The Light · stop 5 of 9
The true light
John's prologue puts life and light in apposition — 'In him was life; and the life was the light of men' — then reports what happened when the light arrived: 'the darkness apprehended it not.' φῶς (phōs, G5457) is tagged in 61 verses of the New Testament, and John's Gospel holds more of them than any other book.
4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
Open John 1:4–9 in the reader →Everything gathered on this verse →
The approved voices
On John 1:4–9
(Hom. 2, in div. loc.) Or thus: We must not understand the words, lighteneth every man that cometh into the world, of the growth from hidden seeds to organized bodies, but of the entrance into the invisible world, by the spiritual regeneration and grace, which is given in Baptism. Those then the true Light lighteneth, who come into the world of goodness, not those who rush into the world of sin.
Origen of Alexandria· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 253Patristic
The person who supposes that he is protected by the darkness is vain, since he cannot escape the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness grasped it not. Accordingly, he is discovered like a fugitive and a wicked hireling and is recognized before he can conceal himself. For all things are known to the Lord before he seeks them out, not only past events but also those that are to come.
Ambrose of Milan· Interrogation of Job and David 1.3.6, 397Patristic
The workbench
Words in this verse
The floor
Where the canon echoes this verse
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
Commentary on John 12:461 voice
Behold, again He grasps their faith and fixes it on Himself, and effects at once two most useful ends. For on the one hand in professing Himself to be Light He proves that He is God by Nature, for so to be called befits Him alone Who is in His Nature God; and on the other hand by adding the cause of His coming, He brings a blush to the cheek of any man who thinks but little of loving Him.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 8 (Fragments), 444Patristic
- John 5:26
For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
Commentary on John 5:261 voice
Observe again the economy in these words, that thou mayest marvel at the form of expression and not, by falling into offence thereat from ignorance, bring upon thyself perdition. For the Only-Begotten, being Man in respect of the nature of His Body, and seen as one of us while yet upon the earth with flesh, manifoldly instructing the Jews in matters pertaining to salvation, clothed Himself with the glory of two God-befitting things. For He clearly affirmed, that He would both raise the dead, and set them at His Judgement-seat to be judged.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 2, 444Patristic
- 1 John 1:5–7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Commentary on 1 John 1:5–72 voices
When John says that there is no darkness in the light of God, he proves that all the lights of others are stained by some blemish.
Jerome· Against the Pelagians 2.7, 420Patristic
...the apostles who did also write the Gospel, in which they recorded the doctrine regarding God, pointing out that our Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, and that no lie is in Him. As also David says, prophesying His birth from a virgin, and the resurrection from the dead, "Truth has sprung out of the earth." The apostles, likewise, being disciples of the truth, are above all falsehood; for a lie has no fellowship with the truth, just as darkness has none with light, but the presence of the one shuts out that of the other.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book III, 202Patristic
- John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Commentary on John 9:51 voice
Shall we then think that Christ is now not at all in the world, or do we believe that He, having ascended to heaven after His restoration to life from the dead, no longer dwells among those in this present life? And yet being very God, He fills and tends not only the heavens and what is beyond the firmament, but also the world which we inhabit.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 6, 444Patristic
- Luke 1:78–79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Commentary on Luke 1:78–792 voices
For the world, indeed, was wandering in error, serving the creation in the place of the Creator, and was darkened over by the blackness of ignorance, and a night, as it were, that had fallen upon the minds of all, permitted them not to see Him, Who both by nature and truly is God. But the Lord of all rose for the Israelites, like a light and a sun.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, 444Patristic
What greater destiny can befall man's humility than that he should be intermingled with God, and by this intermingling should be deified, and that we should be so visited by the "dayspring from on high"? Further, that even the holy thing that should be born should be called the Son of the Most High and that he should be given "a name that is above every name"? And what else can this be but God?
Gregory of Nazianzus· ORATION 30.3, ON THE SON, 390Patristic
- John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
Commentary on John 11:251 voice
I am the voice of life that wakens the dead. I am the good odor that takes away the foul odor. I am the voice of joy that takes away sorrow and grief.… I am the comfort of those who are in grief. Those who belong to me are given joy by me. I am the joy of the whole world. I gladden all my friends and rejoice with them. I am the bread of life.
Athanasius of Alexandria· HOMILY ON THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS, 373Patristic
- Isaiah 42:6–7
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.
Commentary on Isaiah 42:6–72 voices
(Verses 6-7) I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Jerome· Commentary on Isaiah, 420Patristic
"The opened eyes of the blind" means [Christ] provided clear knowledge of the Father through the Son.
Clement of Alexandria· The Stromata Book 1, 215Patristic
- John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Commentary on John 14:61 voice
He is therefore one and the same God, who called Abraham and gave him the promise. But He is the Creator, who does also through Christ prepare lights in the world, [namely] those who believe from among the Gentiles. And He says, "Ye are the light of the world;" that is, as the stars of heaven. Him, therefore, I have rightly shown to be known by no man, unless by the Son, and to whomsoever the Son shall reveal Him.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book IV, 202Patristic
- 1 John 5:11
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Commentary on 1 John 5:111 voice
Accordingly, those also who fell asleep received the seal of the Son of God. For before a man bears the name of the Son of God he is dead; but when he receives the seal he lays aside his deadness, and obtains life. The seal, then, is the water: they descend into the water dead, and they arise alive.
Shepherd of Hermas· Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude 9, 160Patristic
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; OpenBible.info (CC-BY).