John 1:17 kjv
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 nkjv
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 niv
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 esv
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 nlt
For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
John 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:14 | For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. | Law vs. Grace |
| Gal 3:24 | So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. | Law as preparatory/tutor |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works... | Salvation by grace, not works |
| Tit 2:11 | For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. | Grace appeared in salvation |
| Heb 8:6 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better... | New Covenant superior to Old |
| Exod 24:3 | Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord... | Moses as Law-giver's mediator |
| Deut 33:4 | Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. | Moses gave the Law |
| Lev 26:46 | These are the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai. | Law given through Moses |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Direct preceding affirmation of grace & truth in Christ |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” | Jesus is the truth |
| Col 2:17 | These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. | Law as a shadow, Christ as substance |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ embodies truth and righteousness |
| Heb 3:5-6 | Moses was faithful as a servant... but Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. | Christ's superiority to Moses |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. | Prophecy of Christ, greater than Moses |
| Matt 5:17 | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law... but to fulfill them. | Christ fulfills the Law |
| 2 Cor 3:6-11 | If the ministry of death (law) was glorious... how much more will the ministry of the Spirit (new covenant) exceed in glory! | Comparison of old/new covenant glory |
| Jer 31:31-34 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant... | Prophecy of New Covenant mediated by Christ |
| Luke 16:16 | The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached... | Transition from Law to Kingdom |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. | Christ as the culmination/goal of the Law |
| Gal 4:4-5 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law... | Christ redeems from the Law |
| John 8:32 | You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. | Truth brings freedom through Christ |
| Rom 3:20 | For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight... | Law reveals sin, cannot justify |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. | Jesus reveals God more fully than the Law |
John 1 verses
John 1 17 Meaning
John 1:17 declares a foundational truth contrasting two pivotal moments in divine revelation and salvation history. It states that the Law was "given" through Moses, serving as God's preparatory covenantal instruction for His people. In profound contrast, "grace and truth" did not merely come through Jesus Christ but "came to be" or "became" through Him, signifying that Jesus is not merely a messenger but the very embodiment and source of God's unmerited favor and ultimate reality. This verse highlights the shift from a system of commandments that reveals sin to a relationship of unearned divine favor and perfect revelation that offers salvation and life.
John 1 17 Context
This verse is a pivotal summary statement within the Johannine prologue (John 1:1-18), which establishes the divine identity and mission of Jesus Christ. The preceding verses introduce the "Word" (Logos) as eternally divine, active in creation, and the source of life and light (1:1-5). They then mention John the Baptist's role as a witness (1:6-8) and lament the world's rejection of the light (1:9-11), culminating in the astounding truth that the Word became flesh, dwelling among humanity "full of grace and truth" (1:14). Verse 16 explains that from His fullness, believers have received "grace upon grace." Verse 17, therefore, serves as a direct, sharp contrast to further clarify how this "grace and truth" differs from the prior divine revelation: the Mosaic Law. It subtly addresses the reverence held for Moses in Judaism, positioning Jesus Christ not as an abolitionist of the past, but as the bringer of a superior, ultimate revelation and a new way of relationship with God. It sets the stage for the Gospel's narrative of Jesus's works and words, which consistently embody and declare this grace and truth.
John 1 17 Word analysis
- For the law: This phrase indicates the previous divine revelation, referring specifically to the Mosaic Law (nomos in Greek), encompassing the commandments, statutes, and ordinances given to Israel at Mount Sinai. It was God's revelation of His righteous demands and covenant terms.
- was given: The Greek word edothē (from didomi) is in the aorist passive indicative, emphasizing a completed, singular act initiated by God and conveyed to humanity. It highlights the Law as a bestowed divine gift or decree, a transmission.
- through Moses: The Greek dia Mōuseōs uses the preposition dia, meaning "through" or "by means of," unequivocally establishing Moses as the chosen mediator of the Law, not its originating source. Moses faithfully delivered what God had commanded.
- grace: The Greek word charis denotes God's unmerited favor, His undeserved benevolence, and His freely given divine kindness and blessing. It contrasts sharply with anything that might be earned or merited through obedience to law.
- and truth: The Greek kai alētheia. Alētheia means reality, certainty, faithfulness, and the definitive disclosure of what is authentically real and true. In John's theology, "truth" is deeply personal and embodied in Christ (Jn 14:6), representing the ultimate and perfect unveiling of God's character and plan.
- came: The Greek verb egeneto (from ginomai) is in the aorist middle indicative, indicating an active coming into being, a materialization, or an event. It implies more than mere transmission; it signifies an embodied reality, a new historical epoch, a full manifestation of grace and truth in Jesus's person.
- through Jesus Christ: The Greek dia Iēsou Christou again uses dia for mediation. However, in the context of "grace and truth came," it means Jesus is not just a conveyor but the very source, substance, and embodiment of grace and truth. His full title, "Jesus Christ," emphasizes His human identity and divine messianic office.
John 1 17 Bonus section
The pairing of "grace and truth" (χαρις και αληθεια - charis kai alētheia) used to describe what came through Jesus Christ deeply resonates with the Old Testament Hebrew phrase hesed ve'emet (חסד ואמת), frequently translated as "steadfast love and faithfulness" or "mercy and truth." This combination describes the very character and covenant loyalty of God (e.g., Exod 34:6, Psa 25:10, Psa 85:10). By attributing "grace and truth" to Jesus Christ in a way that surpasses the Mosaic Law, John proclaims that Jesus is the living, full, and definitive revelation of God's covenant love and fidelity, fulfilling all of God's promises and providing direct access to Him. This connection solidifies Jesus as the embodiment of divine faithfulness, bringing salvation that was shadowed in the Law but made real and accessible in His person.
John 1 17 Commentary
John 1:17 provides a critical theological bridge within the Gospel's prologue, articulating the distinction between God's revelation through the Old Covenant and the ultimate, salvific revelation in the New. The Law, a righteous and divine gift given through Moses, established what God required and exposed humanity's sin, serving as a necessary guide to lead people to Christ. However, it was incomplete as a means of salvation. In profound contrast, "grace and truth" became reality through Jesus Christ. This signifies a profound qualitative difference: Jesus does not merely deliver principles of grace and truth; He is their very personification and ultimate expression. He perfectly embodies God's loving-kindness and faithful reality, ushering in an era where forgiveness and a full understanding of God are available not by human effort or adherence to external code, but by unearned divine favor revealed through Him. It underscores the superior and consummating nature of Christ's work in establishing a new, life-giving relationship with God.