Gr. zōē, the life principle shared by all living things, the antithesis of death. John evidently thinks also of spiritual life and, more particularly, of everlasting life, to which the one who receives Christ and believes in Him is given access (see v. 12). Through sin man separated himself from the source of life, and therefore became subject to death, but the prospect of eternal life was restored through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:12, 18; 6:23), and with it all that Adam lost through transgression. See John 10:10; 11:25; 14:6. “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived” (DA 530).

 In Greek the definite article preceding both “life” and “light” equates “light” with “life.” Spiritual darkness had long shrouded men’s souls, but the “true Light” (v. 9) of divine life and perfection now shines forth to illumine the pathway of every man (cf. Isa. 9:1, 2). Not only does the light of Heaven shine forth through Christ, He is that light (John 1:9). Again and again John quotes Jesus to this effect (see John 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 46; cf. 1 John 1:5, 6; 2:8). Light has ever been a symbol of the divine presence (see on Gen. 3:24). As the first act of creation God flooded the world with light (Gen. 1:3), so when God sets about the work of recreating His image in the souls of men He first illumines their hearts and minds with the light of divine love (2 Cor. 4:6). “With thee,” says the psalmist, “is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Ps. 36:9).