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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
"God is light," says 1 John 1:5. Light is a common metaphor in the Bible. Proverbs 4:18 symbolizes righteousness as the "morning sun." Philippians 2:15 likens God's children who are "blameless and ...
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STANLEY S. DRANE
Supporter
I'm glad you asked. We see in 1st John 1:5-6 (Life Application Bible Notes) to say, "God is light," means that God is perfectly holy and true, and that he alone can guide us out of the darkness of sin. Light is also related to truth, in that it exposes whatever exists, whether it is good or bad.
Mike Dumais
Supporter
The Bible is written on many levels, or with many levels of understanding. The idea of perspicuity, that the plain meaning of the written Bible could be understood as written, drove much of the reformation. It seems GOD is more than simply the metaphorical Light. Calculating this word problem: (Psalm 90:4 & 2 Peter 3:8) a day with The Lord is as a thousand years. 1000 years = 1 day / square root of (1-v2 / c2). V solves to 299,792,457 m/s or the speed of light. Psalm 90:4 & 2 Peter 3:8 seem to confirm Einstein's formula for Special Theory of Relativity is proof that the Bible is divinely inspired and that God's time is the universal standard of time set by the velocity of light.
Al Mark
Supporter
In the Old Testament, God appeared to the Israelites in the form of light. The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Ex 13:21-22) Coming down from the mountain after meeting with God, Moses’ face shone with the reflection of God’s light: When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. (Ex 34:29-30) At the transfiguration, Jesus gave the three apostles a glimpse of his full glory: “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. “ (Matt 17:2) What is the divine light? For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalms 36:9) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) In the Psalm, light and life are equated. God is light in the sense that he is life, and he is the source and sustainer of physical and spiritual life. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12) Light represents the truth of God, embodied in his Word – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psa 119:105) Light is also linked with virtue and moral conduct – "You were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" (Eph 5:8-9)
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I always like to thnk of the threefold essence of His being God is Life (ζωή -- zoe) (Jn 5:26; 6:57); God is Love (ἀγάπη -- agape) (1 Jn 4:8); God is Light (φῶς -- phos) (1 Jn 1:5). Thus Christ, the logos, manifesting the three aspects of the Divine Nature, is Life, Love and Light, and these three are inseparable and constitute the glory. Which the disciples beheld in Him, "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" (Jn 1:14). In revealing and giving life, Christ becomes "the light of men" (Jn 1:4). God gives "the light of the knowledge of (his) glory in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor 4:6), and this salvation is called "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Cor 4:4). Christ is thus the Teacher, Enlightener ("Christ shall give thee light," Eph 5:14 the King James Version), Guide, Savior of men.
Light, as I see it, is an attribute of holiness, of the holiness of God.
"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 Jn 1:5). Darkness is the universal symbol and condition of sin and death; light the symbol and expression of holiness. Dwight M. Pratt
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). When we were saved, God called us out of darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9). We are children of light (1 Thess. 5:5). Those who do wrong hate light (John 3:19-21). When light shines in on us, it reveals our true nature (Eph. 5:8-13). https://bethelchurchmuncie.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/wiersbe-commentary-new-testament.pdf
The free Bible study software app, Logos, says about God is light: It is a common metaphor in the OT and Jewish literature for God’s perfection (e.g., Psa 4:6; Isa 60:1-2). God’s light serves as a beacon for the righteous and leads others to Him (see Psa 27:1).
Do you know the hymn, "Heavenly Sunlight" by Henry J. Zelley (1899)?
Stanza 2 says this:
Shadows around me, shadows above me,
Never conceal my Savior and Guide;
He is the Light, in Him is no darkness;
Ever I’m walking close to His side.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does it mean that God is light? Saying "God is light" (1 John 1:5) signifies that God is absolutely holy, pure, and truthful, with no sin or deception. It means He is the source of all knowledge and spiritual truth, revealing reality and illuminating humanity's path. It highlights His divine perfection and glory, contrasting with the darkness of evil. Absolute Holiness and Purity: God is entirely without sin, moral defect, or darkness. He is righteous and pure. Source of Truth and Revelation: Light reveals what is hidden. God exposes sin and shows reality, including one's actual spiritual condition. He is the source of all truth, knowledge, and wisdom. Divine Presence and Life: Light represents God's life-giving presence, offering salvation and joy. Contrast with Darkness: While light is good, darkness represents sin, ignorance, and separation from God. Guidance: As a "light to my path," God provides direction and clarity in life. The phrase implies that fellowship with God means living in truth and righteousness rather than in spiritual darkness. Purity: Total absence of sin or "shadow". Visibility: God reveals Himself and makes His will known. Warmth: Represents God's love and its ability to change hearts. Beauty: God's radiance (glory) is the ultimate source of all beauty. In a spiritual sense, darkness has to do with the ignorance and hopelessness that exist in Satan's realm—although Satan often pretends to be "an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14; Ephesians 6:12) On the other hand, light has to do with the understanding and enlightenment that come from Jehovah God. Paul spoke of the light when he wrote: 2nd Cor 4:6 ESV: "Seeing it is God, that said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Spiritual light is so closely identified with God that the apostle John wrote: "God is light."—1 John 1:5 Since certain apostates did not believe that there are sinful works, they were in spiritual darkness. They claimed to have secret knowledge, but God is light, not dark secrecy. He gives spiritual light only to his faithful followers.—Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9. Light is a common metaphor in the Bible. Proverbs 4:18 symbolises righteousness as the "morning sun." Philippians 2:15 likens God's children who are "blameless and pure" to shining stars in the sky. Jesus used light as a picture of good works: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds" (Matthew 5:16). Psalm 76:4 says of God, "You are radiant with light." If we do not have the light, we do not know God. Those who know God, who walk with Him, are of the light and walk in the light. They are made partakers of God's divine nature, "having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (2 Peter 1:4). Believers in Christ must confess any darkness within themselves – their sins and transgressions – and allow God to shine His light through them. Christians cannot sit idly by and watch others continue in the darkness of sin, knowing that those in darkness are destined for eternal separation from God. The Light of the World desires to banish the darkness and bestow His wisdom everywhere (Isaiah 9:2; Habakkuk 2:14; John 1:9). In taking the light of the gospel to the world, we must by necessity reveal things about people that they would rather leave hidden. Light is uncomfortable to those accustomed to the dark (John 3:20). “Walking in the light” means we consider Jesus as “the light” in this world, and we “walk” in that light by following His precepts, living in His power, and growing in His grace.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does it mean that God is light? Saying "God is light" (1 John 1:5) signifies that God is absolutely holy, pure, and truthful, with no sin or deception. It means He is the source of all knowledge and spiritual truth, revealing reality and illuminating humanity's path. It highlights His divine perfection and glory, contrasting with the darkness of evil. Absolute Holiness and Purity: God is entirely without sin, moral defect, or darkness. He is righteous and pure. Source of Truth and Revelation: Light reveals what is hidden. God exposes sin and shows reality, including one's actual spiritual condition. He is the source of all truth, knowledge, and wisdom. Divine Presence and Life: Light represents God's life-giving presence, offering salvation and joy. Contrast with Darkness: While light is good, darkness represents sin, ignorance, and separation from God. Guidance: As a "light to my path," God provides direction and clarity in life. The phrase implies that fellowship with God means living in truth and righteousness rather than in spiritual darkness. Purity: Total absence of sin or "shadow". Visibility: God reveals Himself and makes His will known. Warmth: Represents God's love and its ability to change hearts. Beauty: God's radiance (glory) is the ultimate source of all beauty. In a spiritual sense, darkness has to do with the ignorance and hopelessness that exist in Satan's realm—although Satan often pretends to be "an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14; Ephesians 6:12) On the other hand, light has to do with the understanding and enlightenment that come from Jehovah God. Paul spoke of the light when he wrote: 2nd Cor 4:6 ESV: "Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Spiritual light is so closely identified with God that the apostle John wrote: "God is light."—1 John 1:5 Since certain apostates did not believe that there are sinful works, they were in spiritual darkness. They claimed to have secret knowledge, but God is light, not dark secrecy. He gives spiritual light only to his faithful followers.—Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9. Light is a common metaphor in the Bible. Proverbs 4:18 symbolises righteousness as the "morning sun." Philippians 2:15 likens God's children who are "blameless and pure" to shining stars in the sky. Jesus used light as a picture of good works: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds" (Matthew 5:16). Psalm 76:4 says of God, "You are radiant with light." If we do not have the light, we do not know God. Those who know God, who walk with Him, are of the light and walk in the light. They are made partakers of God's divine nature, "having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (2 Peter 1:4). Believers in Christ must confess any darkness within themselves – their sins and transgressions – and allow God to shine His light through them. Christians cannot sit idly by and watch others continue in the darkness of sin, knowing that those in darkness are destined for eternal separation from God. The Light of the World desires to banish the darkness and bestow His wisdom everywhere (Isaiah 9:2; Habakkuk 2:14; John 1:9). In taking the light of the gospel to the world, we must by necessity reveal things about people that they would rather leave hidden. Light is uncomfortable to those accustomed to the dark (John 3:20). “Walking in the light” means we consider Jesus as “the light” in this world, and we “walk” in that light by following His precepts, living in His power, and growing in His grace.
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