“So again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.'” – John 8:12
The physical phenomenon of light is one of the most primitive of all human experiences but remains strangely mysterious to physicists and philosophers alike…even theologians. The apparent inconsistency of daylight being created before the sun in Genesis 1 continues to perplex each new generation of biblical scholars, both Jewish and Christian. And yet, the Johannine literature of the New Testament expounds light––as grounded in the book of Genesis––as one of the primary conceptual metaphors for both God and Jesus. This presentation aims to bridge the gap by tracing some prominent themes regarding the theological use of light in ancient Israelite religion and culture, culminating in the famous claim of Jesus of Nazareth: “I am the light of the world.”
Audio: “Jesus Christ, the Light of the World: A Pre-Christian History” [slideshow]
This audio lecture (with Q&A) is 58 minutes in length, and was recorded on 26 Apr 2019 for TGIF Stellenbosch at Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Reading the Old Testament 