Church Fathers Commentary John 1:9

"There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world." — John 1:9 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: John himself shows what Light it is to which he bears witness, saying, That was the true Light.

St. John Chrysostom: Alternatively, having said above that John had come and was sent to bear witness to the Light, the Evangelist takes us back to that existence which is beyond all beginning. He does this lest anyone, seeing the recent arrival of the witness, should assume the same about the One to whom he testified, saying, That was the true Light.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Why is the word “true” added? Because an enlightened person is called a light, but the true Light is the one who enlightens. Our eyes, for instance, are called lights, yet without a lamp at night or the sun by day, they are open in vain. For this reason, the Evangelist adds, which enlightens every man. But if this applies to every man, then John himself was enlightened by Him.

He Himself, then, enlightened the person by whom He wished to be pointed out. Just as we can often know the sun has risen by seeing its reflection on an object, even when we cannot look at the sun itself—for even weak eyes can look at an illuminated wall—so it was for those to whom Christ came. Being too weak to behold Him directly, He cast His rays upon John. John confessed this illumination, and in this way, the Illuminator Himself was revealed.

When it is said, that comes into the world, it implies a need for enlightenment. If humanity had not departed from Him, there would be no need to be enlightened. A person must be enlightened in this world precisely because they departed from that place where they could have been enlightened.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Let the Manichean blush, who declares us to be the creatures of a dark and evil creator, for we could never be enlightened if we were not the children of the true Light.

St. John Chrysostom: Where are those who deny that He is truly God? We see here that He is called the true Light. But if He enlightens every man who comes into the world, how is it that so many have remained without light? For not all have known the worship of Christ.

The answer is this: He enlightens every person, as far as it depends on Him. If people shut their eyes and refuse to receive the rays of this light, their darkness does not come from any fault in the light, but from their own wickedness, since they voluntarily deprive themselves of the gift of grace. For grace is poured out on all, and those who refuse to enjoy this gift can only attribute it to their own blindness.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Alternatively, the words enlightens every man can be understood to mean not that there is no one who remains unenlightened, but that no one is enlightened except by Him.

The Venerable Bede: This includes both natural and divine wisdom, for just as no one can exist by himself, so no one can be wise by himself.

Origen of Alexandria: Alternatively, we must not understand the words enlightens every man that comes into the world as referring to physical growth from hidden seeds into organized bodies. Instead, it refers to the entrance into the invisible world through the spiritual regeneration and grace given in Baptism. The true Light, then, enlightens those who come into the world of goodness, not those who rush into the world of sin.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Alternatively, the intellect given to us for our guidance, which is called natural reason, is described here as a light from God. However, some have darkened themselves through the misuse of their reason.