Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
5. As long as I am in the world ] Better, Whensoever I am in the world; it is not the same construction as ‘so long as it is day.’ The Light shines at various times and in various degrees, whether the world chooses to be illuminated or not. Comp. Joh 1:5, Joh 8:12. Here there is special reference to His giving light both to the man’s eyes and to his soul. The Pharisees prove the truth of the saying that ‘the darkness comprehended it not.’
I am the light of the world ] Or, I am light to the world: no article. Contrast Joh 8:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As long as I am in the world … – As the sun is the natural light of the world, even while it sinks away to the west, so am I, although my days are drawing to a close, the light of the spiritual world. What a sublime description is this! Jesus occupied the same place, filled the same space, shed his beams as far, in the moral world, as the sun does on natural objects; and as all is dark when that sun sinks to the west, so when he withdraws from the souls of men all is midnight and gloom. When we look on the sun in the firmament or in the west, let us remember that such is the great Sun of Righteousness in regard to our souls; that his shining is as necessary, and his beams as mild and lovely on the soul, as is the shining of the natural sun to illumine the material creation. See the notes at Joh 1:4.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Joh 9:5
As long as I am in the world I am the Light of the world.
–The Word as Light visited men before the Incarnation (Joh 1:9, etc.; Joh 5:38; Rom 2:15, etc.); at the Incarnation (Joh 8:12; Joh 12:46; Joh 3:19-21; comp. Joh 11:9, etc.); and He still comes (Joh 14:21); even as the Spirit who still interprets His name (Joh 14:25; Joh 16:13; comp. 1Jn 2:20-27). St. John draws no distinction in essence between these three different forms of revelation, in nature, in conscience, and in history; all alike are natural or supernatural, parts of the same harmonious plan. But man has not independently light in himself. The understanding of the outward revelation depends upon the abiding of the Divine Word within (Joh 5:37, etc.). Love is the condition of illumination (Joh 14:22, etc.). And the end of Christs coming was that those who believe in Him may move in a new region of life (Joh 12:46), and themselves become sons of light (Joh 12:35, etc.), and so in the last issue of faith have the light of life (Joh 8:12).(Bp. Westcott.)
Christ, the Light
Among all created excellencies, none can be borrowed more fitly representing Christ, than that of light.
1. Light is primum visibile, the first object of sight: and Jesus Christ, whom the apostle styles God over all, Blessed forever, is primum intelligibile.
2. Light being the first thing visible, all things are seen by it, and it by itself. Thus is Christ among spiritual things, in the elect world of His Church Eph 5:13-14; 2Co 4:3). The rays of Christs light are displayed through both His Testaments, and in them we see Him Psa 36:9).
3. No one is ignorant there is light; yet what light is few know (Job 38:19). The generation of Christ who shall declare? (Isa 53:8).
4. Light resembles Christ in purity: it visits many impure places, and lights upon the basest parts of the earth, and yet remains most pure and undefiled. Though Christ was conversant with sinners, to communicate to them His goodness, yet He was separate from sinners, in immunity from their evil (Heb 7:26).
5. The light of the sun is neither parted nor diminished, by being imparted to many several people and nations, that behold it at one time: nor is the righteousness of this Sun of Righteousness either lessened to Himself or to individual believers, by many partaking of it at once: it is wholly conferred upon each one of them, and remains whole in itself.
6. The sun hath a vivifying power, a special influence in the generation of man. The sun we speak of is the proper and principal instrument in mans regeneration (Joh 1:4).
7. The sun drives away the sharp frosts and the heavy fogs of winter, it clears the heavens, decks the saith with variety of plants and flowers, and awakes the birds to the pleasant strains of their natural music. When Christ, after a kind of wintry absence, returns to visit a declining Church, or a deserted forsaken soul, admirable is the change that He produces, etc. Isa 55:12-13; Son 2:10-17).
8. All darkness flies before light: so Christ arising in the world made the day break, and the shadows flee away, the types and shadows of the law, ignorance, idolatry, the night of sin, misery, etc. All the stars, and the moon with them, cannot make it day in the world: this is the suns peculiar: nor can natures highest light, the most refined science and morality, make it day in the soul; for this is Christs (Joh 8:12; Joh 12:35; Psa 19:1-14; Wis 7:26-27; Luk 1:78-79; Eph 5:8). (Abp. Leighton.)
The Light of the world
I. CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
1. I am the Light of the world (Joh 9:5).
2. That was the true Light (Joh 1:9).
3. For a Light of the Gentiles (Isa 13:6).
4. A Light to lighten the Gentiles (Luk 2:32).
5. He that followeth Me shall have the Light (Joh 8:12).
6. I am come a Light into the world (Joh 12:46).
7. The Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2).
8. The Dayspring from on high (Luk 1:78).
9. The Bright and Morning Star (Rev 22:16).
10. The Daystar (2Pe 1:19).
II. CHRISTIANS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
1. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8).
2. Ye are all the children of light (1Th 5:5).
3. Ye are the light of the world (Mat 5:14).
4. That ye may be the children of light (Joh 12:36).
5. Let your light so shine (Mat 5:16).
6. The path of the just is as the shining light (Pro 4:18).
7. He [John] was a burning and a shining light (Joh 5:35).
8. Among whom ye shine as lights in the world (Php
2:15).
9. Let us put on the armour of light (Rom 13:12).
10. They that be wise shall shine (Dan 12:3). (S. S. Times.)
Light in death
For the last day or two he (Sir D. Brewster) was attended by his friend, Sir James Simpson, a man of kindred genius and of kindred Christian hopes. The like of this I never saw, he said, as we met him coming fresh from the dying chamber. There is Sir David resting like a little child on Jesus, and speaking as if in a few hours he will get all his problems solved by Him. For in that supreme hour of dawning immortality his past studies were all associated with the name and person of the Redeemer. I shall see Jesus, he said; and that will be grand. I shall see Him who made the worlds, with allusion to those wonderful verses in Hebrews which had formed the subject of the last sermon he ever heard, a few weeks before. Thus, tracing all to the Creator-Redeemer, he felt no incongruity even in these hours in describing to Sir James Simpson, in a fluent stream of well chosen words, some beautiful phenomena in his favourite science. Reference was made to the privilege he had enjoyed in throwing light upon the great and marvellous works of God. Yes, he said, I found them to be great and marvellous, and I felt them to be His. He had little pain but such as came from intense weakness. The light was with him all through the valley. I have had the light for many years, he whispered slowly, and with emphasis; and oh, how bright it is! I feel so safe, so satisfied! And so, in childlike reliance and adoring love, he gently fell asleep in Jesus on the evening of Monday, February 10th, 1868. On the Saturday following he was laid beside kindred dust. (Sunday at Home.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. I am the light of the world.] Like the sun, it is my business to dispense light and heat every where; and to neglect no opportunity that may offer to enlighten and save the bodies and souls of men. See Joh 8:12.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Those words, As long as I am in the world, let us know what our Saviour meant by the day, mentioned Joh 9:4, viz. the time he should be in the world. Saith he, So long as I am in the world, it is a part of my work to show light to the world. Christ indeed, though he hath left the world, is yet the light of the world; but he was the light of the world, that part of the world especially where he was, in a more eminent sense, so long as the world enjoyed his bodily presence in it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. As long as I am in the world, Iam the light of the worldnot as if He would cease, after that,to be so; but that He must make full proof of His fidelity while Hisearthly career lasted by displaying His glory. “As before theraising of Lazarus (Joh 11:25),He announces Himself as the Resurrection and the Life, so nowHe sets Himself forth as the source of the archetypal spirituallight, of which the natural, now about to be conferred, is only aderivation and symbol” [ALFORD].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As long as I am in the world,…. Which had been now two or three and thirty years; but was not to be much longer.
I am the light of the world; [See comments on Joh 8:12]. Though doubtless he said this with some view to the cure he was about to perform, it being agreeable to his character and work, while he was in the world.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When I am in the world ( ). Indefinite relative clause with and present active subjunctive , “whenever I am in the world.” The Latin Vulgate renders here by quamdiu so long as or while as if it were . But clearly Jesus here refers to the historic Incarnation (17:11) and to any previous visitations in the time of the patriarchs, prophets, etc. Jesus as God’s Son is always the Light of the World (John 1:4; John 1:10; John 8:12), but here the reference is limited to his manifestation “in the world.”
I am the light of the world ( ). The absence of the definite article ( in 8:12) is to be noted (Westcott). Literally, “I am light to the world, whenever I am in the world.” “The display of the character varies with the occasion” (Westcott).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
As long as [] . More correctly, whensoever. Rev., when. Whether in my incarnation, or before my incarnation, or after it. Compare Joh 1:4, 10.
The light. See on 8 12. The article is wanting. Westcott says, “Christ is ‘light to the world, ‘ as well as ‘the one Light of the world. ‘ The character is unchangeable, but the display of the character varies with the occasion.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “As long as I am in the world,” (hotan en to kosmo ho) “So long as I exist in the world,” that I came to save from perishing, Joh 3:16-17; Joh 3:19; Luk 19:10; Gal 4:4-5.
2) “I am the light of the world.” (phos eimi tou kosmou) “I am or exist as the light of the world,” Joh 12:35; Joh 12:46, by whom all things consist, are sustained, or hold together, and by which the blind may see, Joh 1:5; Joh 1:9; Joh 8:12; 2Co 4:3-4. We of His church are His lightbearers, may we let our light shine, Joh 5:15-16; Rom 13:11-14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. I consider this to have been added, by way of anticipation; for it might have been thought strange that Christ should speak of his time of working as limited, as if there were danger that the night should come upon him by surprise, as it does on other men. Thus, while he makes a distinction between himself and others, still he says that his time of working is limited. For he compares himself to the sun which, though it illuminates the whole earth by its brightness, yet, when it sets, takes away the day along with it. In this manner he states that his death will resemble the setting of the sun; not that his death extinguishes or obscures his light, but that it withdraws the view of it from the world. At the same time, he shows that, when he was manifested in flesh, that was truly the time of the day-light of the world. For though God gave light in all ages, yet Christ, by his coming, diffused a new and unwonted splendor. Hence he infers that this was an exceedingly fit and proper time, and that it might be said to be a very bright day, for illustrating the glory of God, when God intended to make a more striking exhibition of himself in his wonderful works.
But here arises another question. After the death of Christ, the power of God shone more illustriously, both in the fruit of the doctrine and in miracles; and Paul applies this strictly to the time of his own preaching, that
God, who from the beginning of the world commanded the light to shine out of darkness, at that time shone in the face of Christ by the Gospel, (2Co 4:6.)
And does Christ now give less light to the world than when he was in the presence of men, and conversed with them? I reply, when Christ had finished the course of his office, he labored not less powerfully by his ministers than he had labored by himself, while he lived in the world. This I acknowledge to be true; but, first, it is not inconsistent with what he had said, that he was bound to perform, in his own person, what had been enjoined on him by the Father, and at the time when he was manifested in the flesh for that purpose. Secondly, it is not inconsistent with what he said, that his bodily presence was the true and remarkable day of the world, the lustre of which was diffused over all ages. For whence did the holy fathers in ancient times, or whence do we now, desire light and day, but because the manifestation of Christ always darted its rays to a great distance, so as to form one continued day? Whence it follows, that all who have not Christ for their guide grope in the dark like the blind, and wander about in confusion and disorder. Yet we must hold by this meaning of the words, that, as the sun discovers to our view the lovely spectacle of earth and heaven, and the whole arrangement of nature, so God has visibly displayed the chief glory of his works in his Son.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.Better, when I am in the world. The thought is that the two things necessarily co-exist. He is the true Light, and this true Light cannot be in the world without shining in its darkness. (Comp. Note on Joh. 1:5.) The thought is here closely connected with His teaching in the Temple but a short time before (Joh. 8:12, I am the Light of the world), and also with the removal of physical and spiritual darkness which immediately followed.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. As long as The objects of labour are, like this blind man, perpetually turning up; there must be no tiring during the brief day of his earthly life.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 9:5. As long as I am in the world, &c. Because our Lord was going to confer sight on a man who was born blind, he thence took occasion to speak of himself, as one appointed to give light likewise to the darkened minds of men. Hence we learn that our Lord’s miracles were designed, not only as proofs of his mission, but to be specimens of the power which he possessed as Messiah. For example, by feeding the multitude with meat that perished, he signified that he was come to quicken and nourish mankind with the bread of life, that sovereign cordial and salutary nutriment of the soul. His giving sight to the blind was a lively emblem of the efficacy of his doctrines, to illuminate the blinded understandings of men. His healing their bodies, represented his power to heal their souls; and was a specimen of his authority to forgive sins, as it was a real, though but a partial removal of the punishment of sin. His casting out devils, was an earnest of his final victory over Satan and all his associates. His raising particular persons from the dead, was the beginning of his triumphs over death, and a demonstration of his ability to accomplish a general resurrection;and,togivenomoreexamples,hiscuringall promiscuously who applied to him, shewed that he was come not to condemn the world, but to save even the chief of sinners. Accordingly, at performing these miracles, or soon after, while the memory of them was fresh in the minds of his hearers, we often find him turning his discourse to the spiritual things which were signified by them, as in the case before us. See the Inferences on Matthew 9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 9:5 . A more precise description of His earthly vocation, characteristically expressed in relation to the sight which was to be bestowed on the blind man. , however, is neither quamdiu (as it usually is) nor quandoquidem (so Lcke and Fritzsche, ad Marc . p. 86), which latter usage is foreign to the N. T., and is only apparently found in passages such as Thuc. 1. 141. 5, 142. 1, but: When ( quando , at the time in which) I am in the world, I am the Light of the world . It expresses the necessary contemporaneity of the two relations. He cannot be in the world, says Christ, without at the same time enlightening the world. Thus , also, did it behove Him to show Himself in the case of this blind man. is employed, it is true, in a spiritual sense, as in Joh 1:5 ff., Joh 8:12 , but also with a significant reference to the sight which was to be restored to the blind man. In healing him, that enlightening activity of Jesus by which those who did not see were to be made to see (see Joh 9:39 ), is set forth in a transaction which, though primarily sensuous, was also suggestive of spiritual enlightenment (Joh 9:37 f.). In itself the first clause of the verse
might have been dispensed with (Joh 8:22 ); its utterance, however, in connection with Joh 9:4 , was occasioned by the consciousness that He was soon to depart from the world, and that after His departure the present mode and action of the , which were bound up with His corporeal earthly career, must come to an end. Then Christ would work through the Paraclete and through the vehicles of the Paraclete, as the Light of the world.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Ver. 5. I am the light of the world ] See Joh 12:46 . He is light essential, the Father of lights, the Sun of righteousness; who at his nativity was as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, in his life rejoiced as a strong man to run his race, Psa 19:5 ; in his passion he was clouded, brake forth in his resurrection, darts out his beams of grace since his ascension, and shall finish all at his return to judgment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
5. ] This partly explains the . and of the former verse, partly alludes to the nature of the healing about to take place. As before the raising of Lazarus (ch. Joh 11:25 ), He states that He is the Resurrection and the Life; so now, He sets forth Himself as the source of the archetypal spiritual light, of which the natural, now about to be conferred, is only a derivation and symbol.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 9:5 . . We should have expected and not , and the Vulgate renders “quamdiu”. But the “when” seems to be used to suggest a time when He should not be in the world: “when I am in the world, I am the Light of the World,” as He immediately illustrated by the cure of the blind man.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
world. App-129. See note on Joh 1:9.
I am. See note on Joh 6:35.
light. Greek. phos. See App-130and note on Joh 1:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
5.] This partly explains the . and of the former verse, partly alludes to the nature of the healing about to take place. As before the raising of Lazarus (ch. Joh 11:25), He states that He is the Resurrection and the Life; so now, He sets forth Himself as the source of the archetypal spiritual light, of which the natural, now about to be conferred, is only a derivation and symbol.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 9:5. , the light) An allegory from the object of sight, which He was about to bestow on the blind man. Comp. Joh 9:3, that they might be made manifest; and , day, Joh 9:4 [containing the same metaphor].
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 9:5
Joh 9:5
When I am in the world, I am the light of the world-His teaching by precept and example would enlighten the world while he was in it. He came as the light of the world. Jesus is the only light of the world to chase away the gloom and darkness of eternal night and lift up and enlighten the world. This has proved true in the history of the world. There has been no light of science, of religion, of morality save where the will of God is made known through Christ. The fundamental principle of all science is: there is one great first cause and overruling power that directs everything in accordance with fixed and unchangeable laws. Without these as a starting point there can be no science. But this truth has never prevailed save where the Bible is known. Jesus Christ is the great central truth of the Bible, both in the Old and the New Testaments. Without him both are meaningless. Jesus brought the light of divine wisdom to the world. His teaching consisted in both precept and example. The life of Jesus was his precepts put into practice. This much he said preparatory to opening the eyes of the blind that they might appreciate the lesson taught in the miracle. Jesus is called the Son of righteousness. As the sun gives light to the material world so Jesus gives light to the moral and spiritual world. His business was to dispense light while he lived.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield “Mat 4:8”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
long: Joh 1:4-9, Joh 3:19-21, Joh 8:12, Joh 12:35, Joh 12:36, Joh 12:46, Isa 42:6, Isa 42:7, Isa 49:6, Isa 60:1-3, Mal 4:2, Mat 4:16, Luk 2:32, Act 13:47, Act 26:18, Act 26:23, Eph 5:14, Rev 21:23
I am: Our Lord here claims one of the titles given by the Jews to the Divine Being. So in Bammidbar Rabba, 15, fol. 229.1, “The Israelites said to God, O Lord of the universe, thou commandest us to light lamps to thee, yet thou art the light of the world.” It was also a title of the Messiah – see Isa 49:6, Isa 60:1, and in a remarkable passage of Yalkut Rubeni, fol. 6, it is said on Gen 1:4, “From this we learn that the holy and blessed God saw the light of the Messiah, and his works, before the world was created; and reserved it for the Messiah, and his generation, under the throne of his glory. Satan said to the holy and blessed God, For whom dost thou reserve that light which is under the throne of thy glory? God answered, For him who shall subdue thee, and overwhelm thee with confusion. Satan rejoined, Lord of the universe, shew that person to me. God said, Come, and see him. When he saw him, he was greatly agitated, and fell upon his face, saying, Truly this is the Messiah, who shall cast me and idolaters into hell.
Reciprocal: Mar 2:28 – General Mar 10:52 – he received Luk 1:79 – give Luk 18:43 – he 1Jo 1:5 – that God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
As long as I am in the world. This phrase is directly connected with the words while it is day in the preceding verse. This would mean that night as used in the present instance refers to death. It was never intended that man should work day and night to make a living. Therefore, when language is used figuratively, day (the proper time for work) is likened to a life on earth, because that is the only period in which a man can work for the Lord. It is appropriate that we often sing, “Work, for the night is coming.” But Jesus did not mean to teach that after he left this world all spiritual light would cease. He was considering only that light which he personally could shed upon the human beings with whom he came into contact.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 9:5. Whensoever I am in the world, I am the light of the world. The work of Jesus in the world is to be the worlds light. This thought, expressed in words in the last chapter (chap. Joh 8:12), and in this by deeds, binds together the different portions in this section of the Gospel. I am the light, Jesus says, but even in this figure the we of the last verse may be remembered, for his disciples also are the light of the world (Mat 5:14). The first word of the verse is worthy of all attention, pointing as it does to all periods at which the light hath shined amid the darkness of this world (chap. Joh 1:5).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Joh 9:5. As long as I am in the world These words show what our Lord meant by the day mentioned in the preceding verse, namely, the time he should be in the world. So long, says he, I am the light of the world Teaching men inwardly by my Spirit, and outwardly by my preaching, what is the will of God; and showing them by my example how to perform it. While he continued on earth he was the light of the world by his personal ministry and miracles; and he would be the same by his doctrine and his Spirit to the end of time. Scott. And to teach us how able and willing he is to communicate divine illumination to the souls of men, he often restored sight to such as were corporally blind; and he was about to do it now. For, as Dr. Macknight justly observes, our Lords miracles were designed, not only as proofs of his mission, but to be specimens of the power which he possessed as Messiah. For example, by feeding the multitude with meat that perisheth, he signified that he was come to quicken and nourish mankind with the bread of life, that sovereign cordial and salutary nutriment of the soul. His giving sight to the blind was a lively emblem of the efficacy of his doctrine [when accompanied by his grace] to illuminate the blinded understandings of men. His healing their bodies represented his power to heal their souls, and was a specimen of his authority to forgive sins, as it was a real, though but a partial removal of its punishment. His casting out devils was an earnest of his final victory over Satan and all his associates. His raising particular persons from the dead was the beginning of his triumph over death, and a demonstration of his ability to accomplish a general resurrection. And, to give no more examples, his curing all promiscuously, who applied to him, showed that he was come, not to condemn the world, but to save even the chief of sinners. Accordingly, at performing these miracles, or soon after, when the memory of them was fresh in the minds of his hearers, we often find him turning his discourse to spiritual things that were signified by them, as in the case before us.