THE PROLOGUE
OUTLINE
59
IN
The Baptist is but confirming the marvellous testimony of the
apostle given in 1:1 and 14. In point of time Christ as `the Word' was
before John; Christ as `the Word made flesh' was after him. This
testimony of the Baptist is expanded in 3:27-31 and will be given fuller
consideration when that passage is reached. It is inserted to
supplement the apostle's statement here, so that in the mouth of two
witnesses every word may be established. Accordingly we proceed to
the next three verses.
In verse 14 the apostle had spoken of Christ as `full of grace and
truth'. He now refers to that `fulness' (1:16) as the source of that
`grace and truth' (1:17) which believers have received. In verse 14 the
apostle had spoken for the first time of Christ as `the only begotten of
the Father'.
In verse 18 he now carries the title back to
counterbalance, in time, what the Word was `in the beginning'. These
verses, therefore are an expansion and exposition both of what accrues
to man and what pertains to God from the incarnation. `And of His
fulness have all we received, and grace for grace' (1:16). We cannot
hope to understand this passage merely by concentrating upon the
meaning of the word `fulness', but must ascertain what is associated
with that fulness and in what manner the statement carries forward the
apostle's theme. This will necessitate consideration of the expression
`grace for grace', and inasmuch as the fulness of the Lord is first of all
associated with `grace and truth' and that `grace and truth' is placed
over against the law given to Moses in verse 17, it will be necessary to
include and consider these references before we can appreciate in any
measure the intention in verse 16. We observe therefore a marked
contrast indicated between `the law' that was given by `Moses' and the
`grace and truth' that `came by Jesus Christ'.
Here, together with verse 18, we have two contrasted lines of
teaching: