but on divine generosity. Whether referring to eternal life itself (Romans 6:23) or to a Spirit-given enablement for service (1 Corinthians 12:4), the term always preserves the thought of something granted without obligation, received in faith, and intended to display the goodness of the Giver.

Salvation as the Foundational Gift

Paul’s earliest references anchor the word in the gospel. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Earlier, Romans 5:15-16 contrasts Adam’s trespass with “the gift” that “resulted in justification.” These occurrences establish a theological baseline: every subsequent charisma functions downstream from the saving gift of God in Christ. Without the redemptive charisma, there can be no spiritual charismata.

Spiritual Gifts Within the Body of Christ

From Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 arises the familiar idea of “spiritual gifts.” They are diverse in expression yet unified in source:

• Motivation gifts (Romans 12:6-8).
• Manifestation gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
• Ministry gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28).

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Variety protects the church from uniformity; unity guards it from division. The body illustration underscores both truths: “the body is one and yet has many parts” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Each charisma is indispensable to corporate health, regardless of perceived prominence.

Distribution and Stewardship

1 Peter 4:10 places stewardship at the center: “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.” Gifts are neither trophies nor private possessions; they are trust-funds for ministry. Neglect (1 Timothy 4:14) or timidity (2 Timothy 1:6) imperils not only the individual believer but also the edification of the whole assembly.

Pastoral Care of Gifts

Paul’s instruction to Timothy—“fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6)—highlights the role of pastoral oversight, affirmation through prophetic recognition (1 Timothy 4:14), and courageous exercise. Romans 1:11 shows apostolic concern that believers be “strengthened” through the impartation of a charisma. The shepherd’s task therefore includes identifying, affirming, and mobilizing gifts within the flock.

Prayer and Providential Gifts

2 Corinthians 1:11 stretches the word beyond personal abilities: Paul calls his deliverance a charisma secured “as you help us by your prayers.” Here intercession becomes a conduit through which God grants tangible favor to His servants. The church’s prayer life, then, participates in the dispensing of God’s gifts.

Irrevocability and Assurance

Romans 11:29 asserts, “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” The context addresses Israel, yet the principle reassures all recipients of divine gifts. God does not repossess what He has bestowed; His unwavering faithfulness undergirds the believer’s confidence and motivates steadfast service.

Charismata in Early Church History

Early Christian writings (e.g., Didache, Shepherd of Hermas) assume the continuation of Spirit-empowered ministries. By the second century, movements such as Montanism raised questions about regulation and authenticity, prompting church leaders to test phenomena by apostolic doctrine. Throughout the centuries, seasons of renewal and dormancy alternated, yet the concept of God equipping His people for mission never disappeared.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Discovery: Engage Scripture, prayer, and community affirmation to recognize one’s gift.
2. Development: “Fan into flame” through training, mentoring, and consistent exercise.
3. Deployment: Aim for edification, evangelism, and the glory of God, not self-promotion.
4. Dependence: Remember every charisma operates “according to the grace given us” (Romans 12:6); fruitfulness relies on continued reliance upon the Giver.

Summary

Strong’s 5486 gathers into one term both the saving deed of God and the empowering deeds of the Spirit. The New Testament portrays gifts as varied, purposeful, stewarded, and permanent in divine intention. Properly understood, charismata call every believer to grateful reception, faithful stewardship, and humble service in the body of Christ until the “revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7).

Forms and Transliterations
χαρισμα χάρισμα χαρισματα χαρίσματα χαρισματι χαρίσματι χαρισματος χαρίσματος χαρισματων χαρισμάτων charisma chárisma charismata charísmata charismati charísmati charismaton charismatōn charismáton charismátōn charismatos charísmatos
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 1:11 N-ANS
GRK: τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν
NAS: spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;
KJV: some spiritual gift, to the end ye
INT: some I might impart gift to you spiritual

Romans 5:15 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ τὸ χάρισμα εἰ γὰρ
NAS: But the free gift is not like
KJV: so also [is] the free gift. For if
INT: also [be] the gift if indeed

Romans 5:16 N-NNS
GRK: τὸ δὲ χάρισμα ἐκ πολλῶν
NAS: but on the other hand the free gift [arose] from many
KJV: but the free gift [is] of
INT: and [the] gift [is] of many

Romans 6:23 N-NNS
GRK: τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: is death, but the free gift of God
KJV: but the gift of God
INT: but [the] gift of God

Romans 11:29 N-NNP
GRK: γὰρ τὰ χαρίσματα καὶ ἡ
NAS: for the gifts and the calling of God
KJV: For the gifts and calling
INT: indeed [are] the gifts and the

Romans 12:6 N-ANP
GRK: Ἔχοντες δὲ χαρίσματα κατὰ τὴν
NAS: Since we have gifts that differ
KJV: Having then gifts differing according
INT: having moreover gifts according to the

1 Corinthians 1:7 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν μηδενὶ χαρίσματι ἀπεκδεχομένους τὴν
NAS: in any gift, awaiting eagerly
KJV: in no gift; waiting for the coming
INT: in not one gift awaiting the

1 Corinthians 7:7 N-ANS
GRK: ἴδιον ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ
NAS: has his own gift from God, one
KJV: hath his proper gift of God,
INT: his own has gift from God

1 Corinthians 12:4 N-GNP
GRK: Διαιρέσεις δὲ χαρισμάτων εἰσίν τὸ
NAS: there are varieties of gifts, but the same
KJV: diversities of gifts, but
INT: varieties moreover of gifts there are

1 Corinthians 12:9 N-NNP
GRK: ἄλλῳ δὲ χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων ἐν
NAS: and to another gifts of healing
KJV: to another the gifts of healing by
INT: to another moreover gifts of healing in

1 Corinthians 12:28 N-ANP
GRK: δυνάμεις ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων ἀντιλήμψεις
NAS: then gifts of healings,
KJV: then gifts of healings,
INT: miracles then gifts of healing helping

1 Corinthians 12:30 N-NNP
GRK: μὴ πάντες χαρίσματα ἔχουσιν ἰαμάτων
NAS: do not have gifts of healings,
KJV: Have all the gifts of healing? do all
INT: not all gifts have of healings

1 Corinthians 12:31 N-ANP
GRK: δὲ τὰ χαρίσματα τὰ μείζονα
NAS: the greater gifts. And I show
KJV: the best gifts: and
INT: however the gifts greater

2 Corinthians 1:11 N-NNS
GRK: εἰς ἡμᾶς χάρισμα διὰ πολλῶν
NAS: on our behalf for the favor bestowed
KJV: that for the gift [bestowed] upon
INT: toward us gift through many

1 Timothy 4:14 N-GNS
GRK: ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος ὃ ἐδόθη
NAS: Do not neglect the spiritual gift within
KJV: Neglect not the gift that is in thee,
INT: in you gift which was given

2 Timothy 1:6 N-ANS
GRK: ἀναζωπυρεῖν τὸ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: you to kindle afresh the gift of God
KJV: that thou stir up the gift of God,
INT: to kindle up the gift of God

1 Peter 4:10 N-ANS
GRK: καθὼς ἔλαβεν χάρισμα εἰς ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving
KJV: hath received the gift, [even so] minister
INT: as he received a gift to each other

Strong's Greek 5486
17 Occurrences


χάρισμα — 8 Occ.
χαρίσματα — 6 Occ.
χαρίσματι — 1 Occ.
χαρισμάτων — 1 Occ.
χαρίσματος — 1 Occ.

5485
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