ACC ~ John 12 v46

THE TRUE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS

ORIGEN: When the Savior of the world came, he made the true light shine. But they did not want to gaze on it, nor were they willing to walk by the radiance of his teaching. Consequently, darkness overtook them and demanded a penalty for the wickedness that had preoccupied them. And this [darkness] might be said to have reasonably blinded and hardened them. And, just as it follows that the one who has chosen to walk in the light also knows where he is going, so it follows that the one who has not chosen to walk in the light walks in darkness and travels wretchedly along the road of the blind. …

For just as the visible sun shoots out its bright beams in order to enlighten those who have ailing eyes, so also does the spiritual Sun, the Light that has no setting or evening, come to the world and through his divine and ineffable miracles cast the brilliant gleam of his deity far and wide. FRAGMENT 94 ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. [1]

[1] AEG 5:110-11*; GCS 10(4):557-58.

TO WITHDRAW FROM CHRIST IS DARKNESS

AUGUSTINE: He says in one place to his disciples, “You are the light of the world” [1] … but he did not say to them, “You have come as a light into the world, that whosoever believes on you should not abide in darkness.” … All saints are lights, but they are illuminated by Christ through faith, and everyone that becomes separated from him will be enveloped in darkness. But that light that enlightens them cannot become separated from itself. For it is altogether beyond the reach of change. We believe, then, the light that has thus been lit is the prophet or apostle. But we believe him for this end, that we may not believe on that which is itself enlightened, but, with him, on that light that has given him light. Then we too may be enlightened, not by him, but along with him by the same light as he. And when he says, “That whoever believes on me may not abide in darkness,” he makes it sufficiently clear that all have been found by him in a state of darkness. But so that they do not remain in the darkness in which they have been found, they ought to believe on that light that has come into the world, for that is how the world was created. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 54.4. [2]

[1] Mt 5:14.

[2] NPNF 1 7:297**; CCL 36:460-61.