John 1:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 1:6-14

The evangelist designs to bring in John Baptist bearing an honourable testimony to Jesus Christ, Now in these verses, before he does this, I. He gives us some account of the witness he is about to produce. His name was John, which signifies gracious; his conversation was austere, but he was not the less gracious. Now, 1. We are here told concerning him, in general, that he was a man sent of God. The evangelist had said concerning Jesus Christ that he was with God and that he was God; but here... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 1:1-18

1:1-18 When the world had its beginning, the Word was already there; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. This Word was in the beginning with God. He was the agent through whom all things were made; and there is not a single thing which exists in this world which came into being without him. In him was life and the life was the light of men; and the light shines in the darkness, because the darkness has never been able to conquer it. There emerged a man sent from God whose name... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:9

That was the true light ,.... Christ is that light, that famous and excellent light, the fountain of all light to all creatures; that gave light to the dark earth at first, and spoke light out of darkness; that light of all men in the earth, and of all the angels in heaven, and of all the saints below, and of all the glorified ones above: he is the true light, in distinction from typical lights; the "Urim" of the former dispensation; the candlestick, with the lamps of it; the pillar of fire... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

Which lighteth every man - As Christ is the Spring and Fountain of all wisdom, so all the wisdom that is in man comes from him; the human intellect is a ray from his brightness; and reason itself springs from this Logos, the eternal reason. Some of the most eminent rabbins understand Isaiah 60:1 , Rise and shine, for thy Light is come, of the Messiah who was to illuminate Israel, and who, they believe, was referred to in that word, Genesis 1:3 , And God said, Let there be Light; and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

Verse 9 9.The true light was. The Evangelist did not intend to contrast the true light with the false, but to distinguish Christ from all others, that none might imagine that what is called light belongs to him in common with angels or men. The distinction is, that whatever is luminous in heaven and in earth borrows its splendor from some other object; but Christ is the light, shining from itself and by itself, and enlightening the whole world by its radiance; so that no other source or cause... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:1-18

1. The hypothesis framed by the evangelist to account for the series of facts which he is about to narrate is seen especially in John 1:14 ; but before asserting this great fact that the Word was made flesh, he proceeds to show read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:1-51

The phrase, "according to," has been thought by some to suggest a type of doctrine or teaching with which the document might be supposed to harmonize, and therefore to set aside the idea of personal authenticity by its very form. This interpretation, seeing it applies to Mark and Luke as well as to John and Matthew, would lose its meaning; for Mark and Luke, by numerous traditionary notices, have been continuously credited, not with having personally set any special type of doctrine before... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:6-13

(4) The general manifestation of the revealing Logos. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9

(b) The illumination of the archetypal Light before incarnation. There are at least three grammatical translations of this verse. Either (1) with Meyer, we may give to ἦν the complete sense of existence, presence, and include in it the full predicate of the sentence; thus: "Existing, present (when John commenced his ministry), was the veritable Light which enlighteneth every man coming into the world." But the clause, "coming into the world," would here not only be superfluous, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9

The true Light in its manifestation. I. THE NATURE OF THIS LIGHT . "There was the true Light." 1 . Christ was the true Light, as opposed to false or imperfect lights. He was the ideal Light, not subject to the vicissitudes of time and space. 2 . He was the true Light in opposition to ceremonial types and shadows. 3 . He was the true Light in opposition to all light that is borrowed from or communicated from another. II. THE EXTENT OF THIS LIGHT IN... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 1:6-14

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 1:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:1-51

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:6-13

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9

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