[annalex]

"Full of grace" is not "unique."

The translation is not unique, but the underlying Greek word, kecharitomenos/e, is not used anywhere else in the New Testament.

[blue-duncan]

"The translation is not unique,"

It is unique and in fact contrived when translated as such in Luke 1:28. "Full of grace" is translated only once in the scripture and that applied to Jesus in John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The Greek is pleres charis.

[Blogger]

The root word, Charitou, is found in one other place in the New Testament. Ephesians 1:6.

28και εισελθων ο αγγελος προς αυτην ειπεν χαιρε κεχαριτωμενη ο κυριος μετα σου ευλογημενη συ εν γυναιξιν

6εις επαινον δοξης της χαριτος αυτου εν η εχαριτωσεν ημας εν τω ηγαπημενω

It has been translated various ways (none of which speak of some inherent characteristic within the subject).

Ephesians 1:6 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition.) 6Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath graced us in his beloved son.

Ephesians 1:6 (King James Version) King James Version (KJV) 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:6 Young's Literal Translation (YLT) 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He did make us accepted in the beloved,

Ephesians 1:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Per Thayer's Lexicon:

Charitow,-w: 1. aor. echaritwsa; pf. pass. prcp. kecharitwmenos; (charis); 1. to make graceful i.e. charming, lovely, agreeable: pass. Sir. sviii. 17 ; tais diuloxois strophais charitoumenos ophrun, Liban. vol. iv p. 1071, 14. 2. to pursue with grace, compass with favor; to honor with blessings: Tiva, Eph. i.6; pass. Lk. i.28, [some would take it in these two exx. subjectively (R.V. mrg. endued with grace)]; Ps. xviii. 26 Symm.; [Herm. sim. 9, 24,3; Test. xii. Patr. test. Joseph. 1]; eccles. and Byzant. writ.*

Thus, it would seem that the grace/acceptance/blessing/favor is something one receives not something that one has inherently within one's self.

The eisegetical framework built up around the person of Mary based upon a certain translation of this word (found TWICE in the NT) seems to be unwarranted.

Incidentally, the Luke portion is translated many ways as well, Douay Rheims being the only one I have seen that translates it "full of grace".

Luke 1:28 (Young's Literal Translation) Young's Literal Translation (YLT) 28And the messenger having come in unto her, said, `Hail, favoured one, the Lord [is] with thee; blessed [art] thou among women;'

Luke 1:28 (New American Standard Bible) 28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."

Luke 1:28 (King James Version) 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luke 1:28 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition.)28And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Of course, I'm sure some will think it is a Protestant conspiracy to strip Mary of her virtue; but such a supposition could not be sustained on scrutiny.