Reference: Light
American
One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9; 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19; 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of light, Re 21:23-25. The opposite of all these is "darkness."
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He was the true Light That lighteth every man coming into the world.
And this is the judgment, that the Light hath come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their works were evil.
Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the Light of life."
While ye have the Light, believe on the Light, that ye may become sons of Light" These things spake Jesus, and, going away, He was hidden from them.
Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with Whom there is no variableness or shadow cast by turning.
And this is the message which we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine upon it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. read more. And its gates shall in nowise be shut by day (for there will be no night there);
Easton
the offspring of the divine command (Ge 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1Ki 11:36; Isa 58:8; Es 8:16; Ps 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps 119:105; Isa 8:20; Mt 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Col 1:12; Re 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1Ti 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Mt 5:16; Joh 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Mal 4:2; Lu 2:32; Joh 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (Jas 1:17). It is used of angels (2Co 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (Joh 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Mt 5:14).
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The people that were sitting in darkness saw a great Light; and to those sitting in a region and shadow of death Light arose."
"Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid.
So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
The same came for a testimony, that he might testify concerning the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the Light; but he came, that he might testify concerning the Light. read more. He was the true Light That lighteth every man coming into the world.
He was a lamp that was burning and shining; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
He was a lamp that was burning and shining; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
and no wonder, for even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light!
giving thanks to the Father, Who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light;
Who only hath immortality, inhabiting light unapproachable, Whom no man ever saw or is able to see; to Whom be honor and dominion eternal. Amen.
Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with Whom there is no variableness or shadow cast by turning.
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine upon it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. read more. And its gates shall in nowise be shut by day (for there will be no night there);
Hastings
To the ancient mind light was a holy thing, and the Scriptures associate it with God. He dwells in light (Ex 24:10; 1Ti 6:16); He is clothed with light (Ps 104:2); He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jo 1:5); His glory is the effulgence of His light (Re 21:23). Cf. the ancient Greek Evening Hymn rendered by Keble: 'Hail, gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured,' etc. Hence Jesus, God Incarnate, is called 'the Light of the world' (Joh 1:4-5,9; 18:12), 'an effulgence of the glory of God' (Heb 1:3); and salvation is defined as walking in His light and being enlightened by it (Joh 8:12; 12:36,38; 1Jo 1:7; 2Co 4:6; Eph 5:8,14; 1Th 5:5; 1Pe 2:3). And Christians as His representatives and witnesses are the light of the world (Mt 5:14,16; Php 2:15). On the contrary, a godless life is darkness (Joh 3:10; 8:12; 12:46; 1Jo 2:11).
David Smith.
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"Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid.
So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
He was the true Light That lighteth every man coming into the world.
Jesus answered, and said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and understand not these things?
Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the Light of life."
Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the Light of life."
While ye have the Light, believe on the Light, that ye may become sons of Light" These things spake Jesus, and, going away, He was hidden from them.
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which He spake, "Lord, who believed our report, and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?"
I have come a light into the world, that every one who believes on Me may not abide in the darkness.
So the band, and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus, and bound Him,
for ye were once darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light
Wherefore, He saith: "Awake, you who are sleeping; and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you!"
that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, irreproachable in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye appear as luminaries in the world,
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Who, being an effulgence of His glory and an exact expression of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His power, having made a purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And this is the message which we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine upon it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Morish
Besides the references to physical light as existing distinct from the sun, and then emanating from the sun as the great light-bearer, the term is mainly used in scripture in a moral sense. Light from God is His word revealing Himself, and not only making manifest the dangers here, but acting as a lamp in showing the true path. Ps 119:105. The Psalmist asked Jehovah to lift upon him the light of His countenance ( Ps 4:6 ), and declared that Jehovah Himself was his light, Ps 27:1. As natural light brings vigour and health to the body, so the light of God gives cheerfulness and strength to the soul.
God is light, and the Lord Jesus came to the earth as the true light which lighteth every man. He not only exposed all the evil in the world and all the false pretensions of the leaders of Israel; but "the life was the light of men." Joh 1:4; 8:12. Christians are "light in the Lord," and are exhorted to walk as "children of light." Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:5. In the midst of darkness they are set to shine as lights in the world. Php 2:15. A grave responsibility rests upon them lest they should not have the heavenly lustre that would characterise them as having in their hearts the light of the glory of the Lord. If the light in the Christian become darkness by his not walking in the reality of it, how great is that darkness! Mt 6:23.
It has been very properly said that light is appropriately descriptive of God; for light, invisible in itself, manifests everything. Christians, as we have seen, are 'light in the Lord,' and thus convict the unfruitful works of darkness; but here we may notice that it is not said of them, as of God, that they are 'love,' for love is the sovereign spring of activity in God.
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but, if your eye be evil, your whole body will be dark. If, therefore, the light that is in you be darkness, how great the darkness!
In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.
Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the Light of life."
for ye were once darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light
that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, irreproachable in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye appear as luminaries in the world,
Watsons
LIGHT, ???, is used in a physical sense, Mt 17:2; Ac 9:3; 12:7; 2Co 4:6; for a fire giving light, Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56; for a torch, candle, or lamp, Ac 16:29; and for the material light of heaven, as the sun, moon, or stars, Ps 136:7; Jas 1:17. Figuratively taken, it signifies a manifest or open state of things, Mt 10:27; Lu 12:3; also prosperity, truth, and joy.
God is said to dwell in light inaccessible, 1Ti 6:16. This seems to contain a reference to the glory and splendour which shone in the holy of holies, where Jehovah appeared in the luminous cloud above the mercy seat, and which none but the high priest, and he only once a year, was permitted to approach unto, Le 16:2; Eze 1:22,26,28; but this was typical of the glory of the celestial world. It signifies, also, instruction, both by doctrine and example, Mt 5:16; Joh 5:35; or persons considered as giving such light, Mt 5:14; Ro 2:19. It is applied figuratively to Christ, the true Light, the Sun of Righteousness, who is that in the spiritual, which the material light is in the natural, world; who is the great Author, not only of illumination and knowledge, but of spiritual life, health, and joy to the souls of men.
The images of light and darkness, says Bishop Lowth, are commonly made use of in all languages to imply or denote prosperity and adversity, agreeably to the common sense and perception which all men have of the objects themselves. But the Hebrews employ those metaphors more frequently and with less variation than other people: indeed, they seldom refrain from them whenever the subject requires or will even admit of their introduction. These expressions, therefore, may be accounted among those forms of speech, which in the parabolic style are established and defined; since they exhibit the most noted and familiar images, and the application of them on this occasion is justified by an acknowledged analogy, and approved by constant and unvarying custom. In the use of images, so conspicuous and so familiar among the Hebrews, a degree of boldness is excusable. The Latins introduce them more sparingly, and therefore are more cautious in the application of them. But the Hebrews, upon a subject more sublime indeed, in itself, and illustrating it by an idea which was more habitual to them, more daringly exalt their strains, and give a loose rein to the spirit of poetry. They display, for instance, not the image of the spring, of Aurora, of the dreary night, but the sun and stars as rising with increased splendour in a new creation, or again involved in chaos and primeval darkness. Does the sacred bard promise to his people a renewal of the divine favour, and a recommencement of universal prosperity? In what magnificent colours does he depict it! Such, indeed, as no translation can illustrate, but such as none can obscure:
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"Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid.
So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
What I am saying to you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
and He was transfigured before them; and His face shone as the sun, and His garments became white as the light.
And Peter followed Him afar off, even within into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the attendants, and he was warming himself at the light of the fire.
Wherefore, whatsoever ye said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye spake in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
And a certain maid, seeing him sitting by the light, and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with Him."
He was a lamp that was burning and shining; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
And, as he was journeying, it came to pass, that he was drawing nigh to Damascus; and suddenly there flashed around him a light from Heaven;
And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell; and, smiting the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, "Rise up quickly!" And his chains fell off from his hands.
And, calling for a light, he sprang in, and, being in fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas;
and have become confident that you are a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness,
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Who only hath immortality, inhabiting light unapproachable, Whom no man ever saw or is able to see; to Whom be honor and dominion eternal. Amen.
Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with Whom there is no variableness or shadow cast by turning.