Some think, as Luther, Melancthon, Bre^tius, Flacius, Liglit- foot, Lampe, and Pearce, that tlie expression apphes solely to spiritual life, and that it is meant to declare that Christ alone is the source of all life to the souls of men, whether in time or eternity. He was the creator of all things, and He also was the author of new creation. To this opinion I decidedly incline. For one thing, natural life seems already included in the pre- ceding verse about cieation. For another thing, it is the view which seems to agree best with the conclusion of the verse, and to be in harmony with the words, '' With thee is the fountain of life : in thy hght we shall see light." " God hath given to us eternal Ufe, and this life is in His Son." (Psalm sxxvi. 9; 1 John V. 11.)
[The Ufe was the light of men.] This sentence means that the life which was in Christ, was intended before the fall to be the guide of man's soul to heaven, and the supply of man's heart and conscience, — and that since the fall of man it has been the salvation and the comfort of all who have been saved. It is those and those only who have followed Christ as their Tght, who have lived before God and reached heaven. There has never been any spiritual life or light enjoyed by men, excepting from Christ.
5. — [The light shineth in darhness.'] This sentence means that the spiritual hght which Chiist, the source of life, offers to man, has always been neglected since the fall, and is still neglected by un- regenerate men. It has been like a candle shining in a dark place, a light in the middle of a world of darkness, — making the darkness more visible. Unregenerate men are darkness itself about spiritual things. "Ye were darkness." (Ephes. v. 8.)
Arrowsmith remarks on this sentence, " Christ hath shined in all ages in the works of creation and providence. He left not Himself without witness. Every creature is a kind of professor that readeth man a lecture concerning God, of His wisdom, and power, and goodness."
[The darkness comprehended it not.'] This sentence means that the natural heart of man has always been so dark since the fall, that the great majority of mankind have neither understood, nor received, nor laid hold upon the light offered to them by Christ.
The difference in the tenses of the tv/o verbs used in this verse is very remarkable. About the " light" the present tense is used ; " It shineth now as it has always shone ; it is still shining." — About the " darkness" the past ten-e is used ; " It has not comprehended the light ; it never has compre- hended it from the first, and does not comprehend it at the pre- sent day."