On light and darkness

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

— John 1:5

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John 1:5, often quoted as “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” speaks to the victory of divine truth (Jesus/God’s Word) over evil, ignorance, and sin, symbolizing that no matter how dark the world gets, the light of Christ persists and can’t be extinguished or fully understood by evil. It’s found in the Gospel of John, where the Word (Logos) is presented as life and light, contrasting with the world’s spiritual darkness, representing hope and God’s enduring presence. 

Key interpretations:

  • The Light: Refers to Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who is truth, life, and spiritual illumination.
  • The Darkness: Represents evil, sin, spiritual blindness, and opposition to God.
  • “Not overcome it”: The Greek word implies not comprehending, overpowering, or subduing; the darkness can’t defeat or extinguish the light. 

Context in the Bible:

  • This verse is part of the prologue (John 1:1-18) describing the pre-existence and divine nature of the Word (Jesus).
  • It sets a theme of hope, showing that Christ’s coming brings light that challenges and ultimately triumphs over the world’s inherent darkness, even if people don’t recognize it. 

Related verse (1 John 1:5):

  • A similar message appears in 1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all“. This reinforces the idea that God is pure light, and genuine fellowship with Him means walking in that light, not in sin [missing the mark]. 

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