Light of the World
Light of the World (
Gospel accounts
Referring to himself
In John 8:12 Jesus applies the title to himself while debating with the Jews and states:[1]
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Jesus again claims to be Light of the World in John 9:5, during the miracle of
- When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.
This episode leads into John 9:39 where Jesus metaphorically explains that he came to this world, so that the blind may see.[2]
In the
Light is defined as life, as seen in John 1:4, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men". Those who have faith through him will have eternal life. In John's Gospel, "darkness is present in the absence of light; the absence of eternal life," and darkness referring to death, spiritually.[5]
Referring to his disciples
Jesus also used that term to refer to his disciples in Matthew 5:14:[1]
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.[6]
This application of "light compared with darkness" also appears in 1 John 1:5 which applies it to God and states: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all".[7]
Johannine Dualism
Light and darkness in John's Gospel is an
Examples of
Light | Darkness |
---|---|
Known | Unknown |
Jesus Christ | Moses |
Heavenly | Earthly |
Above | Not Above |
Spirit | Flesh |
Sight | Blindness |
Insiders | World |
Day | Night |
Extra-biblical sources
In the
Light is a recurring theme in
See also
- Divine light
- I am (biblical term)
- Inward light – Quaker concept
- Jesus in Christianity
- Life of Jesus in the New Testament
- Tabor Light – Palamist doctrine of seeing God's light
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7661-7467-0page 226
- ^ ISBN 0-664-25694-5page 235
- ^ ISBN 978-0-664-25010-2page 147
- ISBN 0-8028-4816-8page 163
- ^ Baylis, Charles P., "The Meaning of Walking "In the Darkness" (1 John 1:6)." Bibliotheca Sacra 149, no. 594 (1992). 219
- ISBN 0-8254-2915-3pages 199-202
- ^ Trocmé, E. (1995). Light and Darkness in the Fourth Gospel. Disdaskalia (Otterburne, Man.), 6(2), 3-13
- ^ Gospel of Thomas, 24
- ISBN 978-0-252-03278-3.
- OCLC 65198443.
External links
- Media related to Light of the world at Wikimedia Commons