John 1:4-5

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:5

‘And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not lay hold of it.’ John now turns to the purpose of His coming. His first emphasis here is on the fact that the world is in darkness. It is ever waiting for light. And just as at creation darkness had to be brought into subjection by the creation of light, so must spiritual darkness be overcome by spiritual light, the light of God. Into the prevailing darkness light must come (Genesis 1:3). Both Greek and Jew would have agreed that... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:1-5

John 1:1-Job : . The Prologue: See Introduction. John 1:1-Deuteronomy : . The Word in Relation to God and Creation.— The references to the language and thought of Genesis 1 are clear. At the time of creation, if the phrase may be allowed, the Word “ was,” eternally existent, in active communion with God, and Divine. The truth about the Logos shows that the Godhead has within itself such distinctions as make possible the exercise, within itself, of the highest activities which correspond to... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - John 1:4

In him was life; in this Word was life corporal, spiritual, eternal; it was in him as in the fountain. Some understand this of corporal life, both in the first being and preservation of it; it is certain that this is in Christ, for he upholdeth all things by the word of his power, Hebrews 1:3; Acts 17:28; and thus it is another demonstration of the Deity of Christ. Others think that here is rather a transition from creation to redemption; you hath he quickened, Ephesians 2:1. Others understand... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - John 1:5

The light shineth in darkness: he had said before, that life was in Christ, in him as in the fountain; and the life in him was the light of men, giving light to men. Now this light which was in him had its emanations (as light in the sun); and the darkness, that is, men of dark minds, (the abstract being put for the concrete), comprehended (that is, received) it not. This was true concerning the Jews in former times, upon whom Christ the true Light had shined in many types and prophecies; it... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - John 1:1-18

EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTESJohn 1:1. In the beginning, etc.—ἐν . The בְּרֵאשִׁית etc., of Genesis 1:0 denotes the beginning of that movement of the divine creative energy from which sprang the visible universe. The Evangelist’s words take us beyond this definite point into the immeasurable eternity. In the beginning the Word was. The Logos was not then called into being. He existed “before all worlds” (John 17:5; John 17:24), i.e. before time, which measures the visible universe, had begun.... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - John 1:4

John 1:4 God's Self-revelation through Life. I. This Scripture opens to us God's living way of making Himself known on earth. The Bible is the record and interpretation of a way of creation and of life which leads from the promise of the beginning on and on, with a purpose never given up, and a goal never lost from sight, and against all human gravitation downward from its high intent, until it completes its course in that one sinless life through which God shines the true Light, the Light... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - John 1:4-5

John 1:4-5 I. In Christ was life, and that life was the light of men. We consider these words as marking such a derivation to ourselves of that life, that immortality which was in the Word, as can never be affirmed of the inferior tribes of this creation. Undoubtedly these tribes draw their life from the Word, at whose command it was that earth and sea and air teemed with animated being. But there is all the difference between deriving life from the Word, and having that very life which is in... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - John 1:5

John 1:5 In these few and simple words the great Evangelist describes the agency of Christ in the world. In Him, he tells us, was life; vital power for time and for eternity, able to quicken and invigorate man, and to set aside death. And that life was the light of men. Accordingly, when He appeared here on earth in our nature, this His enlightening power was signified and displayed at the very outset. The Gentiles came to the brightness of His rising. I. It is in darkness that the light is,... read more

C.I. Scofield

Scofield's Reference Notes - John 1:5

comprehended Or, apprehended; lit. "laid not hold of it." read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - John 1:1-51

Shall we turn in our Bibles to the gospel according to John.The gospel of John was the last of the gospels that were written. It was written towards the close of that first century, written by John, for the purpose of convincing people that Jesus is the Christ, that by believing in Him they might have life in His name. John declares his purpose in writing these books. He said, "Many other things did Jesus which are not written, but these things were written that you might believe that Jesus is... read more

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