SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:17
Porque la ley por Moiss fue dada, mas la gracia y la verdad por Jess, el Cristo, fue hecha.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 1:17
Verse 17. The law was given by Moses] Moses received the law from God, and through him it was given to the Jews, Acts vii. 38. But grace and truth] Which he had already mentioned, and which were to be the subject of the book which he was now writing, came to all mankind through Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of the new covenant, as Moses was of the old: Heb. viii. 6; ix. 15; Gal. iii. 19. See a fine discourse on this text by Mr. Claude, "Essay on the Composition of a Sermon," vol. i. p. 119, &c. edit. Lond. 1788.
The law of Moses, however excellent in itself, was little in comparison of the Gospel: as it proceeded from the justice and holiness of God, and was intended to convict men of sin, that the way of the Gospel might be the better prepared, it was a law of rigour, condemnation, and death: Rom. iv. 15; 2 Cor. iii. 7, 8. It was a law of shadows, types, and figures: Heb. x. 1, and incapable of expiating sin by its sacrifices: Rom. viii. 3; Hebrews vii. 18, 19; x. 1, 11. But Christ has brought that grace which is opposed to condemnation: Rom. v. 15, 20, 21; viii. 1; Galatians iii. 10; and he is himself the spirit and substance of all those shadows: Col. ii. 19; Heb. x. 1.
Jesus Christ.] JESUS the CHRIST, the Messiah, or anointed prophet, priest, and king, sent from heaven. To what has already been said on the important name Jesus, (See Matt. i. 21, and the places there referred to,) I shall add the following explanation, chiefly taken from Professor Schultens, who has given a better view of the ideal meaning of the root [y yasha, than any other divine or critic.
He observes that this root, in its true force, meaning, and majesty, both in Hebrew and Arabic, includes the ideas of amplitude, expansion, and space, and should be translated, he was spacious-open-ample; and, particularly, he possessed a spacious or extensive degree or rank: and is applied, 1. To a person possessing abundance of riches. 2. To one possessing abundant power. 3. To one possessing abundant or extensive knowledge. 4. To one possessing abundance of happiness, beatitude, and glory. Hence we may learn the true meaning of Zech. ix. i10: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion-behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is JUST, and having SALVATION:- [ywh -he is possessed of all power to enrich, strengthen, teach, enlarge, and raise to glory and happiness, them who trust in him.
Man by nature is in want and poverty: in abjectness and weakness: in darkness and ignorance: in straits and captivity: in wretchedness and infamy. His Redeemer is called h[wy JESUS-he who looses, enlarges, and endows with salvation. 1. He enriches man's poverty: 2. strengthens his weakness: 3. teaches his ignorance: 4. brings him out of straits and difficulties: and 5. raises him to happiness, beatitude, and glory. And the aggregate of these is SALVATION. Hence that saying, His name shall be called JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. See Schultens Origines Hebraeae, p. 15.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. For the law was given by Moses , etc.] Both moral and ceremonial. The moral law was given to Adam, in innocence, which having been broken, and almost lost out of the minds, and memories of men, was given by Moses, in a new edition of it in writing; and points out what is mans duty both to God and men; discovers sin, accuses of it, convicts of it, and condemns for it; nor could it give strength to perform its demands; nor does it give the least hint of forgiveness; nor will it admit of repentance: and hence is opposed to grace; though it was a benefit to men, being in its own nature good and useful in its effects. The ceremonial law pointed out the pollution of human nature, the guilt and punishment of sin; was a type and shadow of deliverance by Christ, but could not give the grace it shadowed, and therefore is opposed both to grace and truth. Now both these were given by Moses to the people of the Jews, not as the maker, but the minister of them: it was God who appointed each of these laws, and ordained them in the hand of the mediator Moses, who received them from him, by the disposition of angels, and delivered them to the people of Israel; and a very high office this was he was put into, and a very great honour was conferred upon him; but Jesus Christ is a far greater person, and in an higher office: but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ : by grace and truth, is meant the Gospel, in opposition to the law; which is called grace, because it is a declaration of the love, and grace, of God to men; it ascribes salvation, in all the parts of it, to the free grace and favour of God; and is the means of implanting and increasing grace in the hearts of men. And truth, not only because it contains truth, and nothing but truth, it coming from the God of truth; and the substance of it being Christ, who is the truth; and being revealed, applied, and led into by the Spirit of truth; but because it is the truth of the types, and the substance of the shadows of the law: or these two may mean distinct things; grace may design all the blessings of grace which are in Christ, and come by him; and truth, the promises, and the fulfilment of them, which are all yea, and amen, in Christ: and when these are said to be by him, the meaning is, not that they are by him, as an instrument, but as the author of them; for Christ is the author of the Gospel, and the fulfiller of the promises, and the giver of all grace; which shows the superior excellency of Christ to Moses, and to all men, and even to angels also.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-18 - As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came afte John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearl shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shal 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 "even grace," a gift so great, so rich, s invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Fathe but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the onl begotten and beloved Son.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM νομος 3551 N-NSM δια 1223 PREP μωσεως 3475 N-GSM εδοθη 1325 5681 V-API-3S η 3588 T-NSF χαρις 5485 N-NSF και 2532 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF αληθεια 225 N-NSF δια 1223 PREP ιησου 2424 N-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S
