John Calvin Commentary John 12:46

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness." — John 12:46 (ASV)

I am come into the world as a light. To render His disciples more bold and persevering, He proceeds still further in maintaining the certainty of faith. And, first, He testifies that He came into the world to be a light, by which people might be delivered from darkness and errors. At the same time, He points out the means of obtaining so great a benefit, when He says, that whosoever believeth in me may not remain in darkness.

Besides, He accuses of ingratitude all who, after having been taught by the Gospel, do not separate themselves from unbelievers. For the higher the excellence of this benefit—of being called from darkness to light—the less excusable are they who, through their indolence or carelessness, quench the light that had been kindled in them.

The words, I am come into the world as a light, are highly emphatic. For though Christ was a light from the beginning, there is a good reason why He adorns Himself with this title: that He has come to perform the part of a light. So that we may perceive distinctly the various steps, He shows:

1. that He is a light to others rather than to Himself;
2. that He is a light not only to angels but also to humans;
3. that He was manifested in the flesh, so that He might shine with full brightness.

The term whosoever, appears to have been added on purpose: partly that all believers, without exception, may enjoy this benefit in common, and partly to show that the reason unbelievers perish in darkness is that, of their own accord, they forsake the light. Now, if the whole wisdom of the world were collected into one mass, not a single ray of the true light would be found in that vast heap; but, on the contrary, it would be a confused chaos, for it belongs to Christ alone to deliver us from darkness.