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King James Bible - John 1:4

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SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:4

En �l estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz de los hombres.

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Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 1:4

Verse 4. In him was life] Many MSS., versions, and fathers, connect this with the preceding verse, thus: All things were made by him, and without him was nothing made. What was made had life in it; but THIS LIFE was the light of men. That is, though every thing he made had a principle of life in it, whether vegetable, animal, or intellectual, yet this, that life or animal principle in the human being, was not the light of men; not that light which could guide them to heaven, for the world by wisdom knew not God, 1 Cor. i. 21. Therefore, the expression, in him was life, is not to be understood of life natural, but of that life eternal which he revealed to the world, 2 Timothy i. 10, to which he taught the way, chap. xiv. 6, which he promised to believers, chap. x. 28, which he purchased for them, chap. vi. 51, 53, 54, which he is appointed to give them, chap. xvii. 2, and to which he will raise them up, chap. v. 29, because he hath the life in himself, chap. v. 26. All this may be proved: 1. From the like expressions; 1 John v. 11, This is the promise that God hath given unto us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son: whence he is styled the true God and eternal life, 1 John v. 20; the resurrection and the life, chap. xi. 25; the way, the truth, and the life, chap. xiv. 6. 2. From these words, ver. 7, John came to bear witness of this light, that all might believe through him, viz. to eternal life, 1 Tim. i. 16; for so John witnesseth, chap. iii. 15, 36. And hence it follows that this life must be the light of men, by giving them the knowledge of this life, and of the way leading to it. See Whitby on the place. Is there any reference here to Gen. iii. 20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve, hwj chava, zwh, LIFE, because she was the mother of all living? And was not Jesus that seed of the woman that was to bruise the head of the serpent, and to give life to the world?

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John Gill's Bible Commentary

Ver. 4. In him was life , etc.] The Persic version reads in the plural number, �lives�. There was life in the word with respect to himself; a divine life, the same with the life of the Father and of the Spirit; and is in him, not by gift, nor by derivation or communication; but originally, and independently, and from all eternity: indeed he lived before his incarnation as Mediator, and Redeemer. Job knew him in his time, as his living Redeemer; but this regards him as the word and living God, and distinguishes him from the written word, and shows that he is not a mere idea in the divine mind, but a truly divine person: and there was life in Christ the word, with respect to others; the fountain of natural life is in him, he is the efficient cause, and preserver of it; whether vegetative, animal, or rational; and proves him to be truly God, and that he existed before his incarnation; since creatures, who have received such a life from him, did: and spiritual life was also in him; all his elect are dead in trespasses and sins, and cannot quicken themselves. Christ has procured life for them, and gives it to them, and implants it in them; a life of sanctification is from him; and a life of justification is upon him, and of faith is by him; all the comforts of a spiritual life, and all things appertaining to it, are from him, and he maintains, and preserves it. Eternal life is in him, and with him; not the purpose of it only, nor the promise of it barely, but the gift of it itself; which was granted in consequence of his asking it, and which he had by way of stipulation; and hence has a right and power to bestow it: now, this being in him proves him to be the true God, and shows us where life is to be had, and the safety and security of it: and the life was the light of men ; the life which was in, and by the word, was, with respect to men, a life of light, or a life attended with light: by which is meant, not a mere visive faculty, receptive of the sun�s light, but rational knowledge and understanding; for when Christ, the word, breathed into man the breath of life, and he became a living soul, he filled him with rational light and knowledge. Adam had a knowledge of God; of his being, and perfections; of the persons in the Trinity; of his relation to God, dependence on him, and obligation to him; of his mind and will; and knew what it was to have communion with him. He knew much of himself, and of all the creatures; this knowledge was natural and perfect in its kind, but loseable; and different from that which saints now have of God, through Christ, the Mediator; and since this natural light was from Christ, the word, as a Creator, he must be the eternal God. The Socinians are not willing to allow this sense, but say that Christ is the light of men, by preaching the heavenly doctrine, and by the example of his holy life; but hereby he did not enlighten every man that cometh into the world; the greatest part of men, before the preaching, and example of Christ, sat in darkness; and the greatest part of the Jews remained in darkness, notwithstanding his preaching, and example; and the patriarchs that were enlightened under the former dispensation, were not enlightened this way: it will be owned, that all spiritual and supernatural light, which any of the sons of men have had, since the fall, was from Christ, from whom they had their spiritual life; even all spiritual light in conversion, and all after degrees of light; through him they enjoyed the light of God�s countenance, and had the light of joy and gladness here, and of glory hereafter.

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Matthew Henry Commentary

Verses 1-5 - The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, Hi existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Wor was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highes angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well a the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. Thi eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends is not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behol this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unt salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

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Greek Textus Receptus

εν 1722 PREP αυτω 846 P-DSM ζωη 2222 N-NSF ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S και 2532 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF ζωη 2222 N-NSF ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S το 3588 T-NSN φως 5457 N-NSN των 3588 T-GPM ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM

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Vincent's NT Word Studies

4. In Him was life (en autw zwh hn). He was the fountain of life - physical, moral, and eternal - its principle and source. Two words for life are employed in the New Testament: biov and zwh. The primary distinction is that zwh means existence as contrasted with death, and biov, the period, means, or manner of existence. Hence biov is originally the higher word, being used of men, while zwh is used of animals (zwa). We speak therefore of the discussion of the life and habits of animals as zoology; and of accounts of men's lives as biography. Animals have the vital principle in common with men, but men lead lives controlled by intellect and will, and directed to moral and intellectual ends. In the New Testament, biov means either living, i.e., means of subsistence (Mark xii. 44; Luke viii. 43), or course of life, life regarded as an economy (Luke viii. 14; 1 Tim. ii. 2; 2 Tim. ii. 4). Zwh occurs in the lower sense of life, considered principally or wholly as existence (1 Pet. iii. 10; Acts viii. 33; xvi