Daily Bible Nugget #425, John 8:12

The Nugget:

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

My Comment:

I took some time today to answer several of the alleged “Contradictions in the Bible” being posted by one or more Muslims in the “Islam and Christianity Debate Group.”

Here is the proposed “contradiction” proposed by Uthman Muhammad Aboki which I just addressed:

1st Timothy 6/16 “…(GOD) dwelling in the LIGHT which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see…” CONTRADICTS 1ST KINGS 8/12 : “Then spake Solomon, the Lord said that He would dwell in the THICK DARKNESS.”

In my answer below I addressed the contradiction thematically rather than directly.  The direct answer would be that 1 Timothy 6:16 addresses where God permanently dwells, which Paul speaks of as “the light which no man can approach unto.”  I see no problem there.  In contrast, 1 Kings 8:12 speaks of the fact that the Lord said He would dwell in the thick darkness.”  Where is the thick darkness where God would dwell?  In the Holy of Holies in the completed Temple Solomon would build, in a cloud above the mercy seat. Two different settings, thus two quite different aspects of His dwelling are spoken of, but this is not a contradiction, but a distinction as to place and manner of dwelling.

My Answer:

Once again, a supposed “contradiction” reveals a rather superficial reading of the Bible.
 
The themes of “light” and “darkness” are quite prominent in the Bible.
 
I am reminded of the Ninth Plague of Darkness in Egypt:
 
Exodus 10:22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
Exodus 10:23  They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
 
I am reminded of the cloudy pillar, which brought darkness to the Egyptians in pursuit of the Israelites, and gave light by night to the Israelites:
 
Exodus 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exodus 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
 
There is even a very significant moral truth related to these contrasting themes of light and darkness expressed in the book of Proverbs:
 
Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:19  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
 
This corresponds to the condition of those who are lost in darkness and refuse to see the light, compared to those who truly seek the Lord by reading and studying His written Word in the Bible, which is the source of spiritual light (Psalm 119:130),
 
Proverbs 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
 
Psalm 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
 
On this very theme our Lord Jesus Christ gave a most serious warning,
 
Luke 11:35  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
 
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
 
John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
 
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
 
Make very sure that it cannot be said of you that you love darkness rather than light!
 
 
 
This entry was posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, Daily Bible Nuggets and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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