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Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

1 John 1:5

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Darkness;   Fellowship;   God Continued...;   Light;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Life;   Thompson Chain Reference - Light, Spiritual;   Light-Darkness;   The Topic Concordance - Blindness;   Confession;   Darkness;   Disobedience;   Fellowship;   God;   Light;   Lying/lies;   Truth;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - God;   Light;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Light;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Confession;   God;   Light;   Love;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Demon;   Fellowship;   God;   Hear, Hearing;   Light;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Goodness of God;   Resurrection of Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   John, the Epistles of;   Versions;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   Gospel;   John, the Letters of;   Lamps, Lighting, Lampstand;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Evil;   John, Epistles of;   John, Theology of;   Light;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - God;   Grace;   Holiness Purity;   John Epistles of;   Light and Darkness;   Metaphor;   Restoration;   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sin (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Fellowship,;   God;   29 Light Lamp Candle;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Astronomy;   Gnosticism;   Johannine Theology, the;   John, the Epistles of;   Light;   Love;   Omniscience;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 11;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 11;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
We heard the true teaching from God. Now we tell it to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness.
Revised Standard Version
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And this is the tydynges which we have hearde of him and declare vnto you that god is lyght and in him is no darknes at all
Hebrew Names Version
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
New American Standard Bible
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
New Century Version
Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
Update Bible Version
And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Webster's Bible Translation
This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
World English Bible
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And this is the message which we have heard of him and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Weymouth's New Testament
This is the Message which we have heard from the Lord Jesus and now deliver to you--God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And this is the tellyng, that we herden of hym, and tellen to you, that God is liyt, and ther ben no derknessis in him.
English Revised Version
And this is the message which we have heard from him, and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Berean Standard Bible
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
Contemporary English Version
Jesus told us that God is light and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.
Amplified Bible
This is the message [of God's promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].
American Standard Version
And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Bible in Basic English
This is the word which came to us from him and which we give to you, that God is light and in him there is nothing dark.
Complete Jewish Bible
And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
Darby Translation
And this is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
International Standard Version
This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness - none at all!John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35-36; 1 John 3:11;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And this is the annunciation which we have heard from him, and announce to you, that Aloha is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Murdock Translation
And this is the announcement, which we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light, and no darkness at all is in him.
King James Version (1611)
This then is the message which we haue heard of him, and declare vnto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkenesse at all.
New Life Bible
This is what we heard Him tell us. We are passing it on to you. God is light. There is no darkness in Him.
New Revised Standard
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
English Standard Version
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Geneva Bible (1587)
This then is the message which wee haue heard of him, and declare vnto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkenes.
George Lamsa Translation
This then is the good news which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And this is the message which we have heard from him, and are reporting unto you, - that, God, is, light, and in him is, no darkness at all.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And this is the declaration which we have heard from him and declare unto you: That God is light and in him there is no darkness.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And this is the tydynges whiche we haue hearde of hym & declare vnto you, that God is lyght, & in hym is no darkenesse at all.
Good News Translation
Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.
Christian Standard Bible®
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.
Literal Translation
And this is the message which we have heard from Him, and we proclaim to you: God is light, and no darkness is in Him, none!
Young's Literal Translation
And this is the message that we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is light, and darkness in Him is not at all;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And this is the tydinges which we haue herde of him, & declare vnto you, that God is lighte, and in him is no darknes at all.
Mace New Testament (1729)
This then is the commission we have from him, to declare unto you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness.
THE MESSAGE
This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
New English Translation
Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
New King James Version
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Simplified Cowboy Version
This is what the Son told us about his Father. God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Contextual Overview

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the message: 1 John 3:11, 1 Corinthians 11:23

that God: Psalms 27:1, Psalms 36:9, Psalms 84:11, Isaiah 60:19, John 1:4, John 1:9, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:35, John 12:36, 1 Timothy 6:16, James 1:17, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:3 - Let Psalms 94:20 - fellowship Psalms 104:2 - with light Isaiah 9:2 - walked Daniel 2:22 - and the Daniel 7:9 - whose Matthew 5:16 - your light Luke 1:79 - give Romans 13:12 - works 2 Corinthians 6:14 - and what 1 John 1:3 - declare 1 John 1:7 - as 1 John 4:8 - God is

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Genesis 1:13
And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.
Genesis 1:19
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
Genesis 1:23
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.
Genesis 1:31
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
Genesis 8:22
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
Psalms 19:2
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
Psalms 74:16
Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun.
Psalms 104:20
You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
Isaiah 45:7
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord , am the one who does these things.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This then is the message,.... Of God by his Son the Word, or from Christ by his apostles. The Syriac version renders it, "this is the Gospel"; which is good news from a far country, a message sent from the King of kings to sinful men: or this is the annunciation, or declaration; that is, the thing declared, or showed. Some render it, "this is the promise", that whereas God is light, such who walk in the light shall have communion with him, and others shall not:

which we have heard of him; of Christ, who has declared him, that he is light without any mixture of darkness; that is a pure Spirit, and must be worshipped in a spiritual way; and that only spiritual worshippers are such as he seeks, and admits to communion with him. Moreover, they might hear and learn this of Christ, by his telling them that he himself was light, who is the image of the invisible God, insomuch, that he that has seen the Son, has seen the Father also. Wherefore, if the one is light, the other must be likewise; nor is there any coming to the Father, and enjoying communion with him, but through Christ; all which our Lord told his disciples. The Ethiopic version reads, "which ye have heard", very wrongly; for the words regard the apostles, who made a faithful declaration of the message they heard, and had from Christ, which is as follows:

and declare unto you that God is light; that is, God the Father, as distinguished from "him", Christ, of whom they had heard this message, and from Jesus Christ his Son, 1 John 1:7, what is declared of him, agreeably to the report of Christ, is, that he is "light"; that is, as light is opposed to the darkness of sin; he is pure and holy in his nature and works, and of such pure eyes as not to behold iniquity; and so perfectly holy, that angels cover their times before him, when they speak of his holiness: and as light is opposed to the darkness of ignorance, he is wise and knowing; he knows himself, his own nature, being, and perfections, his Son and Spirit, and their distinct modes of subsisting; he sees clearly all things in himself, all things he could do, or has determined shall be done; he has perfect knowledge of all creatures and things, and the darkness and the light are alike unto him, nor can the former hide from him: he is knowable, and to be discerned; he is clothed with light, and dwells in it; he may be known by the works of creation and providence; even the invisible things of him, his eternal power and Godhead, may be clearly seen and understood by them, and especially in his word, and most clearly in his Son; it is owing to the darkness of men, and not to any in and about God, who is light, that he is so little known as he is: and, like the light, he illuminates others; he is the Father of lights, the author and giver of all light; of the light of reason to men in general; and of grace here, and glory hereafter, to his own people, which are both signified by light; in whose light they see light; and he refreshes and delights their souls with the light of his countenance now, and with his glorious presence in the other world:

and in him is no darkness at all; no darkness of sin; nothing is more contrary to him, or more distant from him: nor any darkness of error and ignorance; what is unknown to men, as the times and seasons; what angels were ignorant of, and even Christ, as man, as the day and hour of Jerusalem's destruction, were known to the Father; in him is no ignorance of anything whatever; nor is there any variableness or shadow of turning in him, as there is in the luminous body of the sun; but God is always the same pure and holy, wise and knowing Being. It is usual with the Cabalistic Jews e, to call the supreme Being אור, light the most simple light, hidden light, and infinite light, with respect to his nature, glory, and majesty, and with regard also to his grace and mercy, justice and judgment; though, as R. Sangart says f, this is to be understood of him figuratively.

e Lex. Cabalist, p. 63, 64. f Sepher Cosri, par. 2. sect. 2. fol. 61. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This then is the message which we have heard of him - This is the substance of the announcement (ἐπαγγελία epangelia) which we have received of him, or which he made to us. The message here refers to what he communicated as the sum of the revelation which he made to man. The phrase “of him” (απ ̓ αὐτου ap' autou) does not mean respecting him, or about him, but from him; that is, this is what we received from his preaching; from all that he said. The peculiarity, the substance of all that he said, may be summed up in the declaration that God is light, and in the consequences which follow from this doctrine. He came as the messenger of Him who is light; he came to inculcate and defend the truths which flow from that central doctrine, in regard to sin, to the danger and duty of man, to the way of recovery, and to the rules by which men ought to live.

That God is light - Light, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of purity, truth, knowledge, prosperity, and happiness - as darkness is of the opposite. John here says that “God is light” - φῶς phōs - not the light, or a light, but light itself; that is, he is himself all light, and is the source and fountain of light in all worlds. He is perfectly pure, without any admixture of sin. He has all knowledge, with no admixture of ignorance on any subject. He is infinitely happy, with nothing to make him miserable. He is infinitely true, never stating or countenancing error; he is blessed in all his ways, never knowing the darkness of disappointment and adversity. Compare the James 1:17 note; John 1:4-5 note; 1 Timothy 6:16 note.

And in him is no darkness at all - This language is much in the manner of John, not only affirming that a thing is so, but guarding it so that no mistake could possibly be made as to what he meant. Compare John 1:1-3. The expression here is designed to affirm that God is absolutely perfect; that there is nothing in him which is in any way imperfect, or which would dim or mar the pure splendor of his character, not even as much as the smallest spot would on the sun. The language is probably designed to guard the mind from an error to which it is prone, that of charging God with being the Author of the sin and misery which exist on the earth; and the apostle seems to design to teach that whatever was the source of sin and misery, it was not in any sense to be charged on God. This doctrine that God is a pure light, John lays down as the substance of all that he had to teach; of all that he had learned from him who was made flesh. It is, in fact, the fountain of all just views of truth on the subject of religion, and all proper views of religion take their origin from this.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 John 1:5. This then is the message — This is the grand principle on which all depends, which we have heard of απαυτου, FROM him; for neither Moses nor the prophets ever gave that full instruction concerning God and communion with him which Jesus Christ has given, for the only-begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, has alone declared the fulness of the truth, and the extent of the blessings, which believers on him are to receive. See John 1:18.

God is light — The source of wisdom, knowledge, holiness, and happiness; and in him is no darkness at all-no ignorance, no imperfection, no sinfulness, no misery. And from him wisdom, knowledge, holiness, and happiness are received by every believing soul. This is the grand message of the Gospel, the great principle on which the happiness of man depends. LIGHT implies every essential excellence, especially wisdom, holiness, and happiness. DARKNESS implies all imperfection, and principally ignorance, sinfulness, and misery. LIGHT is the purest, the most subtile, the most useful, and the most diffusive of all God's creatures; it is, therefore, a very proper emblem of the purity, perfection, and goodness of the Divine nature. God is to human soul, what the light is to the world; without the latter all would be dismal and uncomfortable, and terror and death would universally prevail: and without an indwelling God what is religion? Without his all-penetrating and diffusive light, what is the soul of man? Religion would be an empty science, a dead letter, a system unauthoritated and uninfluencing, and the soul a trackless wilderness, a howling waste, full of evil, of terror and dismay, and ever racked with realizing anticipations of future, successive, permanent, substantial, and endless misery. No wonder the apostle lays this down as a first and grand principle, stating it to be the essential message which he had received from Christ to deliver to the world.


 
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