Darkness (4653) skotia by Greek Word Studies

Darkness (4653) (skotia from skotos = darkness) means literal darkness in some NT uses (Jn 6:17, 20:1), but more often (14/16x) is used figuratively to refer to spiritual darkness. In every NT figurative use, darkness is contrasted with light in all but one passage (1Jn 2:11). As noted below "Darkness has no existence by itself, being definable simply as an absence of light." In the spiritual sense darkness describes both the state and works of a person. It symbolizes evil and sin, everything that life should not be and everything that a person should not do! The apostle John uses skotia in 1Jn 1:5 and skotos in 1Jn 1:6. Wayne Barber distinguishes between these two words for darkness stating that... skotia means the result of darkness. If I walk outside in the darkness and fall over a stump and break my leg, I have been out in the darkness. But I have suffered the consequence of being in that darkness. The word skotos in 1Jn 1:6 means the essence of darkness itself. Look in John 3:19 (Ed: Where darkness = skotos)...Why does he bring up the word "darkness" and why does he contrast it with light? He is dealing with false doctrine. Any false doctrine is darkness. It is clear here that darkness is the environment in which men seek to hide their sin. "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness." This is not the consequence of the darkness because they haven’t realized the (consequence) yet, but they love the essence of darkness. They love the darkness "rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed." (Jn 3:19-20). So we see that darkness, skotos, is something that hides a man’s sin. He likes it because no one knows what is going on in the darkness. But Jesus is the Light, and when Jesus comes into a man’s life, He turns on the light and exposes what is going on. That is why men would not respond to the Light. That is the judgment that has come into the world. Zodhiates adds that As light is not only the emblem of happiness but is also itself beneficial, darkness in like manner works unhappiness and death (John 12:35; 1Jn 1:5; 2:8, 9, 11 [cf. Job 37:19]). Thus, skotía is not only a figurative term for sin itself, but also for the consequences of sin. (Zodhiates, S. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. AMG or Logos or Wordsearch) The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery has a helpful summary of darkness in Scripture... Darkness has no existence by itself, being definable simply as an absence of light. It is a physical and spiritual reality as well as an apt symbol for some of the profoundest human experiences. With approximately two hundred references, darkness is a major actor in the biblical drama...Darkness stands out from virtually all other literary images, which are finally ambivalent (having both good and bad manifestations), because it is uniformly negative in its import....Throughout the Bible, darkness is an implied contrast to light, regardless of whether the darkness is physical or symbolic. In fact, sixty verses present light and darkness as a contrasting pair, and being brought out of darkness into light is a major biblical image of redemption....If light symbolizes understanding, darkness represents ignorance (Ps 82:5), folly (Eccles 2:13–14), a silencing of prophetic revelation (Mic 3:6), the state of the human mind unilluminated by God’s revelation (2Pet 1:19), falsehood (1 Jn 1:6) and the loss of walking in God’s truth “because the darkness has brought on blindness” (1 Jn 2:11NRSV). If light symbolizes good, darkness is the corresponding image for evil people “who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness” (Pr 2:13NRSV; cf. Pr 4:19). In Jesus’ mysterious picture of the eye as “the lamp of the body,” physical blindness becomes a metaphor for the lost state (Mt 6:22–23; Lk 11:34–36). (Ryken, Leland; et al, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, InterVarsity Press) Related Resources: Darkness in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Darkness in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Skotia - 16x in 12v in the NAS - Translated - dark(3), darkness(14). To help see the frequent contrast of darkness with light, the latter is in bold red lettering. Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Luke 12:3 "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Comment: The darkness means that a person does not understand the Light and is powerless to extinguish the Light. John 6:17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the (spiritual) darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that (spiritual) darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the (spiritual) darkness does not know where he goes. John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in (spiritual) darkness. John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 1 John 2:11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness (skotia) and walks in the darkness (skotia), and does not know where he is going because the darkness (skotia) has blinded his eyes. Skotia - 3x in 3v in the Septuagint - Job 28:3, Micah 3:6, Isaiah 16:3. ><>><>><> An Illustration of Spiritual Darkness - A new preacher came to town and was meeting the people. He asked a stranger, "Are you a Christian?" "No," the man responded. "Name is Jones. The Christians live a block over." "No, you don't understand," the preacher continued. "I mean, are you lost?" "Lost?" the man queried. "No, of course I'm not lost. I've lived here all my life." "You still don't understand," the preacher continued. "I mean, are you ready for judgment day?" "When will it be?" the local resident questioned. "It could be today, it could be tomorrow," responded the preacher. "Well," the man answered, "don't tell my wife. She'll want to go both days!' (Brian Harbour) ><>><>><> The Right Light - Eating in the dark is no fun. Low light in a restaurant is one thing; eating in a room with no light at all is another. The same is true in our walk with God. Unless we take advantage of the light He gives, we will miss seeing what He is doing for us. We have an Old Testament picture of this—the tabernacle. As the priest entered a room called the Holy Place, he could see only by the light of a golden lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40). Like everything else in the room, it had been carefully fashioned according to the pattern God gave Moses (v.40). The lampstand is a picture of spiritual light. The gold speaks of value. The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The six branches coming out from the center shaft portray unity in plurality. The symbol of the almond blossom is linked to God’s anointed priesthood (Numbers 17:1-8). When all this is combined with a New Testament reference that uses a golden lampstand to represent the church (Revelation 1:20), we have the complete picture. God gives light through the Spirit, who works through His congregation of anointed people (1Peter 2:9). Yes, the Holy Spirit provides us with the light we need. Are we daily spending time in prayer and reading God’s Word so that we can take advantage of it?— by Mart De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Holy Ghost, with light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine; Chase the shades of night away, Turn my darkness into day. —Reed The light of God's holiness convicts the sinner and guides the saint. ><>><>><> Secrets - "God is light,” the apostle reminded us, “and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn. 1:5). But if that is true, how can a holy God have anything to do with the likes of us? Fyodor Dostoevsky, in Notes from the Underground, writes what we all know: There are certain things in a man’s past which he does not divulge to everybody but, perhaps, only to friends. Again, there are certain things he will not divulge even to his friends; he will divulge them perhaps only to himself, and that too as a secret. But, finally there are things which he is afraid to divulge even to himself, and every decent man has quite an accumulation of such things in his mind. If we have so many deep dark secrets, how can we hope to have fellowship with God? An illustration from Martin Luther’s life shows us. Luther had a dream in which he stood before God. Satan was there to accuse Luther, and when the books were opened the accuser pointed to sin after sin in his life. Luther despaired. Then he remembered the cross and, turning to the devil, he quoted 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Because of Jesus, sinners can be forgiven and stand before a holy God. How do you stand today?— by Haddon W. Robinson (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Thinking It Over "God is light" (1 Jn. 1:5). What does that mean? What creates distance between us and God? (1 Jn. 1:6,8,10). What is the solution to the problem? (1 Jn. 1:9). No sin is so secret that it is beyond God's forgiveness.

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Darkness (4653) skotia

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