"Light of the World" (Greek:φώς τοῦ κόσμουPhṓs toukósmou) is a phrase used byJesus to describe himself and hisdisciples in theNew Testament.[1] The phrase is recorded in the Gospels ofMatthew (5:14–16) andJohn (John 8:12). It is closely related to theparables ofsalt and light andlamp under a bushel, which also appear in Jesus'Sermon on the Mount.
InJohn 8:12 Jesus applies the title to himself while debating with the Jews and states:[1]
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Jesus again claims to be the Light of the World inJohn 9:5, during the miracle ofhealing the blind at birth, saying:[2]
This episode leads intoJohn 9:39 where Jesus metaphorically explains that he came to this world, so that the blind may see.[2]
In theChristological context, the use of the title Light of the World is similar to theBread of Life title inJohn 6:35 where Jesus states: "I am the bread of life: he who comes to me shall not hunger."[3] These assertions build on the Christological theme ofJohn 5:26 where Jesus claims to possess life just as theFather does and provide it to those who follow him.[3][4] The term "Life of the World" is applied in the same sense by Jesus to himself inJohn 6:51.[2]
Light is defined as life, as seen inJohn 1:4, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men". Those who have faith in him will have eternal life. In John's Gospel, "darkness is present in the absence of light; the absence ofeternal life," and darkness refers to death, spiritually.[5]
Jesus also used that term to refer to his disciples inMatthew 5:14:[1]
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.[6]
This application of "light compared with darkness" also appears in1 John 1:5 which applies it to God and states: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all".[7]
Light and darkness in John's Gospel is anantithesis that has symbolic meaning and is essential to understanding the author of John. The fourth gospel expresses certain ideas using the antithesis more frequently than any other writings in the New Testament. TheJohannine community may have borrowed the symbolic use of the antithesis Light–Darkness fromEssene literature, "which considered History as a permanent conflict between Good and Evil, using Light as a symbol of Truth and Righteousness and Darkness as that of Falsehood and Evil".[8]
Examples ofdualistic concepts in the Gospel of John:
| Light | Darkness |
|---|---|
| Known | Unknown |
| Jesus Christ | Satan |
| Heavenly | Earthly |
| Above | Below |
| Spirit | Flesh |
| Sight | Blindness |
| Universe | World |
| Day | Night |
In theextra-canonicalGospel of Thomas, a similar phrase appears, "There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness".[9]
Light is a recurring theme inGnostic religions such asManichaeism[10] andMandaeism.[11]
Media related toLight of the world at Wikimedia Commons