Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

John 1:17

A “surface” reading of this verse concludes that the law didn’t exist until the time of Moses, and that grace and truth didn’t exist prior to Yahushua’s presence on earth. Are these assumptions true?

THE VERSE
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

THE STUDY
The law [Greek term: nomos]. General term indicating “law” in the judicial sphere.

Was given [Greek term: didōmi]. The form of this verb is indicative aortic, which means the act in question is a completed fact; there is no implying a continuance or duration of time, and there is no possibility of the act having been an unrealized condition, a possibility or a wish. The form of the verb in this phrase, ἐδόθη, WAS GIVEN, stresses the idea of “bringing charges,” bringing a complaint against,” or to “accuse.”

By [Greek term: dia]. DIA indicates Moses as being the instrument used to accomplish a thing — in other words, the channel of an act, denoting the manner. DIA may also specify a whole duration within which something takes place (e.g., “during” or “within”).

The English word BUT is not in the Greek manuscript; it is supplied by the translators.

Grace [Greek term: charis]. The root term, chairō, means “to be calmly happy.” As a religious technical term, CHARIS is YHWH’s attitude towards Humanity (e.g., kindness, favor, helpfulness). It is a quality or attitude that adds delight or pleasure. The Greek manuscript indicates the word THE precedes GRACE.

Truth [Greek term: alētheia]. The meaning of ALETHEIA is of what has certainty and validity, as opposed to something that is going astray or is wandering. The Greek manuscript indicates the word THE precedes TRUTH.

Came [Greek term: ginomai]. The overarching meaning is “to bring into existence.” Of particular interest is the form and tense of this verb (ἐγένετο): it is an indicative aortic, which means the act in question is a completed fact; there is no implying a continuance or duration of time, and there is no possibility of the act having been an unrealized condition, a possibility or a wish. Likewise, GINOMAI is a verb of middle deportment, emphasizing that the doer of the act (Yahushua Messiah) shares in the meaning of the action through personal interest, self-involvement or interaction.

By [Greek term: dia]. In this instance, DIA indicates Yahushua Messiah as being the instrument used to accomplish a thing — in other words, the channel of an act, denoting the manner. DIA may also specify a whole duration within which something takes place (e.g., “during” or “within”). The English word THROUGH may also be translated in this instance.

TAKEAWAY THOUGHT
The law, in and of itself, is good — it was designed to lead Humanity to salvation through faith in the coming Messiah. The law didn’t originate with Moses, but with YHWH. Law, grace and truth have always existed. The law is a “mirror” by which sin is seen in Self (the aforementioned “bringing charges”). By affirming “truth” as being brought into existence by Father YHWH through His Word, the apostle John identifies Yahushua as the reality toward whom all Old Testament types and ceremonies pointed. Type met anti-type in Messiah. In no sense does John imply that the Old Testament system was false or in error.