Grace out of Fullness

The Bridegroom’s Gift in the Fourth Gospel

Abstract

Abstract: In the Fourth Gospel, the Greek term χάρις (grace) occurs in a single, short passage only (John 1:14.16–17) twice in the word pair χάρις καὶ ἀλήθεια (grace and truth) which corresponds to the Old Testament concepts of ח ֶ סד ֶ and א ֶ מת ֶ . This word pair frames the expression χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος – a term difficult to interpret. In the present study, I examine the context of the Johannine passage (1:14.16–17) in the Prologue, the sections on the testimony of John the Baptist and the parallels drawn between Moses and Jesus in thisGospel. I seek to get closer to the Johannine meaning of χάρις on the basis of Old Testament and targumic tradition concerning the inner cohesion of the Gospel and especially the presence of motifs from Ex 33–34.