John 11:10 Walking in Night and Unbelief
Jesus says in John 11:9-10, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" [1]. This statement occurs as Jesus is preparing to return to Judea, where his enemies are seeking to kill him, to raise Lazarus from the dead.
Literary Context
The immediate context of John 11:10 is Jesus' conversation with his disciples about returning to Judea. The disciples are concerned for Jesus' safety, given the hostility towards him in that region. Jesus' response is to explain that his time is limited and that he must continue to do the work of his Father while it is still day. The metaphor of walking in the day versus walking in the night serves to illustrate the difference between acting with divine guidance and acting without it.
Historical Setting
The historical setting of this passage is crucial for understanding its meaning. Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the context of his impending return to Judea, where he will face opposition and ultimately raise Lazarus from the dead. The Johannine community, for whom this Gospel was written, would have understood the significance of Jesus' words in light of their own experiences of persecution and the importance of remaining faithful [3].
Key Terms and Exegetical Decisions
The key terms in John 11:10 are "day," "night," "walks," and "light." The contrast between day and night is symbolic, with day representing the presence of divine light and guidance, and night representing its absence. The verb "walks" refers to one's actions or way of life. The phrase "the light is not in him" is crucial, as it indicates that the individual lacks internal illumination or spiritual understanding.
One major exegetical decision revolves around the interpretation of "light." According to Calvin, the light refers to the illumination of the Spirit, which enables one to understand and believe in the Gospel [5]. Augustine interprets Jesus' words as a reference to the spiritual darkness of unbelief, emphasizing the need for divine illumination to avoid stumbling [4].
Range of Interpretations
Interpretations of John 11:10 vary among commentators. John Gill understands the passage to mean that those who act without the guidance of divine light will stumble, illustrating this with the example of Jesus' own impending death and his confidence in fulfilling his mission despite the dangers [2]. Tyndale House notes that night symbolizes the realm of evil, untruth, and unbelief, highlighting the spiritual significance of Jesus' words [3]. Origen's commentary on the passage emphasizes the moral and spiritual implications of walking in darkness, relating it to the temptations and struggles of the faithful [10].
Function in Tradition
John 11:10 has functioned in Christian tradition as a warning against acting without spiritual guidance. It has been used to emphasize the importance of faith and the dangers of unbelief. In patristic thought, as represented by Augustine, the passage is seen as a call to spiritual illumination and a warning against the darkness of unbelief [4, 6]. The imagery of walking in day or night has also been used in Jewish tradition to illustrate the challenges of navigating life's difficulties with or without divine guidance, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud [8, 9, 11].
The passage remains significant in Christian theology, highlighting the contrast between those who act with faith and those who stumble in unbelief. As Charles Hodge notes, unbelief can arise from various causes, including an evil heart, and involves guilt accordingly [7]. The enduring relevance of John 11:10 lies in its stark portrayal of the consequences of walking without the light of Christ.
In the context of Jesus' journey to raise Lazarus, John 11:10 serves as a poignant reminder of the spiritual stakes of his mission. As Jesus faces the darkness of death and unbelief, his words illuminate the path for his disciples, emphasizing the importance of trusting in the divine light that guides him.
Sources
- John “John 11:10 (LITV) — But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 11:10: But if a man walk in the night,.... After the sun is set, and there is no light in the air and heavens to direct him: he stumbleth; at everything that lies in the way, because there is no light in him; there being none from above communicated to him. So our Lord suggests, that when the time of his death was come, he should then fall a prey into the hands of his enemies, but till then he should walk safe and secure; nor had he anything to fear from them, and therefore could go into Judea again, with intrepidity and unconcern.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 3:2: 3:2 After dark: Nicodemus might have feared public association with Jesus. Night also symbolizes the realm of evil, untruth, and unbelief (9:4; 11:10; 13:30).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XI. 1--54. (part 7): world: but if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." He spoke indeed of the day, but to our understanding as if it were still the night. Let us call upon the Day to chase away the night, and illuminate our hearts with the light. For what did the Lord mean? As far as I can judge, and as the height and depth of His meaning breaks into light, He wished to argue down their doubting and unbelief. For they wished by their counsel to keep the Lord from death, who had come to die, to save themselve”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the greatest abhorrence to the doctrine of the Gospel, and yet, if they knew it to be the doctrine of the Gospel, would be prepared to venerate it with their 529 whole heart. But those who are convinced in conscience that what they repudiate and impugn is the word of God, and yet cease not to impugn it, are said to blaspheme against the Spirit, inasmuch as they struggle against the illumination which is the work of the Spirit. Such were some of the Jews, who, when they could not resist the Spirit speaking by Stephen, yet were bent ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LV.[5] (part 11): Cross."[5] He was stretching forth His hands to a people unbelieving and contradicting. For if just he is that of faith liveth,[6] unjust he is that hath not faith. By that which here he saith "iniquity," I understand unbelief. The Lord therefore was seeing in the city iniquity and contradiction, and was stretching forth His hands to a people unbelieving and contradicting: and nevertheless waiting for these same, He was saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."[7] Even now indeed there rage the remnan”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 20: the fact or of its evidence. It is no sin not to believe that he earth moves round the sun, if one be ignorant of the fact or of the evidence of its truth. But wherever unbelief arises from an evil heart, then it involves all the guilt which belongs to the cause whence it springs. If the wicked hate the good and believe them to be as wicked as themselves, this is only a proof of their wickedness. If a man does not believe in the moral law; if he holds that might is right, that the strong may rob, murder, or oppress the weak, as some philo”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 21a.7: This can be illustrated by a parable, as it is comparable to a man who is walking in the blackness of night and the darkness, and he is afraid of the thorns, and of the pits, and of the thistles, which he cannot see due to the darkness. And he is also afraid of the wild animals and of the bandits that lurk at night, and he does not know which way he is walking.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99b.41:7: This can be illustrated by a parable, as it is comparable to a man who is walking in the blackness of night and the darkness, and he is afraid of the thorns, and of the pits, and of the thistles, which he cannot see due to the darkness. And he is also afraid of the wild animals and of the bandits that lurk at night, and he does not know which way he is walking.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 6. INTERPRETATION OF THE DETAILS IN THE NARRATIVE. APPLICATION THEREOF TO ALL DISCIPLES. (part 2): us. When then in such suffering we have spent three watches of the night--that is, of the darkness which is in the temptations--striving nobly with all our might and watching ourselves so as not to make shipwreck concerning the faith or some one of the virtues,--the first watch against the father of darkness and wickedness, the second watch against his son "who opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or thing t”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99a.41:7: This can be illustrated by a parable, as it is comparable to a man who is walking in the blackness of night and the darkness, and he is afraid of the thorns, and of the pits, and of the thistles, which he cannot see due to the darkness. And he is also afraid of the wild animals and of the bandits that lurk at night, and he does not know which way he is walking.”