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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the Bible: Light
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LIGHT.—To the ancient mind light was a holy thing, and the Scriptures associate it with God. He dwells in light (Exo_24:10, 1Ti_6:16); He is clothed with light (Psa_104:2); He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jn_1:5); His glory is the effulgence of His light (Rev_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; Joh_1:9; Joh_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; Joh_12:36; Joh_12:38, 1Jn_1:7, 2Co_4:6, Eph_5:8; Eph_5:14, 1Th_5:5, 1Pe_2:3). And Christians as His representatives and witnesses are the light of the world (Mat_5:14; Mat_5:16, Php_2:15). On the contrary, a godless life is darkness (Joh_3:10; Joh_8:12; Joh_12:46, 1Jn_2:11).
David Smith.