John 1:16-18
16. 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.17. For, &c.—The Law elicits the consciousness of sin and the need of redemption; it only typifies the reality. The Gospel, on the contrary, actually communicates reality and power from above (compare Ro 6:14). Hence Paul terms the Old Testament "shadow," while he calls the New Testament "substance" (Col 2:17) [OLSHAUSEN].
18. No man—"No one," in the widest sense.
hath seen God—by immediate gaze, or direct intuition. in the bosom of the Father—A remarkable expression, used only here, presupposing the Son's conscious existence distinct from the Father, and expressing His immediate and most endeared access to, and absolute acquaintance with, Him. he—emphatic; As if he should say, "He and He only hath declared Him," because He only can.Joh 1:19-36. THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY TO CHRIST.
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