John 1:9

[siliconwafer]

John 1:9 says, "There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." What does the word "enlightens" mean? Is this verse talking about enlightening every single person on earth?

[John Reece]

John 1:9 says, "There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." What does the word "enlightens" mean? Is this verse talking about enlightening every single person on earth?

From The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text, Second Edition (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1978), by C. K. Barrett:

φωτίζειν may mean (a) 'to shed light upon', 'to bring to light', 'to make visible', or (b) 'to illuminate inwardly', 'to instruct', 'to give give knowledge'. (b) is a common, though secondary use of the word. .... When the Prologue is interpreted in terms of Hellenistic religion, and the Logos thought of in the Stoic manner, it is natural to see in the present verse a reference to a general illumination of all men by the divine Reason, which was subsequently deepened by the more complete manifestation of the Logos in the incarnation (...). Whether John's words do in fact bear this meaning is, however, open to doubt. (i) In the next verse he emphasizes that ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω ― there was no natural and universal knowledge of the light. (ii) It was those who received Christ who received authority to become children of God. (iii) In the rest of the gospel the function of light is judgment; when it shines, some come to it, others do not. It is not true that all men have a natural affinity with the light. In view of these facts it is well to understand φωτίζειν in sense (a) ― the light shines upon every man for judgment, to reveal what he is. For this usage cf. e.g. Polybius XXII, v, 10; and in the New Testament 1 Cor. 4:5, φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους, 2 Tim. 1:10, φωτίσαντος δὲ ζωὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν. Render therefore, '... which shines upon every man' (whether he sees it or not).

[RBerman]

Right. "Jesus, the Light" is a major theme of John's gospel, making evident the deeds of men for purposes of judgment.

John 1:4-9

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 3:19-20-21

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:3-5

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 11:7-10

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

John 12:35-36,46

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” ...And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

[siliconwafer]

From The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text, Second Edition (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1978), by C. K. Barrett:

φωτίζειν may mean (a) 'to shed light upon', 'to bring to light', 'to make visible', or (b) 'to illuminate inwardly', 'to instruct', 'to give give knowledge'. (b) is a common, though secondary use of the word. .... When the Prologue is interpreted in terms of Hellenistic religion, and the Logos thought of in the Stoic manner, it is natural to see in the present verse a reference to a general illumination of all men by the divine Reason, which was subsequently deepened by the more complete manifestation of the Logos in the incarnation (...). Whether John's words do in fact bear this meaning is, however, open to doubt. (i) In the next verse he emphasizes that ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω ― there was no natural and universal knowledge of the light. (ii) It was those who received Christ who received authority to become children of God. (iii) In the rest of the gospel the function of light is judgment; when it shines, some come to it, others do not. It is not true that all men have a natural affinity with the light. In view of these facts it is well to understand φωτίζειν in sense (a) ― the light shines upon every man for judgment, to reveal what he is. For this usage cf. e.g. Polybius XXII, v, 10; and in the New Testament 1 Cor. 4:5, φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους, 2 Tim. 1:10, φωτίσαντος δὲ ζωὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν. Render therefore, '... which shines upon every man' (whether he sees it or not).

Ok. I understand. The Light shines upon every man whether he sees it or not. The verse does not mean that every person on earth understands the gospel.

Are there different kinds of knowledge? The quote from the commentary says that there is no natural and universal knowledge of the light, but Romans 1 says that everyone knows God.