{"id":5949,"date":"2022-09-03T19:42:32","date_gmt":"2022-09-03T19:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=5949"},"modified":"2022-09-03T19:42:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T19:42:32","slug":"there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-go-i-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-go-i-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"There But For The Grace of God Go I \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone just tell you, \u2018there but for the grace of God Go I<\/em><\/strong>?\u2019 What does this proverb mean? This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The proverbial expression \u2018there but for the grace of God go I\u2019<\/em> means that you place your life and fortune in God\u2019s hands. It\u2019s a way of saying you rely on God\u2019s guidance and mercy to lead you through life and protect you.<\/p>\n

It also means that you follow a Christian religion and embrace the faith completely. If you say \u2018there but for the grace of God go I\u2019<\/em>, you\u2019re telling someone you place your faith in God and His plan for your life.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThings can go wrong or right in life, and you never know what\u2019s coming around the corner. There but for the grace of God go I, and I\u2019ll go where his love takes me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t ever doubt my faith in the Lord. There but for the grace of God go I, and I go where he takes me, not where I want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere but for the grace of God go I. I\u2019m confident that the higher power has good intentions for my life. Trust in the Lord, and he shall provide.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'there but for the grace of God go I' originates from the English preacher John Bradford\u00a0 (1510\u20131555). His original version is different from the current use of the phrase.<\/p>\n

\"There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford\"<\/p>\n

John Bradford was tried as a heretic and burned at the stake in 1555. The Parker Society published a 1,000-page collection of his writings in 1848.<\/p>\n

However, the current version of the phrase only appeared in print hundreds of years after Bradford's death. Edward Bickersteth wrote 'A treatise on prayer' in 1822, with the author using the phrase to reference Bradford's writings and life story.<\/p>\n