With its focus on our works, this passage provides an alternative interpretation of that word “for.” I would paraphrase it in this way: We receive the abundant blessings of God by striving to emulate His goodness. May God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works. After lamenting the foolishness and the stubbornness of people, Mormon offers the following prayer for all of us: In the Book of Mormon, we find a similar passage, but with some meaningful additions. Amplified Bible: “For out of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.New Living Translation: “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”.New International Version: “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”.The Greek word rendered “for” in that passage- anti (ἀντί)-actually means “in place of” or “in exchange for.” What does it mean for God to give us grace in exchange for grace?Įnglish translations of the Bible have generally interpreted this verse as a celebration of the abundant gifts God has given us, each one greater than the last. Near the beginning of the Gospel of John, there is an unusual statement which describes how we receive the power of God:Īnd of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

What does it mean to give grace