John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Cross-references

John 1:14 Allusion

John 1:14 declares Jesus 'full of grace and truth' — the same phrase John 1:17 then applies to his coming.

John 8:32 Related theme

John 8:32 expands on the 'truth' from John 1:17 – knowing the truth that Jesus brings sets us free.

John 9:29 Contrast

John 9:29 contrasts Moses (to whom God spoke) with Jesus (unknown origin), echoing the law-vs.-grace distinction of John 1:17.

John 14:6 Parallel

In John 14:6, Jesus declares 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.' This identifies Jesus as the 'truth' that came through him in John 1:17.

John 5:45 Contrast

In John 5:45, Moses through whom the law was given becomes the accuser of those who trust in him—linking law and condemnation.

John 7:19 Parallel

John 7:19 echoes that Moses gave the law, but adds that none keep it — highlighting the law's insufficiency.

John 2:11 Parallel

John 2:11 records Jesus' first sign revealing his glory — a concrete demonstration of the grace and truth introduced in John 1:17.

John 4:23 Related theme

John 4:23 shows worship in spirit and truth, echoing the 'truth' that came through Jesus in John 1:17.

Romans 3:20 Parallel

Romans 3:20 shows the law brings knowledge of sin, underscoring why law cannot justify – contrasting with the grace and truth Jesus brings.

Micah 7:20 Allusion

In Micah 7:20, God will show faithfulness and steadfast love to Abraham and Jacob. These covenant attributes are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who brings grace and truth in John 1:17.

Luke 1:55 Allusion

In Luke 1:55, Mary recalls God's promise to Abraham and his offspring forever. Jesus, the offspring, fulfills that promise, bringing grace and truth in John 1:17.

In Luke 1:68-79, Zechariah prophesies the coming of the dawn from on high — the grace and truth that would come through Jesus, fulfilling God's covenant promises.

In Acts 13:34-39, Paul proclaims that through Jesus everyone who believes is justified from all things from which the law could not justify — the grace and truth that came through Christ.

In Hebrews 10:4-10, the insufficiency of animal sacrifices contrasts with Christ's single sacrifice sanctifying us forever — the grace and truth that replaced the law.

In Romans 3:21-26, Paul explains that God's righteousness is revealed apart from the law through faith in Jesus — the grace and truth that came through Christ.

Romans 5:20 Parallel

Romans 5:20 reveals law increased sin, but grace abounded more – directly contrasting law's effect with superabounding grace through Christ.

Romans 5:21 Parallel

Romans 5:21 contrasts sin's reign (via law) with grace reigning through Jesus to eternal life – echoing grace and truth in Christ.

Romans 6:14 Parallel

In Romans 6:14, Paul declares believers are not under law but under grace — the very transition from Moses' law to Christ's grace and truth.

In 2 Corinthians 1:20, all God's promises find their fulfillment in Christ — the grace and truth that came through Jesus, confirming and completing the law.

2 Corinthians 3:7-10 contrasts the fading glory of the law written on stone with the surpassing glory of the new covenant of the Spirit.

Galatians 3:10-13 shows the law brings a curse, but Christ redeemed us – contrasting law's condemnation with grace and truth in Jesus.

Hebrews 3:5 Parallel

Hebrews 3:5 describes Moses as a faithful servant in God's house, pointing to Christ as Son – contrasting servant vs Son, law vs grace.

Hebrews 3:6 Parallel

Hebrews 3:6 contrasts Christ as Son over God's house with Moses as servant – mirroring the shift from law given through Moses to grace and truth.

Hebrews 8:8-12 contrasts the old covenant (law) with the new covenant of forgiveness and relationship – echoing the transition from Moses to Jesus.

In Hebrews 9:22, the law's requirement of blood for forgiveness sets up the need for Christ's once-for-all sacrifice — the grace and truth that came through Jesus.

Exodus 20:1–17 Historical context

Exodus 20:1-17 records the Ten Commandments—the very law given through Moses that John 1:17 distinguishes from grace and truth.

Deuteronomy 33:4 explicitly says 'the law that Moses gave us,' matching John 1:17's description of the law through Moses.

Psalm 85:10 Allusion

In Psalm 85:10, 'steadfast love and faithfulness meet' — the Hebrew words for grace and truth. This OT pairing finds its embodiment in Jesus Christ as stated in John 1:17.

Psalm 98:3 Allusion

In Psalm 98:3, God remembers his steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel, and all see his salvation. This prepares for the grace and truth brought by Jesus in John 1:17.

Psalm 89:1 Related theme

In Psalm 89:1, the psalmist sings of God's steadfast love and faithfulness forever. These same attributes are identified as 'grace and truth' coming through Jesus in John 1:17.

Psalm 89:2 Related theme

In Psalm 89:2, God's steadfast love and faithfulness are declared to be established forever. This echoes the 'grace and truth' that come through Jesus in John 1:17.

In Colossians 2:17, the law's shadows point to Christ as the substance, fulfilling the reality behind the law given through Moses.

Psalm 25:10 Parallel

Psalm 25:10 pairs 'steadfast love and faithfulness' — the same two qualities John says come through Jesus as 'grace and truth'.

Nehemiah 10:29 mentions walking in God's Law given by Moses—reinforces the origin of the law.

Nehemiah 9:14 says God gave commands and a law by Moses—directly confirms 'the law was given through Moses'.

Romans 10:4 Parallel

Romans 10:4 declares Christ as the end of the law for righteousness — directly building on the shift from law to grace.

Deuteronomy 31:9 explicitly states Moses wrote and gave the law—directly shows 'the law was given through Moses'.

In Galatians 3:19, the law is a temporary addition until Christ, contrasting with the permanent grace and truth that came through him.

Psalm 40:10 Parallel

Psalm 40:10 proclaims God's 'steadfast love and faithfulness' in the congregation, mirroring the grace and truth brought by Jesus.

Titus 2:11 Parallel

In Titus 2:11, the grace of God has appeared in Christ for salvation, illustrating that grace.

Hebrews 1:2 Parallel

In Hebrews 1:1-2, God speaks through His Son as the final revelation, paralleling the grace and truth that came through Jesus.

Leviticus 27:34 similarly concludes the law given through Moses on Sinai—confirming the Mosaic origin of the law.

Leviticus 26:46 explicitly states the law was given through Moses on Sinai—directly echoing the first half of John 1:17.

Hebrews 7:19 contrasts the law's inability to perfect with the better hope through Christ, reinforcing John 1:17's contrast of law vs. grace and truth.

Exodus 34:6 Allusion

Exodus 34:6 reveals God as 'abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness'—the OT source of John's 'grace and truth' in Jesus.

Genesis 24:27 praises God for 'steadfast love and faithfulness'—the same pairing of grace and truth Jesus perfectly embodies.

Psalm 89:14 Parallel

Psalm 89:14 says 'steadfast love and faithfulness go before' God — a direct parallel to the grace and truth that Jesus brings.

Proverbs 14:22 pairs 'mercy and truth' — the OT idiom that John 1:17 echoes as 'grace and truth' in Jesus.

At the transfiguration, Moses (law) and Elijah (prophets) appear with Jesus — visually confirming him as the one who brings grace and truth.

Psalm 115:1 Parallel

Psalm 115:1 appeals to God's 'steadfast love and faithfulness' — the very qualities John says are realized in Jesus as grace and truth.

Luke 9:30 Typology

Luke 9:30 also shows Moses and Elijah with Jesus at the transfiguration — reinforcing Jesus as the fulfillment of law and prophets.

Psalm 92:2 Parallel

Psalm 92:2 declares God's 'steadfast love in the morning and ... faithfulness by night' — the same duo of grace and truth in Jesus.

Psalm 89:24 Parallel

Psalm 89:24 promises God's 'faithfulness and steadfast love' with His anointed — reflecting the grace and truth given through Christ.

Psalm 86:15 Parallel

Psalm 86:15 describes God as 'gracious' and abounding in 'steadfast love and faithfulness' — the same attributes John assigns to Jesus.

Acts 3:22 Prophetic fulfillment

Acts 3:22 quotes Moses foretelling a prophet like himself — Jesus, through whom grace and truth come.

Psalm 57:3 Parallel

Psalm 57:3 says God sends 'steadfast love and faithfulness' — directly echoing the grace and truth that come through Jesus.

Acts 13:39 Parallel

Acts 13:39 explicitly states justification through Jesus, not by Moses' law — directly echoing the law-grace contrast.

Deuteronomy 4:44 Historical context

Deuteronomy 4:44 introduces 'the law Moses set before the Israelites,' directly corresponding to the law given through Moses in John 1:17.

Galatians 3:17 notes the law came 430 years after God's promise and cannot nullify it – underscoring law's subordinate role to grace in Christ.

In Romans 15:8-12, Paul shows Christ confirming God's promises to Israel and extending mercy to Gentiles — the grace and truth that came through Jesus.

Acts 7:38 Historical context

Acts 7:38 describes Moses receiving 'living words' on Sinai, the same law-giving event referenced in John 1:17.

Deuteronomy 5:1 Historical context

Deuteronomy 5:1 has Moses summoning Israel to hear the laws, tying back to the law-giving event mentioned in John 1:17.

Isaiah 65:16 Related theme

Isaiah 65:16 calls God 'the God of truth'; John 1:17 shows that truth now comes personally through Jesus.

Psalm 138:2 Parallel

Psalm 138:2 exalts God's truth above all; John 1:17 identifies that ultimate truth as embodied in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 22:40 shows Jesus summarizing the law with love — the law given through Moses finds its true meaning in Jesus.

Luke 1:54 Related theme

In Luke 1:54, Mary praises God for remembering his mercy to Israel. This mercy aligns with the 'grace' that comes through Jesus in John 1:17, though 'truth' is not explicitly paired.