John 1:16

“And of his fulness have all we received, etc.] These are the words not of John the Baptist; but of the evangelist carrying on his account of Christ, after he had inserted the testimony of the Baptist, in connection with (<430114>John 1:14) where he is said to be full of grace and truth; and which fulness is here intended; for the fulness of the Godhead in trim is incommunicable; and the fulness of his fitness, and ability for his office, as Mediator, was for himself; but his fulness of grace and truth is dispensatory, and is in him, on purpose to be communicated unto others: and “of it”, the evangelist says, “have all we received”; not all mankind, though they all receive natural light and…”

“SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. (Joh 1:16-18) 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.”

“Of his fulness - In John 1:14 the evangelist has said that Christ was “full of grace and truth.” Of that “fullness” he now says that all the disciples had received; that is, they derived from his abundant truth and mercy grace to understand the plan of salvation, to preach the gospel, to live lives of holiness; they “partook” of the numerous blessings which he came to impart by his instructions and his death. These are undoubtedly not the words of John the Baptist, but of the evangelist John, the writer of this gospel. They are a continuation of what he was saying in John 1:14, John 1:15 being evidently thrown in as a parenthesis. The declaration had not exclusive reference, probably, to the…”

“And - Here the apostle confirms the Baptist's words: as if he had said, He is indeed preferred before thee: so we have experienced: We all - That believe: have received - All that we enjoy out of his fulness: and in the particular, grace upon grace - One blessing upon another, immeasurable grace and love. John 1:17”

“of his: Joh 3:34, Joh 15:1-5; Mat 3:11, Mat 3:14; Luk 21:15; Act 3:12-16; Rom 8:9; Co1 1:4, Co1 1:5; Eph 4:7-12; Col 1:19, Col 2:3, Col 2:9, Col 2:10; Pe1 1:11 and grace: Zac 4:7; Mat 13:12; Rom 5:2, Rom 5:17, Rom 5:20; Eph 1:6-8, Eph 2:5-10, Eph 4:7; Pe1 1:2 John 1:17”