The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” And then in John 1:9 says, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” There is a distinct relationship between light and truth. Theirs is the land of sunshine. The brightness that enables sight in the darkness. Verse 9. We have a perfect and complete union of the ideas of Creation, God’s Word, Light, and Life. Its characteristics are beauty, radiance, utility. Light (1) Natural Light. Salem Media Group. When natural light fails, man by discovery or invention provides himself with some temporary substitute, however dim and inadequate. That was the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:1, 4, 7-9). A city set on a hill cannot be … When the appalling plague of "thick darkness," for three days, enveloped the Egyptians, terrified and rendered them helpless, "all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" (Exodus 10:23). In the Beginning. - (b) The illumination of the archetypal Light before incarnation. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ’Ori, translated “My light” in the Hebrew text of Psalm 27:1. Time is reckoned from sunset to sunset. The seven churches of Asia were revealed to John, by the Spirit, as seven golden candlesticks, and her ministers as seven stars, both luminous with the light of the Gospel revelation. The phenomena of natural light have their counterpart in the inner life of man. The Urim of the high priest's breastplate signified light, and the name itself is but the plural form of the Hebrew 'or. It is significant that this pre-Christian prophet was termed luchnos, while the disciples of the new dispensation are called phos (Matthew 5:14): "Ye are the light of the world.". The Light Yet to Come. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Light Bible is a quick and free Bible app that delivers new Bible verses from the King James Bible (KJV Bible) each day. The origin of light thus finds its explanation in the purpose and very nature of God whom John defines as not only the Author of light but, in an all-inclusive sense, as light itself: The word "light" is Divinely rich in its comprehensiveness and meaning. White is the presence of all the light in the visible spectrum. Heb. 21:2, 23). If we claimed that the Light shining forth on Day One of creation week was simply God Himself we would have major problems - because God is a Spirit and He does not directly emit protons or waves! "There were many lights. The Bible says that "God is Light" and this is not the same as saying "Light is God." It is the outshining of Deity. The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, did light spring up (Matthew 4:16; Isa. Light always involves the removal of darkness in the unfolding of biblical history and theology. J esus said we are the light of the world, and we’re commanded to walk in the light, so what does it mean and how can we do it?. Luke 16:8 ; John 3:19-21 ; 12:36 ; 2 Cor 6:14 ; Col 1:12-14 ; 1 Thess 5:5 ; 1 Peter 2:9 ). “You are the light of the world. The one who has come into the light of Jesus Christ is brought into the ethical life characterized by light (cf. God is light ( 1 John 1:5 ) and the Father of lights ( James 1:17 ) who dispels darkness. All rights reserved. Salt and light are images used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, one of the main teachings of Jesus on morality and discipleship. The Light of Salvation and Life for Believers Those responding to the light are ushered into the sphere of life in which darkness is dispelled. The actions and positive results of a sound relationship within a local community or between God and a person or His people. A biblical commentary is a written systematic series of explanations and interpretations of Scripture. In order to create and nurture deep Christian fellowship you have to talk about who you think Christ is and what he taught. THE LIGHT OF TRUTH Beyond the physical element, light in the Bible stands for spiritual illumination and truth. The prophetic word of God is what brings hope of the light yet to come, and Peter provides an appropriate admonition: "You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in you hearts" ( 2 Peter 1:19 ). Also in the prophecies of the Old Testament, as in Isaiah:--. Darkness is the opposite of … The Meaning of White in the Bible. He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent me I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in the darkness (John 12:46, 46). Light Is Good. 22:5). In the New Jerusalem there will be no more night ( Rev 22:5 ), and the city will not need the sun, moon, or created light to shine on it, "for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. God’s first spoken words in the Bible brought forth both light and life. Metaphorically, God is light because light has an extremely pure, brilliant quality. God gives "the light of the knowledge of (his) glory in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6), and this salvation is called "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Whether the darkness was due to a Divinely-ordered natural cause or the light was the natural light of day, the process that preserved the interspersed Israelites from the encompassing darkness was supernatural. The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee, denotes that this will be the case with the things not of natural, but of spiritual light, which is signified by Jehovah being an everlasting light. Yet a little while is the light with you walk while ye have the light, lest darkness seize upon you; while ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be sons of light (John 12:35, 36). Eng. luck, both in elements and radical sense. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true" ( Eph 5:8-9 ). Jesus came as the light of the world, breaking through the darkness of sin by his work on the cross. 17:2). Jesus’ Light is Life-Giving Jesus is God incarnate and God is the giver of life. The truly Christian life is a life of light. The holy city New Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it the glory of God will enlighten it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof (Rev. Isaiah 5:20 describes a moral confusion and blindness, which cannot distinguish light from darkness. The Bible entertains no thought that darkness is equal in power to God's light. His face as the sun was the Divine good; His raiment as the light was the Divine truth. When they go to other lands of clouded skies their only thought is to return to the brightness and sunshine of their native land. In Palestine there is hardly a day in the whole year when the sun does not shine for some part of it, while for five months of the year there is scarcely an interruption of the sunshine. At the future appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ all darkness will be dispelled, and believers will walk in purity, peace, and joy in the light of the living God. lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words): The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. While light is not itself divine, it is often used metaphorically for life ( Psalm 56:13 ), salvation ( Isa 9:2 ), the commandments ( Prov 6:23 ), and the divine presence of God ( Exod 10:23 ). I have given thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation, unto the end of the earth (Isa. or [r/a]; Gk. Light is often used as a metaphor in the Bible, and the word illumination (“divine enlightenment of the human heart with truth”) has to do with bringing things into the light. Its material splendor is used throughout the Scriptures as the symbol and synonym of all that is luminous and radiant in the mental, moral and spiritual life of men and angels; while the eternal God, because of His holiness and moral perfection, is pictured as "dwelling in light unapproachable" (1 Timothy 6:16). This blog examines the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:14-16. Darkness evokes everything that is anti-God: the wicked ( Prov 2:13 ), judgment ( Exod 10:21 ), death ( Psalm 88:12 ). Light brightens up dark places, exposing evil and danger and eliminating deception and falsehood. The revealed will of God provides light to the heart, soul, and mind of humanity, providing guidance in a dark world ( Psalm 19:7-10 ; Psalms 119:105 Psalms 119:130 ). [7] That all the light of heaven, consequently wisdom and intelligence, is from the Lord, is thus taught in John:--. Jesus would show the reality of what is. [3] As regards the very origin of light, this has been from eternity from the Lord alone; for Divine good itself and Divine truth, from which light comes, is the Lord. Supernatural was the effulgence at Christ's transfiguration that made "his garments .... white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). For this reason the Scriptures use "light" largely in the figurative sense. Translators have employed “righteousness” in rendering several biblical words into English: sedaqah, sedeq, in Hebrew; and dikaiosune and euthutes. The glory of His holiness and presence is the "everlasting light" of the redeemed in heaven (Isaiah 60:19,20; Revelation 21:23,14; 22:5). the offspring of the divine command ( Genesis 1:3 ). As "salt", the Christian is to counteract the power of sin. Back to Words index, Back to Natural words index. Her mission as the enlightener of the world was symbolized in the ornamentations of her priesthood. It "rejoiceth the heart" (Proverbs 15:30); "Truly the light is sweet" (Ecclesiastes 11:7); without it men stumble and are helpless (John 11:9,10); it is something for which they wait with inexpressible longing (Job 30:26; compare Psalms 130:6). Throughout the Old Testament light is regularly associated with God and his word, with salvation, with goodness, with truth, with life. When natural light fails, man by discovery or invention provides himself with some temporary... (3) Miraculous Light. In response to the darkness that was over the surface of the deep ( Gen 1:2 ), God spoke and light came into being. The importance of light and darkness is dramatically presented in the opening sentences of the biblical record. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. In regard to its lucidity, this light does indeed appear like the light in the world; but still it is not like it, for it is not natural, but spiritual, having in it wisdom; so that it is nothing else than wisdom which so shines before the eyes of the angels; and therefore the wiser the angels are, the brighter is the light in which they are (AC 2776). It frequently signifies instruction ( Matthew 5:16 ; John 5:35 ). (c) The Jew who possessed the law mistakenly supposed he was "a light of them that are in darkness" (Romans 2:19). 9:2); from which passages it is very plain that the Lord as to the Divine good and truth in the Divine Human, is called light. The apostle Paul speaks of "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Christ, the eternal Word (logos, John 1:1), who said "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), is Himself the "effulgence of (God's) glory" (Hebrews 1:3), "the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world" (John 1:9) (compare the statements concerning Wisdom in The Wisdom of Solomon 7:25 f and concerning Christ in Hebrews 1:3; and see CREEDS; LOGOS; JOHANNINE THEOLOGY; WISDOM). It is a symbol of God, His children, truth, faith, righteousness, etc. The Bible isn’t really a book about the creation of the heavens as much as it’s a book about how to get to heaven, but Genesis 1:1 isn’t the actual beginning. In the Word frequent mention is made of light, and by this in the internal sense is signified the truth which is from good but in the supreme internal sense there is signified the Lord Himself, because He is good and truth itself. These images in Matthew 5:13, 14, 15 and 16 immediately follow the Beatitudes and are often interpreted as referring to Jesus' expectations of his disciples. This is the judgment, that light is come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the light (John 3:19), where light denotes the Divine truth. “Light represents what is good, true and holy,” the NIV Study Bible explains, “while darkness represents what is evil and false.” Satan’s goal was to defeat Jesus, but Light defeated him. Moreover the evil spirits in the other life see one another, and also see many representatives which exist in the world of spirits, and this indeed they do from the light of heaven; but their lumen is such as proceeds from a fire of coals, for the light of heaven is changed into such a lumen when it comes to them. Jesus called Himself "the light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); As light He was "God .... manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16 the King James Version). It is the task of all believers to pass on the divine light they have received. In the moral realm the enlightenment of these faculties is dependent wholly on the renewal of the spirit. There shall be no night there, and they need no lamp, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light (Rev. Psalms 119:130, "The opening of thy words giveth light"; so Proverbs 6:23, "The law is light." John 1:9 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] John 1:9, NIV: "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." The suddenness of the change from darkness to light with the rising sun and the disappearance of the sun in the evening is more striking than in more northern countries, and it is not strange that in the ancient days there should have arisen a worship of the sun as the giver of light and happiness, and that Job should mention the enticement of sun-worship when he "beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness" (Job 31:26). Under the same category Paul classifies `the great light' that `suddenly shone round about him from heaven' on the way to Damascus (Acts 22:6; compare Acts 9:3). "The Word was God" (John 1:1). goodness, righteousness, truth; (2) "light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8), indicating the source of light (compare Isaiah 2:5); (3) "inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:12), a present experience issuing in heaven; (4) "Father of lights" (James 1:17), signifying the Creator of the heavenly bodies; (5) "marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9), the light of God's presence and fellowship; (6) "Walk in the light" (1John 1:7), in the light of God's teaching and companionship; (7) "abideth in the light" (1John 2:10), in love, Divine and fraternal; (8) "Light of the glorious gospel of Christ "; "light of the knowledge of the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4,6 the King James Version). With steps on how to apply Bible verses to your life temporary... 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