The Greek passive (“the Law was given”) is rendered by an active in Good News Translation, with God as the explicit subject: God gave the Law. In some languages God gave the Law through Moses must be rendered as a causative with secondary agency, for example, “God caused Moses to give the Law.”

Since this verse contains a specific reference to the Jewish Law, Good News Translation and most modern translations spell Law with a capital “L.” In same languages, however, it is not possible to speak of the numerous laws of the Pentateuch as “the Law.” Rather than a singular collective expression, it is necessary to use a plural, for example, “God caused Moses to give the laws to the people.”

Grace and truth must be understood in the light of the observations made in verse 14. John is reminding his readers that God’s ultimate expression of love and his absolute faithfulness to his covenant are both seen in Jesus Christ.

Though in English it is appropriate to say grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, this is impossible in many languages, since one cannot speak of grace and truth “coming.” One may avoid the direct reference to God as the initiating agent by saying “It is by means of Jesus Christ that we experience grace and truth.” It is also possible to make this second clause of verse 17 parallel with the first, for example, “God showed grace and truth through Jesus Christ” or “God showed his love and revealed the truth about himself through Jesus Christ.” This type of rendering makes the phrase grace and truth parallel with what has been said in verse 14. This focus upon truth as the revelation of God fits well with the following verse.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .