New Living Translation
John 1:16
16From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
John 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
- New International Version (NIV)Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Context of John 1:16
14So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 15John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Read all of John 1John 1:16 word by word
ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for John 1:16
- John 3:34For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
- John 15:1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
- Matthew 3:11“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!
- Acts 3:12Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?
- Romans 8:9But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
- 1 Corinthians 1:4I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 4:7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
- Colossians 1:19For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
- Colossians 2:3In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- 1 Peter 1:11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
- Zechariah 4:7Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”
- Matthew 13:12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
- Romans 5:2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
- Ephesians 1:6So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
- Ephesians 2:5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Commentaries on John 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16This verse should be put in place of the fifteenth, and the 15th inserted between the 18th and 19th, which appears to be its proper place: thus John's testimony is properly connected. And of his fullness - Of the plenitude of his grace and mercy, by which he made an atonement for sin; and of the plenitude of his wisdom and truth, by which the mysteries of heaven have been revealed, and the science of eternal truth taught, we have all received: all we…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Of his fulness - In John 1:14 the evangelist has said that Christ was “full of grace and truth.” Of that “fullness” he now says that all the disciples had received; that is, they derived from his abundant truth and mercy grace to understand the plan of salvation, to preach the gospel, to live lives of holiness; they “partook” of the numerous blessings which he came to impart by his instructions and his death. These are undoubtedly not the words of John…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-18The start of this introduction might be a poem or hymn sung by early Christians (1:1–5). The themes of this introduction of the Gospel of John prepare readers for the story that follows: The arrival of the light in the world. The rejection of the light. The gift of new life given by the light to those who believed in him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1816. of his fulness--of "grace and truth," resuming the thread of Joh 1:14. grace for grace--that is, grace upon grace (so all the best interpreters), in successive communications and larger measures, as each was able to take it in. Observe, the word "truth" is here dropped. "Grace" being the chosen New Testament word for the whole fulness of the new covenant, all that dwells in Christ for men.Read the comment
Topics related to John 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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