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Let there be light

jay_emmjay_emm Kerygmania Host
in Kerygmania
There was a request for a discussion on light motifs.
Between Genesis, John's I am saying, and Revelations seven sun irradiance, there's clearly a lot to talk about.

Comments

  • jay_emmjay_emm Kerygmania Host
    So I guess the first thing is if the light from Genesis 1 just a reference to a bit of brightness or something more fundamental?

    And (without going too much into any documentary hypothesis), are there other candidates for the earliest light reference in the bible?

    How does it compare with other creation myths, is it an unusual feature or a standard?

    And then we can see if other uses call back to this.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    Why does light appear so early in creation stories

    1) It is a symbol of intelligibility--the world becomes knowable through it.

    2) It is a sign of divine activity--the gods reveal themselves though illumination.

    3) It is a country marker--separating chaos from cosmos.

    4) It is a metaphor for life

    Genesis 1 stands out from the other creation stories in that light is not a god. Note, we have light, and plants before the sun, moon and stars
  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    jay_emm wrote: »
    There was a request for a discussion on light motifs.
    Between Genesis, John's I am saying, and Revelations seven sun irradiance, there's clearly a lot to talk about.

    What is the seven sun irradiance? I can't think of what this could be, off hand.
  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    I think "light" and "life" get paired a lot. Which is not surprising, when you think how dangerous ordinary darkness can be, just walking around the house.
  • jay_emmjay_emm Kerygmania Host
    Lamb Chopped wrote: »
    jay_emm wrote: »
    There was a request for a discussion on light motifs.
    Between Genesis, John's I am saying, and Revelations seven sun irradiance, there's clearly a lot to talk about.

    What is the seven sun irradiance? I can't think of what this could be, off hand.

    Probably some pop culture having been merged in with my memory of rev 21:23 "the city had no need of the sun...for the Glory of God did lighten it" and similar 22:5.
  • Jengie JonJengie Jon Shipmate
    You need to add Psalms, Isaiah and 1 John at least. There are some significant verses elsewhere that would need drawing on as well.

    Paul seems to manage to get it four times in 2 Cor 4:6, which I think is impressive.
  • Gamma GamalielGamma Gamaliel Shipmate
    Cool. Yes, that is impressive.

    It's interesting that 'light' there us linked to 'knowledge' - or clarity I suppose. The knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a relational sense.

    I'm often struck by John 1:5 where we are told that light has shone in the darkness and the darkness 'did not comprehend it.'

    Some versions have 'understand' of course, which amounts to the same thing.

    It's as if darkness has a kind of negative agency, as if it ought to be able to understand it but can't because of its own darkness as it were.

    Plenty of light and dark imagery in the scriptures of course about 'light' and understanding.

    'The entry of your word brings light, it brings understanding to the simple.'

    It goes beyond that, of course.

    We've got the light of the Transfiguration, and much more besides.

    Thanks for starting this thread and for your contributions so far Kerymaniacs. I look forward to further reflections on light imagery in the scriptures.
  • GarasuGarasu Shipmate
    Lamb Chopped wrote: »
    What is the seven sun irradiance? I can't think of what this could be, off hand.

    It sounds like Isaiah 30:26: "Moreover, the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow."


  • jay_emmjay_emm Kerygmania Host
    Garasu wrote: »
    Lamb Chopped wrote: »
    What is the seven sun irradiance? I can't think of what this could be, off hand.

    It sounds like Isaiah 30:26: "Moreover, the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow."
    I think there's a joke that uses that to 'prove' heaven hotter than mere 'moltan sulphur' hell.
    (Glad it was actually biblical at least)

    Jengie Jon wrote: »
    You need to add Psalms, Isaiah and 1 John at least. There are some significant verses elsewhere that would need drawing on as well.

    Paul seems to manage to get it four times in 2 Cor 4:6, which I think is impressive.
    I was wondering about psalm 119:105 "your word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path", it works perfectly fine as an improvised metaphor,
    But if there is a pattern, say a resonance with creation, or with wisdom 'seeing the light'...

    There's definitely lots of passages that can be brought in.
    I think if someone clever could give structure, it would could easily last Lent.
  • Gamma GamalielGamma Gamaliel Shipmate
    Any takers? I'm not clever enough.
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