4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.



Ver. 4. In him was life] As he created, so he quickeneth and conserveth all, being the Prince and principle of life, Act_3:15; both of natural life, Act_17:28; (the heathen could say as much), {a} and of spiritual, 1Jn_5:12. Hence his members are called "heirs of the grace of life," 1Pe_3:7, and all others are said to be "dead in trespasses and sins," Eph_2:1, living carcases, walking sepulchres of themselves. In most families (as in Egypt, Exo_12:40) there is not one, but many dead corpses, as being "alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them," Eph_4:18.



{a} Est Deus in nobis, agitante calescimus illo. This is a God in us, we are warmed by that stirring.