John 1:5

shineth Note the present tense; the only one in the section. It brings us down to the Apostle's own day: now, as of old, the Light shines in reason, in creation, in conscience, and shines in vain. Note also the progress: in John 1:1 we have the period before Creation; in John 1:3, the Creation; John 1:4, man before the Fall; John 1:5, man after the Fall.

in darkness Better, in the darkness. The Fall is presupposed.

and the darkness Mark the strong connexion between the two halves of John 1:5 as also between John 1:4 and John 1:5, resulting in both cases from a portion of the predicate of one clause becoming the subject of the next clause. Such strong connexions are frequent in St John. Sometimes the whole of the predicate is taken; sometimes the subject or a portion of the subject is repeated. By -the darkness" is meant all that the Divine Revelation does not reach, whether by God's decree or their own stubbornness, ignorant Gentile or unbelieving Jew. -Darkness" in a metaphorical sense for spiritual and moral darkness is peculiar to S. John 8:12; John 12:35; John 12:46; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:8-9; 1 John 2:11.

comprehended it not Or, apprehended it not:very appropriate of that which requires mental and moral effort. Comp. Ephesians 3:18. The darkness remained apart, unyielding, and unpenetrated. The words -the darkness apprehendeth not the light" are given by Tatian as a quotation(Orat. ad Graecos, xiii.). He flourished a.d. 150 170: so this is early testimony to the existence of the Gospel. This and the reference to John 1:3 (see note) are quite beyond reasonable dispute.

We have here an instance of what has been called the "tragic tone" in S. John. He frequently states a gracious fact, and in immediate connexion with it the very opposite of what might have been expected to result from it. The Light shines in Darkness, and (instead of yielding and dispersing) the darkness shut it out. Comp. John 1:10, (John 2:24,) John 3:11; John 3:19; John 3:32; John 5:39-40; John 6:36; John 6:43; John 8:45, &c. The word rendered -comprehended" may also mean - overcame;" and this makes good sense. Comp. John 12:35.