John 1:17
What does John 1:17 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:17 means
This verse contrasts the Law given through Moses with grace and truth, which came through Jesus Christ. While the Law served a vital purpose—revealing sin and God's standards—it could not provide salvation or spiritual life. Grace and truth, representing God's unmerited favor and ultimate reality, were fully embodied and mediated by Jesus. This highlights Jesus’ superiority to Moses and the Old Covenant, establishing the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ as the ultimate revelation of God.
John 1:17 in context
John 1 — The Word Made Flesh
John lifts the curtain higher than any other Gospel. Before there was a Bethlehem, there was the Word — with God, who was God, by whom all things were made. The same Word who was the agent of creation became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the first disciples follow him; Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel. The eternal becomes near enough to touch.
- Pre-existence of Christ
- Incarnation
- Light and life
- First disciples
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the law was given through Moses; grace and the true way of life are ours through Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for the law through Moses was given, the grace and the truth through Jesus Christ did come;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth subsists through Jesus Christ.
Context
Building on the concept of receiving 'grace for grace' from Christ's fullness in verse 16, this verse precisely defines what kind of grace and truth Christ brought, contrasting it with the Law. It moves from general blessing to a specific theological argument about the distinction between the Old and New Covenants. This contrast serves to elevate Jesus' work, showing His ministry as the fulfillment and advancement beyond the Mosaic Law, preparing the reader for His ultimate revelation in the following verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 3:15
and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7
But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:
- Acts 13:34
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.
- John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
- Micah 7:20
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.
Sermon ideas from John 1:17
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:17 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:17 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:17 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:17 teaches us about first disciples
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