The NT's central word for God's unmerited favor. 156 occurrences. In secular Greek, it meant charm or a favor done. In the NT, it becomes the defining concept of how God relates to sinful humanity: not on merit but sheer, free, generous love.
Grace is the foundation of the gospel (Ephesians 2:8). Paul uses charis as the antithesis of works — not because works are bad, but because salvation cannot be earned. Grace also empowers: it is God's enabling power within us (2 Corinthians 12:9). Every Pauline letter opens and closes with charis.
The relationship between charis and charisma (gift) reveals that every spiritual gift is a "grace-gift." The Hebrew chen (H2580) provides OT background. Paul's greeting "Grace and peace" fuses Greek charis with Hebrew shalom — summarizing the entire gospel.