In the previous blog post, we looked at the Greek word pneumatikos in connection with spiritual gifts. This word points us to the source of the gifts: the Spirit. The origin is the same for all: the Spirit of God working in the believer. But the effect of what that Spirit does in the believer is different for everyone, and that brings us to another word.
charismata
The word charismata is rendered in our translations as gifts or gifts of grace. It is derived from the Greek word for grace: charis, which in turn is derived from chairo, which means joy or gladness. In the previous blog post, we looked at 1 Corinthians 12, because that is where we find the word pneumatikos. We also encounter the concept of charismata there:
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts (Greek: pneumatikos), brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
(…)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts (Greek: charismata), but the same Spirit…
Grace
Grace refers to everything that is given undeservedly, freely and gratuitously. It is that which brings joy. The derived concept of charisma describes the effect or result of that grace. You could describe charisma as the “grace effect”. The plural of charisma is charismata. Grace is the gift itself; what it produces is charisma.
Romans 12
6 Now we have various effects of grace (Greek: charismata), according to the grace (Greek: charis) that has been given to us: whether prophecy—in agreement with faith;
7 or ministry—in ministry; whether teaching—in teaching;
8 or exhortation—in exhortation; whether sharing—in generosity; whether leading—in zeal; whether showing mercy—in cheerfulness.
Different Charisma
Romans 12 speaks of believers who have different charismata. A believer is someone who has come to know God’s grace (Col. 1:6) and has discovered true joy in it (Phil. 4:4). But that grace and joy work differently in each person. That is why Paul speaks of distinctive effects of grace. The effects are different because they relate to a person’s personality and disposition.
One Source, Diverse Effects
In the previous blog post, I used the example of different wind instruments. It is the same breath that produces different sounds in different instruments.
Or plug in a vacuum cleaner, and it starts vacuuming. Do the same with a coffee maker, and it starts brewing coffee. And do the same with a clothes dryer, and it starts drying. The power source is the same, but the effect is always different.
In short
Pneumatikos emphasizes the source: the spiritual character, that it comes from the spirit of God. Charismata emphasizes the nature and effect: they are unmerited outworkings of God’s grace.