Let us consult the Greek, both the Textus Receptus and Westcott-Hort editions.
person | Textus Receptus | Westcott-Hort |
Jesus | pleres charitos | pleres charitos |
Stephen | pleres pistos | pleres charitos |
Mary | kecharitomene | kecharitomene |
We see that in the Textus Receptus, which is the Greek the KJV translators used, Stephen is not called pleris chatitos like Jesus, but rather pleris pistos, which the KJV renders "full of faith". Regardless, the Greek is not the same as regards to Jesus/Stephen vs. Mary. Therein lies the difference.
The translation of kecharitomene into "Highly favored one" does not even begin to do the Greek justice, IMO. Even Jerome's translation, "full of grace", while superior to "Highly favored one", doesn't convey the full force of kecharitomene.
Also, no one ever used pleris charitos as a proper name for either Jesus or Stephen. On the other hand, the Angel used kecharitomene as if that was Mary's name. In other words, the Angel didn't say, "Hail Mary..." but rather, "Hail Kecharitomene. It's almost as if that is who and what Mary intrinsically was. Think about it.
Pray for John Paul II
My lexicon says that this is a feminine PASSIVE participle from the verb, charitoo ("caret-ah-oh") meaning, in the active voice, to make [someone] an object of favour, to gift [someone]. IN THE PASSIVE VOICE, to be an object of a gracious visitation or to be visited with free favour. My comment: No emphasis is placed on the character of the person visited; instead, the emphasis is on the disposition of the visitor.
I have posted on this before. Kecharitomene has nothing to do with who or what Mary was. Charitoo is simply to show grace to. Kecharitomene is a perfect participle in the middle/passive voice of charitoo^. In other words, Mary is being shown grace (thus the middle-passive), not on any necessary merit of her own, but as we all are shown grace. Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.