John 1:5

Last updated
John 1:5
  1:4
1:6  
Papyrus 75a.gif
John 1:1–16 in Papyrus 75 (AD 175–225)
Book Gospel of John
Christian Bible part New Testament

John 1:5 is the fifth verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Contents

Content

In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort this verse is:

καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The New International Version (NIV) translates the passage as:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [1]

Analysis

Many understand "the light shines in darkness" as the light of reason, which God gives to everyone, and which might have led them to the knowledge of God by his Providence in the visible world. Matthew Henry notes that the light of reason "is derived from" the Word. [2] However "the darkness did not comprehend it", since people, blinded by their passions, could not grasp the light of reason. Or perhaps it may mean the lights of grace, "against which obstinate sinners shut their eyes." [3] The concept of a struggle between light and darkness is expressed in the NIV wording above and similarly in the Revised Standard Version. [4] J. B. Phillips offers the reading "The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out." [5]

Commentary from the Church Fathers

Augustine: "Whereas that life is the light of men, but foolish hearts cannot receive that light, being so incumbered with sins that they cannot see it; for this cause lest any should think there is no light near them, because they cannot see it, he continues: And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. For suppose a blind man standing in the sun, the sun is present to him, but he is absent from the sun. In like manner every fool is blind, and wisdom is present to him; but, though present, absent from his sight, forasmuch as sight is gone: the truth being, not that she is absent from him, but that he is absent from her." [6]

Origen: "This kind of darkness however is not in men by nature, according to the text in the Ephesians, Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord1. (Eph. 5:8)" [6]

Origen: "Or thus, The light shineth in the darkness of faithful souls, beginning from faith, and drawing onwards to hope; but the deceit and ignorance of undisciplined souls did not comprehend the light of the Word of God shining in the flesh. That however is an ethical meaning. The metaphysical signification of the words is as follows. Human nature, even though it sinned not, could not shine by its own strength simply; for it is not naturally light, but only a recipient of it; it is capable of containing wisdom, but is not wisdom itself. As the air, of itself, shineth not, but is called by the name of darkness, even so is our nature, considered in itself, a dark substance, which however admits of and is made partaker of the light of wisdom. And as when the air receives the sun’s rays, it is not said to shine of itself, but the sun’s radiance to be apparent in it; so the reasonable part of our nature, while possessing the presence of the Word of God, does not of itself understand God, and intellectual things, but by means of the divine light implanted in it. Thus, The light shineth in darkness: for the Word of God, the life and the light of men, ceaseth not to shine in our nature; though regarded in itself, that nature is without form and darkness. And forasmuch as pure light cannot be comprehended by any creature, hence the text: The darkness comprehended it not." [6]

Chrysostom: "Or thus: throughout the whole foregoing passage he had been speaking of creation; then he mentions the spiritual benefits which the Word brought with it: and the life was the light of men. He saith not, the light of Jews, but of all men without exception; for not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also have come to this knowledge. The Angels he omits, for he is speaking of human nature, to whom the Word came bringing glad tidings." [6]

Origen: "But they ask, why is not the Word Itself called the light of men, instead of the life which is in the Word? We reply, that the life here spoken of is not that which rational and irrational animals have in common, but that which is annexed to the Word which is within us through participation of the primæval Word. For we must distinguish the external and false life, from the desirable and true. We are first made partakers of life: and this life with some is light potentially only, not in act; with those, viz. who are not eager to search out the things which appertain to knowledge: with others it is actual light, those who, as the Apostle saith, covet earnestly the best gifts, (1 Cor. 12:31) that is to say, the word of wisdom. . - If the life and the light of men are the same, whoso is in darkness is proved not to live, and none who liveth abideth in darkness." [6]

Chrysostom: "Life having come to us, the empire of death is dissolved; a light having shone upon us, there is darkness no longer: but there remaineth ever a life which death, a light which darkness cannot overcome. Whence he continues, And the light shineth in darkness: by darkness meaning death and error, for sensible light does not shine in darkness, but darkness must be removed first; whereas the preaching of Christ shone forth amidst the reign of error, and caused it to disappear, and Christ by dying changed death into life, so overcoming it, that, those who were already in its grasp, were brought back again. Forasmuch then as neither death nor error hath overcome his light, which is every where conspicuous, shining forth by its own strength; therefore he adds, And the darkness comprehended it not." [6]

Origen: "As the light of men is a word expressing two spiritual things, so is darkness also. To one who possesses the light, we attribute both the doing the deeds of the light, and also true understanding, inasmuch as he is illuminated by the light of knowledge: and, on the other hand, the term darkness we apply both to unlawful acts, and also to that knowledge, which seems such, but is not. Now as the Father is light, and in Him is no darkness at all, so is the Saviour also. Yet, inasmuch as he underwent the similitude of our sinful flesh, it is not incorrectly said of Him, that in Him there was some darkness; for He took our darkness upon Himself, in order that He might dissipate it. This Light therefore, which was made the life of man, shines in the darkness of our hearts, when the prince of this darkness wars with the human race. This Light the darkness persecuted, as is clear from what our Saviour and His children suffer; the darkness fighting against the children of light. But, forasmuch as God takes up the cause, they do not prevail; nor do they apprehend the light, for they are either of too slow a nature to overtake the light’s quick course, or, waiting for it to come up to them, they are put to flight at its approach. We should bear in mind, however, that darkness is not always used in a bad sense, but sometimes in a good, as in Psalm 17. He made darkness His secret place: (Ps. 18:11) the things of God being unknown and incomprehensible. This darkness then I will call praiseworthy, since it tends toward light, and lays hold on it: for, though it were darkness before, while it was not known, yet it is turned to light and knowledge in him who has learned." [6]

Augustine: "A certain Platonist once said, that the beginning of this Gospel ought to be copied in letters of gold, and placed in the most conspicuous place in every church." [6]

Bede: "The other Evangelists describe Christ as born in time; John witnesseth that He was in the beginning, saying, In the beginning was the Word. The others describe His sudden appearance among men; he witnesseth that He was ever with God, saying, And the Word was with God. The others prove Him very man; he very God, saying, And the Word was God. The others exhibit Him as man conversing with men for a season; he pronounces Him God abiding with God in the beginning, saying, The Same was in the beginning with God. The others relate the great deeds which He did amongst men; he that God the Father made every creature through Him, saying, All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made." [6]

Related Research Articles

In Christian theology, divinization, or theopoesis or theosis, is the transforming effect of divine grace, the spirit of God, or the atonement of Christ. Although it literally means to become divine, or to become God, most modern Christian denominations do not interpret the doctrine as implying an overcoming of a fundamental ontological difference between God and humanity; for example, John of the Cross indicated that while "God communicates to it [the individual soul] His supernatural Being, in such wise that it appears to be God Himself, and has all that God Himself has", yet "it is true that its natural being, though thus transformed, is as distinct from the Being of God as it was before".

The Ophites, also called Ophians, were a Christian Gnostic sect depicted by Hippolytus of Rome (170–235) in a lost work, the Syntagma ("arrangement").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inward light</span> Quaker concept

Inward light, Light of God, Light of Christ, Christ within, That of God, Spirit of God within us, Light within, and inner light are related phrases commonly used within the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as metaphors for Christ's light shining on or in them. It was propagated by the founder of the Quaker movement, George Fox, who "preached faith in and reliance on 'inward light' ". The first Quakers were known to sit in silence and meditate on the words of the Bible until they felt the inward light of God shining upon them and the Holy Spirit speaking. The concept was highly important to early Quakers, who taught: "God reveals Himself within each individual's conscience and consciousness by the Holy Spirit, Christ Himself being the Light to illuminate man's sinfulness and lead in the way of truth and righteousness. ... this light is in all men by the grace of God to lead them to Christ, and that the same light will give daily guidance to the Christian."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian mysticism</span> Christian mystical practices

Christian mysticism is the tradition of mystical practices and mystical theology within Christianity which "concerns the preparation [of the person] for, the consciousness of, and the effect of [...] a direct and transformative presence of God" or Divine love. Until the sixth century the practice of what is now called mysticism was referred to by the term contemplatio, c.q. theoria, from contemplatio, "looking at", "gazing at", "being aware of" God or the Divine. Christianity took up the use of both the Greek (theoria) and Latin terminology to describe various forms of prayer and the process of coming to know God.

John Scotus Eriugena, also known as Johannes Scotus Erigena, John the Scot, or John the Irish-born was an Irish Neoplatonist philosopher, theologian and poet of the Early Middle Ages. Bertrand Russell dubbed him "the most astonishing person of the ninth century". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that he "is the most significant Irish intellectual of the early monastic period. He is generally recognized to be both the outstanding philosopher of the Carolingian era and of the whole period of Latin philosophy stretching from Boethius to Anselm".

"Know thyself" is a philosophical maxim which was inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in the ancient Greek precinct of Delphi. The best-known of the Delphic maxims, it has been quoted and analyzed by numerous authors throughout history, and has been applied in many ways. Although traditionally attributed to the Seven Sages of Greece, or to the god Apollo himself, the inscription likely had its origin in a popular proverb.

The Book of Thomas the Contender or The Book of Thomas is a Gnostic revelation dialogue. It is the seventh tractate in Codex II of the Nag Hammadi library. The tractate is a Coptic translation of a Greek original, likely composed in Syria during the early 200s AD. The dialogue is between Jesus and Judas Thomas, whom Jesus calls "my twin" and "my brother." Scholars disagree on whether Judas Thomas is Thomas the Apostle, Jude the Apostle, and/or Jude, brother of Jesus. Judas is one of the brothers of Jesus named in Mark 6:3, and Thomas is Aramaic for 'twin.' The ending of the text is a monologue delivered by Jesus.

The Teachings of Silvanus is the fourth tractate in Codex VII of the Nag Hammadi library. The Coptic translation dates to c. 350 AD, but the original Greek version was likely written near Alexandria between c. 200 and the early 300s AD. The text is pseudepigrapha attributed to Silas (Silvanus), a companion of Paul in Acts of the Apostles. Scholars typically consider it not Gnostic, but J. L. Sumney argues that it is a Gnostic work. It is a rare example of an early Christian Wisdom text and was used in monastic circles. The content of the text encourages the reader to seek wisdom and knowledge, embrace Christ as the King and Teacher, and to cast out any negative influences. God and Christ are described as divine, with Christ being an emanation of God's power, wisdom, and life. The text instructs the reader to fear God, glorify Him through good works, and be pure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1</span> Chapter of the New Testament

John 1 is the first chapter in the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. The author of the book containing this chapter is John that composed this gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logos (Christianity)</span> Name or title of Jesus Christ

In Christianity, the Logos is a name or title of Jesus Christ, seen as the pre-existent second person of the Trinity. In the Douay–Rheims, King James, New International, and other versions of the Bible, the first verse of the Gospel of John reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In Christian theology, the tripartite view (trichotomy) holds that humankind is a composite of three distinct components: body, spirit, and soul. It is in contrast to the bipartite view (dichotomy), where soul and spirit are taken as different terms for the same entity.

Mystical theology is the branch of theology in the Christian tradition that deals with divine encounter and the self-communication of God with the faithful; such as to explain mystical practices and states, as induced by contemplative practices such as contemplative prayer, called theoria from the Greek for contemplation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:1</span> Verse of the Bible

John 1:1 is the first verse in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The traditional and majority translation of this verse reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

De Divisione Naturae is the title given by Thomas Gale to his edition (1681) of the work originally titled by 9th-century theologian Johannes Scotus Eriugena Periphyseon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:18</span> Verse of the bible

John 1:18 is the eighteenth verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Romantic epistemology emerged from the Romantic challenge to both the static, materialist views of the Enlightenment (Hobbes) and the contrary idealist stream (Hume) when it came to studying life. Romanticism needed to develop a new theory of knowledge that went beyond the method of inertial science, derived from the study of inert nature, to encompass vital nature. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was at the core of the development of the new approach, both in terms of art and the 'science of knowledge' itself (epistemology). Coleridge's ideas regarding the philosophy of science involved Romantic science in general, but Romantic medicine in particular, as it was essentially a philosophy of the science(s) of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:2</span>

John 1:2 is the second verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:3</span>

John 1:3 is the third verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:4</span>

John 1:4 is the fourth verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 1:10</span>

John 1:10 is the tenth verse in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

References

  1. John 1:5: NIV
  2. Henry, M., Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 1, accessed 14 July 2022
  3. Robert Witham, Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Dublin: 1730.
  4. John 1:5: RSV
  5. John 1:5: J. B. Philiips (1960, 1972), The New Testament in Modern English, administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, accessed 14 July 2022
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Catena aurea: commentary on the four Gospels, collected out of the works of the Fathers: Volume 6, St. John. Oxford: Parker, 1874. Thomas Aquinas".PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
Preceded by
John 1:4
Gospel of John
Chapter 1
Succeeded by
John 1:6