What Exactly is God's Grace? pt. 1
The essence-energy distinction in scripture
What is Grace? Pt. 1
The essence-energies explanation
"Grace is life-giving favor" - Matthew Salih
If you ask the best orthodox layman about Grace often hear that Grace is God enabling human beings to share in his own divine life and love. And if you ask a Baptist, well, youll hear how grace is God's unmerited favor. For the orthodox, their answer is quite right overall which is why and how we actually do change and become holy and more christ-like. Most well studied Christians describe it as a powerful and transformative force that can heal and sanctify us, bringing us closer to God and helping us to live a holy and virtuous life. And there's nothing wrong at all with believing any of that. I know i do. But I like to look into how people are using their concepts and terms and see how those in the Bible used them to get a meaning that is both clear and continuous throughout the history of The Faith. But before we dive into the goods, let's lay the ground work.
So, in Eastern Orthodoxy, they talk about God's "essence" and "energies." Basically, essence means the nature of God that's too big and complicated for us to really understand or experience directly. But energies are the ways that God's essence kind of shows itself in the world and interacts with us.
To give an example, think about the sun. The sun's essence is like its internal nature that we can't really understand or touch. But the sun's energies are things like the light and warmth that we can feel and see. So, even though we can't see the sun's essence, we can still experience its energies and know that it's there. It's kind of like that with God too!
So to my surprise these concepts seemed unavoidable when peeling back the English from the Bible and letting the Greek original language convey its own meanings.
Grace in Philippians
Phi 1:5-7 LEB 5 because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work[ergon] in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus, 7 just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace[charitas] with me.
Notice that the Philippians from the first day of hearing the gospel that for those who believed he said that God began a work, or ergon, a real energy within them. Now this rings true of Paul's expression of the Gospel being "the power of God unto salvation for those who believe"-Romans 1:16-17. He speaks of the Gospel to the Philippians in the same way. The energy, the grace he began within them will finish its work or process, being sanctification, up to the day of Christ's coming. Or until their very deaths.
Work, ergon, energy, sanctification, all began by the Gospel which is the power or dunamis[literally dynamite or explosive] of God working in us till our last days. The essence works through the energy.
Grace and The Ephesians
Eph 3:6-8 LEB 6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace[charitos] given to me, according to the working[energeian] of his power. 8 To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace[charitas]: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,
Paul's sharing in Christ's promise and stewardship came through the gospel, and the gospel came through God's grace, and God's Grace came through the "energy" of his "dunamis". The energy of His power. Notice again that Grace is expressed as real spiritual energy and power. Grace so far is continually expressed in this way. Paul later says "THIS grace" to share the gospel which again in and of itself comes with an inherent power.
The JMNT translation picks up some interesting things as well.
[Verse 7]"in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to; to the level of; in line with) the operative, effective, internal working energy of His power and ability!"
-Jonathan Mitchell New Testament
Note on translation: "an original translation of the Greek New Testament which gives multiple possible renderings, alternate meanings from the semantic range of many Greek words, and translations of significant contrasting Greek manuscripts – all embedded in the text of this version. Occasional notes and comments are also inserted."
The Lexicon says this power is NOT potential, but active..........
operative power (as distinct from δύναμις, potential power), working: of God, Eph 1:19; Eph 3:7; Eph 4:16, Php 3:21, Col 1:29; Col 2:12 (refs6) (refs6)
-Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament
Or supernatural.
superhuman activity (see Milligan Thess. p. 104), cf. OGIS 262.4 (iii/A.D.)
-VGNT - JH Moulton and G Milligan - The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament
Grace in Acts
Act 14:26 LEB and from there they sailed away to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.
So Paul and his companions were παραδεδομένοι, paradedomenoi, to the Grace of God. This word means "to deliver over to". This is similar to paradosis, Tradition, which means to pass down. So even Holy Traditions and practices are seen to enter people into God's grace. And notice it is for the "ergon" they had completed. So again the Grace fueled or gave energy to the work they did, which resulted in them completing it. Because like Paul said, He is faithful to complete the work he began in us.
Lexical note:
2. to commit, commend: Act 14:26 - A.M.G.L.
Grace and the Corinthians
1Co 15:10 LEB But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored[ekopiasa] even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.
Again, Grace fuels his labor, or intense work. And even says it was God's grace laboring with him.
LABOR
in Paul. Epp., of ministerial labour: 1Co 15:10; 1Co 16:16 (refs2) (refs2); seq. ἐν, Rom 16:12, 1Th 5:12 (refs2) (refs2) (v. M, Th., in l), 1Ti 5:17; εἰς, Rom 16:6, Gal 4:11, Php 2:16, Col 1:29, 1Ti 4:10 (refs5) (refs5). †
- A.M.G.L.
Lastly, we go back to Philippians.
Philippians 2:13 LEB
For the one at workG1754[energōn][operating] in you, both to will and to workG1754[energein][to operate] for his good pleasure, is God.
Let's turn instead to some dynamic translations to better see this relationship with God's will, pleasure, Grace, Energy, our will and our acts of will.
Wilbur Pickering’s New Testament
WPNT because God Himself is the One at work in you, both to will and to produce, note for His good pleasure.
Translator's note: Paul places our responsibility and God’s sovereignty side by side; we must consciously cooperate with Him.
Cooperation with grace will be covered on the next piece. That deals with synergy.
unfoldingWord® Simplified Text UST For God is doing something within you so that you will want to do—and then actually do—the good things that please him.
UDB For God is working in your hearts so that you will want to do and then actually do the good things that please him.
T4T You are able to do these things, since God himself causes you to desire to do what he wants you to do, and he also enables you to do what he wants you to do.
Living Oracles for it is God who works effectually in you, both to will and to perform, on account of his benevolence.
NET for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.
ExeGeses Companion Bible (ECB) For it is Elohim who energizes in you both to will and to energize his well-approval.
ISV For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.
Phi 2:13 EasyEnglish Obey God, because he is working in you. He is changing you so that you want to obey him. And he is making you able to do the things that make him happy.
Emphasized Bible
Phi 2:13 EBR For it is, God, who energiseth within you, both the desiring and the energising, in behalf of his good pleasure.
At this point it is abundantly clear that there is an essence-energy distinction found within scripture about Grace. Especially Grace tied to energy and real power.
So let us continue to rely on God's grace in all that we do, whether it is in our work, our relationships, or our daily lives.
Till next time