Joh 1:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for John 1:4-5: 1:4-5 God created light and dispelled the darkness (Gen 1:2-5 ). The darkness resists God (John 3:19-21 ; 12:35 ; Matt 6:23 ; Acts 26:17-18 ; Eph 4:17-19 ; 5:7-14 ; 2 Pet 1:19 ; 1 Jn 1:5-7 ; 2:9-11 ). 1:4 The Word gave life: Life was God’s original gift to his creatures (Gen 1:20-28 ; 2:7 ). Now the logos would give these creatures the possibility of new life through rebirth (John 1:13 ). • As one of his first creative acts, God brought light (Gen 1:3 ). Now, in the re-creation of humanity through Jesus Christ, God offered light and life anew. Light is a key theme in John’s Gospel.

a1:4-5►

bGen 1:2-5►

cJohn 3:19-21►

d12:35►

eMatt 6:23►

fActs 26:17-18►

gEph 4:17-19►

h5:7-14►

i2 Pet 1:19►

j1 Jn 1:5-7►

k2:9-11►

l1:4►

mGen 1:20-28►

n2:7►

oJohn 1:13►

pGen 1:3►

q1:5►

‏ John 1:4-5

Summary for John 1:4-5: 1:4-5 ^a God created light and dispelled the darkness (Gen 1:2-5 ^b). The darkness resists God (John 3:19-21 ^c; 12:35 ^d; Matt 6:23 ^e; Acts 26:17-18 ^f; Eph 4:17-19 ^g; 5:7-14 ^h; 2 Pet 1:19 ⁱ; 1 Jn 1:5-7 ^j; 2:9-11 ^k). 1:4 ^l The Word gave life: Life was God’s original gift to his creatures (Gen 1:20-28 ^m; 2:7 ⁿ). Now the logos would give these creatures the possibility of new life through rebirth (John 1:13 ^o).

• As one of his first creative acts, God brought light (Gen 1:3 ^p). Now, in the re-creation of humanity through Jesus Christ, God offered light and life anew. Light is a key theme in John’s Gospel.
1:5 ^q the darkness can never extinguish it: Or the darkness has not understood it; literally the darkness cannot grasp it. The Greek word katalambanō (“grasp”) can mean either “understand” or “be hostile”; in John’s Gospel, it means hostility. The darkness would try to destroy Jesus (the light), but it would fail. The light would successfully bring salvation to the world.