John Chapter 1, Verse 5
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5: και το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν
5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not.
5: And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not
comprehend it.
το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει
The guiding thought is still the story of the creation of light, which dissipated the darkness of chaos. But this is a story which ever repeats itself in the spiritual world; John does not say "@the Light shone" but "the Light shines" In 1Jn 2:8 he applies the thought directly to the passing of spiritual darkness because of the shining of Christ, the true light.
και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν
katalambanein generally means to "seize" or "apprehend", whether physically (Num 21:32, Mk 9:18, Jn 8:4), or intellectually (Acts 10:34 Acts 25:25, Eph 3:18, etc.). Thus we may translate "the darkness apprehended it not," i.e. did not understand or appreciate it; and so the Vulgate has tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt, the note of tragedy being struck at once, which appears again, vv. 10, 11 (where, however, the verb is paralambanein); see on Jn 3:19
But katalambanein often means to "overtake" (Gen 31:23, Ex 15:9, Sir 11:10, 1Thess 5:4). Moulton-Milligan illustrate from the papyri this use of the verb, viz. of evil "overtaking" one. This is its meaning in the only other place where it occurs in Jn., viz. Jn 12:35: "lest darkness overtake you." Origen (with other Greek interpreters) takes katelaben in this sense here, explaining that the thought is of darkness perpetually pursuing light, and never overtaking it. The meaning "overtake in pursuit" readily passes into "overcome "; e.g. 2 Macc 8:18, where it is said that God is able "to overcome those who come upon us". A classical parallel is cited by Field from Herod, i. 87, hos hopa panta men andra sbennunta to pur, dunamenous de ouketi katalabein, i.e. "when he saw ... that they were unable to overcome the fire." That this is the meaning of the verb in the present verse is supported by the fact that the thought of Christ's rejection does not appear, and could not fitly appear, until after the statement of His historical "coming into the world" (vv. 9, 10). We have not yet come to this, and it is the spiritual interpretation of the Creation narrative that is still in view. Thus in the Hymn of Wisdom (Wis 7:29) we have: "Night succeeds the Light, but evil does not overcome wisdom". The darkness did not overcome the light at the beginning, and the light still shines. This is not the note of tragedy, but the note of triumph. Good always conquers evil. " The darkness did not overcome the light " (so R.V. margin).
Philo's commentary on Gen 1:3 is in agreement with this interpretation. He says that to noeton phos is the image of theios logos, which is the image of God. This may be called panaugeia, "universal brightness" (cf. Jn 8:12). On the first day of creation this light dispelled the darkness: epeide de phos men egeneto, skotos de hupexeste kai hupechoresen i.e. "darkness yielded to it and retreated." John applies this thought to Christ as the Light of the world. There is never an eclipse of this Sun.
C. J. Ball suggested that behind katelaben lies a confusion of the Aramaic verbs for "take, receive" and "darken". He holds that, both here and at Jn 12:35, the original Aramaic (which he finds behind the Greek) was "obscured it not," and that this was misread "received it not." This is ingenious, but, as we have seen, katelaben is good Greek for "overcome," so that there is no need to suppose any corruption of the original text.
The light shineth in darkness. Darkness, in the Bible, commonly denotes ignorance, guilt, or misery. See Isa 9:1f, Mt 4:16 Acts 26:18 Eph 5:8ff, Rev 13:12.
It refers here to a wicked and ignorant people. When it is said that "the light shineth in darkness," it is meant that the Lord Jesus came to teach an ignorant, benighted, and wicked world: This has always been the case. It was so when he sent his prophets; so during his own ministry; and so in every age since. His efforts to enlighten and save men have been like light struggling to penetrate a thick, dense cloud; and though a few rays may pierce the gloom, yet the great mass is still an impenetrable shade.
Comprehended it not. This word means admitted it not, or received it not. The word comprehend, with us, means to understand. This is not the meaning of the original. The darkness did not receive or admit the rays of light; the shades were so thick that the light could not penetrate them; or, to drop the figure, men were so ignorant, so guilty, so debased, that they did not appreciate the value of his instructions; they despised and rejected him. And so it is still. The great mass of men, sunk in sin, will not receive his teachings, and be enlightened and saved by him. Sin always blinds the mind to the beauty and excellency of the character of the Lord Jesus. It indisposes the mind to receive his instructions, just as darkness has no affinity for light; and if the one exists, the other must be displaced.
