For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The key insight here is that the text subtly contrasts the origin of the Law with the origin of grace and truth. While the Law was "given through" Moses, implying he was a conduit, grace and truth "came into being" through Jesus, suggesting a deeper, inherent source within Him. This highlights that Jesus didn't just deliver these concepts; they were intrinsically part of His very being and purpose.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after John the Baptist points to Jesus as the one who fulfills all prophecies and from whom believers receive unending grace. It serves as a pivotal explanation, contrasting the foundational Law given through Moses with the superior reality of grace and truth that Jesus Christ inaugurates. This comparison highlights Christianity's unique nature as a fulfillment and advancement, not a replacement, of the Old Covenant.
Have you ever felt the weight of rules that just seemed to point out your failures? John contrasts the giving of the Law with the coming of something entirely new through Jesus.
John 1:17 draws a powerful contrast between the Law given through Moses and the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ.
The Law Through Moses
Grace and Truth Through Christ
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John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, and here, John the Evangelist reveals the profound significance of the name 'Jesus Christ' in contrast to Moses.
The transition from mentioning Moses to naming 'Jesus Christ' is deeply significant in this verse and the surrounding context.
Moses: The Mediator of the Law
Jesus Christ: The Source of Grace and Truth
Understand the original words
nomos · Greek Noun
The divine instruction and commandments given by God to Israel through Moses; it functioned to reveal God's holiness and humanity's sinfulness, pointing toward the need for a Savior.
alētheia · Greek Noun
The faithful, reliable, and authentic reality of God; it refers to the perfect correspondence between God's promises and their fulfillment in Christ.
Christos · Greek Proper Noun
The eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who took on human flesh to accomplish salvation for humanity.
This verse highlights the pivotal shift in God's redemptive plan, moving from the 'law given through Moses' to the 'grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ,' a transition marked by significant historical events like the giving of the Law, the exile, and the coming of the Messiah.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
God gives the Ten Commandments and the Law through Moses to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, establishing a covenant relationship.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile many Israelites. This event highlighted the limitations of the Mosaic Law in preventing national disaster.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marked a period of re-establishment but also a longing for God's promised Messiah.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus Christ
The promised Messiah, Jesus, is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecies and initiating the era of grace and truth.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry, Death, and Resurrection
Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God, demonstrates God's grace and truth through his teachings and miracles, and is crucified and resurrected, inaugurating the new covenant.
c. AD 40-60
Apostolic Ministry and Epistles
The apostles, particularly Paul, spread the Gospel and write epistles explaining the superiority of grace and truth in Christ over the Mosaic Law.
This verse highlights God's character as 'merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.' This Old Testament revelation of God's nature is a precursor to the fullness of 'grace and truth' that John says came through Jesus.
Jeremiah 31:33This prophecy speaks of a new covenant where God's law will be written on hearts, not just stone tablets. This resonates with John 1:17's contrast, as the 'grace and truth' of Jesus fulfill the spirit of the law, leading to internal transformation rather than just external adherence.
Romans 5:20Paul states, 'Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.' This directly echoes John's contrast, showing how the law revealed sin but Jesus brought abundant grace to overcome it.
Colossians 2:17This passage describes Old Testament practices as 'a shadow of things to come,' with 'the substance' belonging to Christ. This reinforces John 1:17's point that while the law (given through Moses) had its purpose, it was ultimately a foreshadowing of the complete 'grace and truth' found in Jesus.
Hebrews 10:1The author explains that the law, with its sacrifices, could 'never by the same sacrifices that are offered continually year after year make perfect those who draw near.' This emphasizes the inadequacy of the law alone, highlighting the superior 'grace and truth' that Jesus brought as the perfect fulfillment.
ellicottJohn 1:17: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
(17) The word “for” connects this verse by way of explanation with what has gone before. The Old Testament thought of grace and truth has been already present in John 1:14 . The fulness of these divine attributes has been beheld in the glory of the Word. The revelation of them, that is, the removing of the veil which hides the knowable, has been made dependent on the use of the already known. But this is the…
vincentJohn 1:17: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
For (ὅτι)Because. Giving the ground of the statement that Christians received new and richer gifts of grace: the ground being that the law of Moses was a limited and narrow enactment, while Jesus Christ imparted the fullness of grace and truth which was in Him (John 1:14). Compare Romans 4:15; Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:10.Was given (ἐδόθη)A special gift serving a special and preparatory purpose with refere…
The key insight here is that the text subtly contrasts the origin of the Law with the origin of grace and truth. While the Law was "given through" Moses, implying he was a conduit, grace and truth "came into being" through Jesus, suggesting a deeper, inherent source within Him. This highlights that Jesus didn't just deliver these concepts; they were intrinsically part of His very being and purpose.
This verse comes right after John the Baptist points to Jesus as the one who fulfills all prophecies and from whom believers receive unending grace. It serves as a pivotal explanation, contrasting the foundational Law given through Moses with the superior reality of grace and truth that Jesus Christ inaugurates. This comparison highlights Christianity's unique nature as a fulfillment and advancement, not a replacement, of the Old Covenant.
This verse comes right after John the Baptist points to Jesus as the one who fulfills all prophecies and from whom believers receive unending grace. It serves as a pivotal explanation, contrasting the foundational Law given through Moses with the superior reality of grace and truth that Jesus Christ inaugurates. This comparison highlights Christianity's unique nature as a fulfillment and advancement, not a replacement, of the Old Covenant.
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." — The key insight here is that the text subtly contrasts the origin of the Law with the origin of grace and truth. While the Law was "given through" Moses, implying he was a conduit, grace and truth "c…
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Last reviewed October 2026