Bible Strands
John 1:16
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of John records this declaration in the opening chapter of his gospel, immediately following John the Baptist’s testimony that the coming One surpasses him because He existed before him. The statement addresses readers encountering the narrative of the incarnate Word.
The words — The phrase ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ (ek tou plērōmatos autou) translates literally as “from His fullness.” The verb ἐλάβομεν (elabomen) means “we have received,” marking a completed action of taking in what is provided.
The thread — The motif of divine fullness dwelling in Christ appears in Colossians 1:19, while the reception of grace connects to Romans 5:2 and Ephesians 2:5. These passages trace the same theological line from Christ’s complete nature to the believer’s experience of unmerited favor.
Why it lands — The text states that every believer draws continuously from Christ’s complete nature rather than from personal merit or the Mosaic law. It requires the reader to acknowledge dependence on Christ’s provision and cease striving to generate spiritual sufficiency independently.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
- Romans 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
- Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- Ephesians 4:7 Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
- Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
- Ephesians 3:19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Ephesians 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
- 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.