Benefit

3107 MAKARIOS (50): usually translated by the ecclesiastical word "blessed." But "blessed" is vague in meaning, especially to those who are not familiar with the NT, so it is preferable to translate it with a word used in every-day English. The contexts show that it usually means a "benefit" given by God for:

1)	existing good human characteristics, as in Mt 5.5,6,7,8,9,10,11, et al.,
2)	existing trust in God, as in Mt.16.17, where the benefit Peter received was something special that Yesu's Father revealed to him, et al., and
3)	good things a person is doing or has done, as in Mt.24.46 where Yesu tells of benefit to a slave doing [right] when his master returns.

In the FCR, mak\rios is always a benefit given by God as a "favor" (5485 charis), during a person's lifetime for approved things the person has done or is doing. This "benefit" is not payment for something a person has "earned," but is one of the many kinds of "favor" (grace) God bestows upon humans. The specific benefit given is often revealed in the text.

Makarios could also be translated, "reward," except that the word "reward" in English can also mean "receive payment for service," and ambiguity would result, because makarios is always a gift of God's favor. Words like "pay, payment and reward" (3408 misthos) usually mean earnings from labor or other service. Note that in Mt.5.11-12 and Lk.6.22-23 the words makarios (benefit) and misthos (reward, payment) occur in the same context, revealing an emphasis in their difference of meaning. (This reward or payment is in [the] heaven[s] and thus does not conflict with the concept of God's favor or grace.)

BENEFIT AS A FAVOR FROM GOD FOR PLEASING HIM:

BENEFIT (48) Mt.5.3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11; 11.6; 13.16; 16.17; 24.46. Lk.1.45; 6.20,21,21,22; 7.23; 10.23; 11.27,28; 12.37,38,43; 14.14, 15; 23.29. Jn.13.17; 20.29. Act.20.35; 26.2. Rom.4.7,8; 14.22. 1Co.7.40. Tit.2.13. Jas.1.12,25. 1Pe.3.14; 4.14. Rev.1.3; 14.13; 16.15; 19.9; 20.6; 22.7,14.

THE BENEFITTING CHARACTER OF GOD OR HIS SERVANTS:

BENEFICENT (2) 1Ti.1.11; 6.15.

3108 MAKARISMOS (3): the circumstance of being benefitted as a favor of God.

BENEFITED STATE Rom.4.6,9. Gal.4.15.

3106 MAKARIZO (2): To consider as having been benefited.

COUNT BENEFITED Lk.1.48. Jas.5.11.