The Gospel in a Darkened World and its Significance
The Gospel is presented as good tidings of great joy for all people, bringing light into a world characterized by darkness [4]. This concept of darkness encompasses various meanings in biblical texts, ranging from literal absence of light to spiritual ignorance and the state of death [1, 7].
Biblically, darkness is often associated with the unknown, the hidden, and even the presence of God, as when God speaks from within a cloud of darkness [1]. It was the original state of the earth before creation [7]. The plague of darkness in Egypt and the darkness during Christ's crucifixion are described as miraculous events, distinct from natural phenomena like eclipses [1]. Metaphorically, darkness represents a state of spiritual blindness, moral obliquity, and separation from God [12]. Psalm 88:12 asks, "Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?" implying that darkness hinders the recognition of God's works [3, 14]. Similarly, Job 12:22 states that God "discovers the deep places from their darkness, and brings forth the shadow of death to light" [5].
The Gospel, meaning "good news," is understood as the divine solution to this pervasive darkness [4]. It is described as the power of God for salvation and the means by which the knowledge of God's glory is revealed [4]. The Apostle Paul refers to the Gospel as "glorious" and "everlasting" [4]. Jesus himself preached the Gospel, and his ministers are tasked with its proclamation [4]. The Gospel brings life and immortality to light, overcoming the shadow of death [4].
The significance of the Gospel in a darkened world is highlighted by its role in illuminating those "that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death," guiding them "into the way of peace" [2]. This light is not merely intellectual understanding but a transformative power. John 1:5 states that the "light shineth in darkness," referring to the Word of God illuminating a fallen world that is unable to fully comprehend or receive it [12]. The message of the cross, though considered foolish and weak by the unbelieving world, is presented as wiser and stronger than anything the world offers, solving the problem of sin and overcoming evil [13].
The preaching of the Gospel is not meant to be confined or hidden. Jesus instructed his disciples, "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops" [6]. This implies that the truths revealed in private are to be openly declared [8]. The Gospel is intended to be preached "in all the world," bringing people into the "kingdom of the Messiah" [9]. This global proclamation is seen as a means by which the earth is "lightened with his glory," potentially through extraordinary messengers who diffuse the "light of truth and true religion" [10]. The Gospel dispensation is also a time when those who were spiritually deaf hear and understand the words of the book, even those parts previously sealed or incomprehensible [11].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Darkness — is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks,--the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (”
- Luke “Luke 1:79 (Geneva1599) — To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way of peace.”
- Psalms “Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? -- Psalms 88:12”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Job “Job 12:22 (Geneva1599) — He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.”
- Matthew “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. -- Matthew 10:27”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Darkness — Created by God -- Ps 104:20; Isa 45:7. Originally covered the earth -- Ge 1:2. Separated from the light -- Ge 1:4. Called night -- Ge 1:5. Caused by the setting of the sun -- Ge 15:17; Joh 6:17. Inexplicable nature of -- Job 38:19,20. Exhibits God's power and greatness -- Job 38:8,9. Degrees of, mentioned Great. -- Ge 15:12. That may be felt. -- Ex 10:21. Thick. -- De 5:22; Joe 2:2. Gross. -- Jer 13:16. Outer or extreme. -- Mt 8:12. Effects of Keeps us from seeing objects. -- Ex 10:23. Causes us to go astray. -- Joh 12:35; 1Jo 2:11. Causes us to stumble. -”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 10:26: What I tell you in darkness,.... Hence Christ proceeds to encourage his disciples to an open, plain, and faithful ministration of the Gospel, not fearing the faces and frowns of men. For with respect to the Gospel, his meaning is, that what was hid and covered should not remain so, but should be revealed, and made known, and they were the persons who were to do it; and it was with that view that he had communicated it to them: and whereas he had told them it "in darkness"; not in a dark and obscure manner; for though he spoke in parables to others, yet to them he ma”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:14: And this Gospel of the kingdom,.... Which Christ himself preached, and which he called and sent his apostles to preach, in all the cities of Judah; by which means men were brought into the kingdom of the Messiah, or Gospel dispensation; and which treated both of the kingdom of grace and glory, and pointed out the saints' meetness for the kingdom of heaven, and their right unto it, and gives the best account of the glories of it: shall be preached in all the world; not only in Judea, where it was now confined, and that by the express orders of Christ himself; but i”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 18:1: The earth was lightened with his glory - This may refer to some extraordinary messenger of the everlasting Gospel, who, by his preaching and writings, should be the means of diffusing the light of truth and true religion over the earth.”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 29:18: And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book,.... That is, in the Gospel day, or times of the Gospel dispensation, when that should be preached to the Gentiles; who before were deaf, but now should be made to hear, and be willing to hear, and hear so as to understand the doctrines contained in the Scriptures, the prophecies of them concerning the Messiah; even the words of that book that is sealed to the Jews, and could not be read, neither by the learned nor unlearned among them; but should be both read, heard, and understood, by the Gentiles, having ea”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 1:5: shineth in darkness, &c.--in this dark, fallen world, or in mankind "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death," with no ability to find the way either of truth or of holiness. In this thick darkness, and consequent intellectual and moral obliquity, "the light of the Word" shineth--by all the rays whether of natural or revealed teaching which men (apart from the Incarnation of the Word) are favored with. the darkness comprehended it not--did not take it in, a brief summary of the effect of all the strivings of this unincarnate Word throughout this wid”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 1:25: 1:25 What the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—Christ and the message of the cross—is in reality wiser and stronger than anything the world has to offer. It solves the world’s greatest problem, the problem of sin, and overcomes all the powers of evil that oppose human beings.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 88:12: Shall thy wonders be known in the dark?.... A description of the grave again; see Job 10:21, The sense may be, should he continue in the dark and silent grave, how would the wonders of the grace of God, of electing, redeeming, justifying, pardoning, and adopting grace, be made known; the wonders of Christ's person and offices, and the wondrous things, and doctrines of the Gospel, relating thereunto? as the glory of these would be eclipsed, there would be none to publish them: and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? the grave, where the dead lie, who, ha”