J. Deering, AncientPath.net

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Chapter 1:4-5
The Life and The Light

John 1:4-5
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:4
This verse also takes us back to the book of Genesis. It was on the sixth day that God created man and breathed life into him. He spoke and the worlds came into being, He breathed and man came to life. But there’s more, for through Him mankind no only has life, but the very Light of God – in human form. The glory of God and His truth came down to us as He came down to us, and born among us. Our world is illuminated with His presence and everything He offers to us is in the Light of Truth.

Key Words:
Life [Gk Zoe] Specifically "Life In-Christ"
Light - Guide, Illuminations, Brilliance
Darkness - The Dark places
Comprehend - Grasp, Control, Understand

References:

John 5:26-27
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; {27} And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:16-21
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. {17} It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. {18} I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. {19} Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. {20} These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. {21} Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 12:44-46
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. {45} And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. {46} I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:5
His light shines in the darkness of this world – and our world is dark. Even with all of our technological advances and our great inspiring ideas, we are still locked into a world of sin – and therefore a world of sinners. His Light is the Light of God and without it mankind is lost in darkness. It’s a darkness that is so very dark that they cannot understand Him – they “comprehend Him not.” The world has gone from “God is dead,” to “God is irrelevant,” to “anything but God.”

N  O  T  E  S

John 1:4
[Calvin] - ... Since God effectually illuminates their (man's) minds with His light, it follows that they were created to the end that they might know that He is the author of such a unique blessing.  and since this light streamed forth to us from the Word its source, it should be as a mirror in which we may see clearly the divine power of the Word.

[Calvin] - ... the light given to men in the beginning must not be assessed by their present state, since in this marred and degenerate nature light has been turned to darkness.  And yet he denies that the light of reason is completely put out; for in the darkling gloom of the human mind there still shines some sparks of that brightness.

John 1:5
[Calvin] - ... there is no hope for men's salvation unless God shall help with a new help.  For though the Son of God sheds His light upon them, they are so dull that they do not comprehend the source of that light .... Moreover, we must remember that the evangelist is speaking only of natural gifts and is not yet dealing with the grace of regeneration ....(^[i])

Translations and Paraphrases

NASB
<4> In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.  <5> And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

NIV
<4>In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  <5> The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

KJV
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. {5} And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Wuest
<4> In him was life existing.  And this aforementioned life was the light of men.  <5> And the light in the darkness is constantly shining.  And the darkness did not overwhelm it.

Interlinear
In him life was, and the life was the light of men; <5> and the light in the darkness shines, and the darkness it not overtook.

Graphic Alignment of NASB

1:4             In Him
                 was the life; (and)
                 the life was
                    the light of men. (and)

Taking the verse apart:

In - Preposition - to be in, inside, surrounded by, possessed by, in the sphere of.
To be in Him should be though of as like being in a vehicle. Once you are in... there are features that are not necessarily knowable from the outside of Him. In an automobile, for instance, there is a steering wheel, a shifter, a gas pedal, a clock, a dashboard, various switches and knobs and pedals; window controls, seat controls, etc. Being in also involves laws, rules, and responsibilities. There is the problem of gravity and physics. There are state laws and federal laws that must be kept. So it is with being in Christ. To be in Christ is not just a saying or a simple relationship. There is so much to learn, do, enjoy, take part in, adore, worship, and fear.

Him - Jesus, Messiah, Christ, Savior.
Jesus is a true historical figure. More has been written about Him than any other person in history. He is historically verifiable. He is The Christ (a greek word), Messiah (to the Hebrews). He is the very Son of the Living Almighty God.

was life;
God did not create and then walk away from His creation. He continually empowers His creation, He is both the creator and the sustainer of all that there is.

the life was the light of men
Life is one of the major themes of John's Gospel, It is used 36 times.
Life and light are two things that make man different from all the other creatures. The life and light of man comes from the one who is the standard for both life and light (understanding). Having His life and His light was the plan from the very beginning. With the fall of man came his rejection of The Son of God's light and life.

1:5             the light shines
                    in the darkness (and)
                the darkness
                    did not comprehend it.

Taking the verse apart:

the light shines,
appears, seems, seen, be seen, give light, be bright
Present, Active, Indicative - The Light keeps on shining
The believer has a remnant of the light

in
back in the sphere of being in

the darkness
gloom, the place where learning and understanding fail

and the darkness
(personification)

did not comprehend it
Discern, fathom, grasp, perceive, understand, discover, discriminate, distinguish, asertain, apprehend, attain, come upon, find, obtain

References

John 1:4

Genesis 1:1-4
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. {2} And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness <was> upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. {3} And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. {4} And God saw the light, that <it was> good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Colossians 1:12-16
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated <us> into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, <even> the forgiveness of sins: {15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether <they be> thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

John 5:26-27
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; {27} And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

[John 1:5]

John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Psalm 36:9b
In Your light we see light.
 

REFERENCES TO "LIGHT"

(The Presence of God)
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

(Type of Christ)
Exodus 27:20
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

(Type of Christ)
Exodus 39:37
The pure candlestick, <with> the lamps thereof, <even with> the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,

(Disgrace)
2 Samuel 21:17
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swear unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

(Judah as a Type of Christ)
1 Kings 11:36
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

(Light and The Word)
Psalms 119:130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

(Messianic Prophecy - "He has a demon")
Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

(Messianic Prophecy - The Gospel unto the Gentiles)
Isaiah 9:2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

(Messianic Prophecy - The Gospel unto the Gentiles)
Isaiah 42:6
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

(Messianic Prophecy)
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way <that> they knew not; I will lead them in paths <that> they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

(Discussion of God's Intentions and Decrees)
Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these <things>.

(God's revealing light - things that are hidden in darkness are revealed)
Job 12:22
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

(Knowledge of Him brings absolute courage)
Psalms 27:1
<A Psalm> of David. The LORD <is> my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD <is> the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(Only in His light can we see real light)
Psalms 36:9
For with thee <is> the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

(Messianic Prophecy)
Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

(Messianic Prophecy)
Isaiah 60:3
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

(Messianic Prophecy)
Isaiah 60:19
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

(His knowledge - His light dwells in Him !)
Daniel 2:22
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what <is> in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

(Answered Gentile Prophecy)
Matthew 4:16
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

(Every man gets illumination)
John 1:9
<That> was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

(Light brings conviction and other results)
John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

(He that follows me shall have ME)
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

(Who becomes the light of the world in His absence - The Church)
John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

(Should not abide...)
John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

(To the Gentiles)
Acts 26:23
That Christ should suffer, <and> that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

(Discussion - He has BLINDED them)
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(Arise from the dead)
Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

(Dwelling in the Light)
1 Timothy 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom <be> honour and power everlasting. Amen.

(Discussion - Called out)
1 Peter 2:9
But ye <are> a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

(No darkness at all)
1 John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

(The Lamb is the Light)
Revelation 21:23
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb <is> the light thereof.

REFERENCES TO "DARKNESS"

(Fulfilled Prophecy - Isaiah 9:2)
Matthew 4:16
The people which sat in [darkness] saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

(Sit in darkness)
Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in [darkness] and <in> the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

(The right kind of light)
Luke 11:35
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not [darkness].

(Discussion - Darkness vs. Evil Deeds)
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved [darkness] rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(Discussion - Works of darkness VS Armor of Light
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of [darkness], and let us put on the armor of light.

(Beautiful verse....)
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of [darkness], hath shined in our hearts, to <give> the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(Real adversaries)
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the [darkness] of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high <places>.

(Translated Us)
Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of [darkness], and hath translated <us> into the kingdom of his dear Son:

(Discussion - Called)
1 Peter 2:9
But ye <are> a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of [darkness] into his marvelous light:

REFERENCES

2019-10-04 Update