John 1:4-9
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.
Summary for John 1:6-9: 1:6-9 r God sent a man, John the Baptist, to herald Jesus’ coming and to prepare God’s people to receive Jesus as God’s Son and Messiah (see 1:19-37 s; Luke 1:5-25 t, 57-80 u; 3:1-22 v; see also Isa 40:3 w; Mal 4:5-6 x).
1:8 y Some Jews speculated that John the Baptist was the Messiah; some of his followers were even reluctant to follow Jesus (3:22-30 z). However, John the Baptist was not the light; his role was to announce Jesus (1:19-34 aa).
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