1:16

Here in 1:16 John the Gospel writer returned to his description of Jesus. It should be clear in your translation that his words begin again here. They are not the words of John the Baptist anymore. It may help to begin a new paragraph here.

1:16a

In the Greek text this verse begins with a word often translated as “because.” The New Jerusalem Bible translates it as “Indeed,” which means “Truly.” Here it introduces the grounds for what both John the Baptist and the writer John said about the Word in the previous verses. The Berean Standard Bible and other English translations do not explicitly translate it. Other English translations translate it as “because” or “for.” You should introduce what John writes about the Word in a way that is natural in your language.

From His fullness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as From here means “out of.” The word fullness means “completeness” or “plenty.” Out of the great amount of the Word’s grace, mentioned in 1:14d, we have received many blessings.

Here are other ways to translate From His fullness :

From his abundance (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
From the plentiful supply of his grace
-or-
Because he is very kind/gracious

1:16b

we have all received grace upon grace: Verse 1:16b indicates that we have received many blessings from the Word who became human. In some languages it may be natural to translate this with a pronoun referring to the Word as the subject. For example:

he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another (Good News Translation)

grace upon grace: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grace upon grace is more literally “grace in place of grace.” There are two interpretations of this phrase:

(1) It means that we receive many blessings—one after another. For example:

one blessing after another (New International Version)

(Good News Translation, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word)

(2) It means that one gift is taken away and replaced by another kind of gift. For example:

one gift replacing another (New Jerusalem Bible)

(King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

In interpretation (1), the earlier gifts are not removed as other gifts are given. In interpretation (2), there is only one gift at a time. It is implied that the earlier gifts are removed. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as do most Bible scholars. This fits the context better.

General Comment on 1:16a–b

In some languages it may be natural to combine 1:16a and 1:16b. For example:

16a–b Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is. (God’s Word)
-or-

16a–b Now we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. (NET Bible)

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