And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Ver. 5. And the light shineth] The light both of nature and of Scripture. The former is but a dim half-light, a rush candle, that will light a man but into utter darkness. The latter is a clear thorough light: the commandment is a lamp, et lex, lux, and the law is light, Proverbs 6:23. As for the gospel, it is set up as a beacon on a hill,Titus 2:11, επεφανη, or as the sun in the firmament, Luke 1:78,79, bringing "life and immortality to light," 2 Timothy 1:10; where God by his Holy Spirit enlighteneth organ and object, Acts 26:18, and shineth on the heart, in the face of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:6 .
And the darkness comprehendeth it not] Nor will be comprehended by it, Philippians 3:12, but repels it, rebels against it, Job 24:13; imprisons it, as those wizards did, Romans 1:18; spurns at it (as Balaam the devil's spelman did, Numbers 24:1,2, when he set his face toward the wilderness, and resolved to curse howsoever); execrates it, as the Ethiopians do the rising sun. (Herodot.) The morning is to such as the shadow of death,Job 24:17; for being born in hell, they seek no other heaven.