The symbolism of light permeates Christianity. The Lord Jesus Christ refers to Himself as the Light of the world (see, for example, John 8:12; John 9:5; and John 12:46). His followers, reflecting that divine Light, are expected in turn to be lights to the world (as in Matthew 5:14; Luke 16:8; and Philippians 2:15).
In our culture we equate God and heaven and salvation with light. Even in our common language, quite aside from considerations of religion or theology, we associate light with such concepts as glory, truth, goodness, and openness. On the other hand, we associate darkness, or the absence of light, with such concepts as falsehood, evil, or the occult.
Some form of the word light appears in 273 separate chapters in the scriptures—in 128 chapters in the Old Testament, in 54 chapters in the New Testament, in 54 chapters in the Book of Mormon, in 32 sections in the Doctrine and Covenants, and in 5 chapters in the Pearl of Great Price.
The Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith and some of his successors in the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contain some of the more intriguing and mind-stretching scriptural passages concerning light.
In a revelation Joseph Smith received on September 22-23, 1832, for example, the Lord equates truth and light and spirit: "For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
"And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world" (D&C 84:45-46).
In a subsequent revelation that Joseph received on December 27, 1832, we read: "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
"Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
"As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
"As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; . . .
"The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (D&C 88:6-9, 11-13).
Perhaps more on these and similar passages in some later post.
In our culture we equate God and heaven and salvation with light. Even in our common language, quite aside from considerations of religion or theology, we associate light with such concepts as glory, truth, goodness, and openness. On the other hand, we associate darkness, or the absence of light, with such concepts as falsehood, evil, or the occult.
Some form of the word light appears in 273 separate chapters in the scriptures—in 128 chapters in the Old Testament, in 54 chapters in the New Testament, in 54 chapters in the Book of Mormon, in 32 sections in the Doctrine and Covenants, and in 5 chapters in the Pearl of Great Price.
The Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith and some of his successors in the presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contain some of the more intriguing and mind-stretching scriptural passages concerning light.
In a revelation Joseph Smith received on September 22-23, 1832, for example, the Lord equates truth and light and spirit: "For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
"And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world" (D&C 84:45-46).
In a subsequent revelation that Joseph received on December 27, 1832, we read: "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
"Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
"As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
"As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; . . .
"The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (D&C 88:6-9, 11-13).
Perhaps more on these and similar passages in some later post.
No comments:
Post a Comment