John 1:4-5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 1:5

As light shines (present tense for the first time) in the darkness, so Jesus brought the revelation and salvation of God to humanity in its fallen and lost condition. He did this in the Incarnation. As the word of God brought light to the chaos before Creation, so Jesus brought light to fallen humankind when He became a man.Furthermore the light that Jesus brought was superior to the darkness that existed both physically and spiritually. The darkness did not overcome (Gr. katelaben, "lay hold... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 1:4

1:4 men. (d-12) This latter is a reciprocal proposition, i.e. it can also he read 'the light of men was the life.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:1-51

The Divinity and Incarnation of the Word. Witness of John. The First Disciples1-18. Preface, declaring (1) that the Word was God, (2) that He was made man, (3) that He revealed the Father.This sublime preface is intended to commend ’the truth as it is in Jesus,’ both to Jewish and Gentile minds. It describes our Lord’s person and office by a term familiar to both, that of the Logos or Word of God. ’Logos’ has two meanings in Greek: (1) reason or intelligence, as it exists inwardly in the mind,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 1:4

(4) In him was life.—The creation, the calling into existence life in its varied forms, leads up to the source of this life. It is in the Word by original being, while of the highest creature made “in the image of God” we are told that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).“Life” has here no limitation, and is to be understood in its widest sense; the life of the body, even of organisms which we commonly think of as inanimate, the life... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 1:5

(5) And the light shineth in darkness.—The vision of brightness is present but for a moment, and passes away before the black reality of the history of mankind. The description of Paradise occupies but a few verses of the Old Testament. The outer darkness casts its gloom on every page. But in the moral chaos, too, God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.” The first struggle of light into and through darkness until the darkness received it, rolled back before it, passed away into... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 1:1-51

Agnosticism, Positivism and Materialism John 1:1 John outstrips Genesis. He begins the record of the world anew, but starts from a deeper starting-point. In Genesis the history of the world arises out of the God of Creation. In John there is a deeper starting-point: history commences with the God of redemption. I. This, then, is the first assertion we have to consider Redemption is older than Creation. God the Saviour is a more fundamental fact than God the Creator. Redemption was not an... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 1:1-8

Chapter 1THE INCARNATION.“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 1:1-18

Chapter 2RECEPTION CHRIST MET WITH.John 1:1-18.In describing the Word of God, John mentions two attributes of His by which His relation to men becomes apparent: “All things were made by Him,” and “the life was the light of men.” By whom were all things made? what is the originating force which has produced the world? how are we to account for the existence, the harmony, and the progress of the universe?-these are questions which must always be put. Everywhere in nature force and intelligence... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 1:1-51

Analysis and Annotations I. The Only-begotten, the Eternal Word; His Glory and His Manifestation -- Chapter 1:1-2:22 CHAPTER 1 1. The Word: the Creator, the Life and the Light. (John 1:1-4 .) 2. The Light and the Darkness. The Light not Known. (John 1:5-11 .) 3. The Word Made Flesh and Its Gracious Results. (John 1:12-18 .) 4. The Witness of John. (John 1:19-34 .) 5. Following Him and Dwelling With Him. (John 1:35-42 .) 6. The Next Day. Nathanael’s Unbelief and Confession. (John 1:43-49... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - John 1:4

1:4 {i} In him {k} was life; and the life was {l} the light of men.(i) That is, by him: and this is spoken after the manner of the Hebrews, meaning by this that by his force and working power all life comes to the world.(k) That is, even at that time when all things were made by him, for otherwise he would have said, "Life in him", and not "life was".(l) That force of reason and understanding which is kindled in our minds to acknowledge him, the author of so great a benefit. read more

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