1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Now this verse has several figures of speech in it. The first one is contained in the phrase "God is light."
The first figure I'd like to bring to your attention here is called a metaphor. A metaphor declares that one thing is or represents another. This figure is also called by the name representation. It is a declaration that one thing "is" or "represents" another. It is comparison by representation. We may call the figure transference.
A metaphor is stronger than a simile whereas a simile gently states that one thing is like or represents another; a metaphor boldly declares that one thing is the other.
Many times a simile will use the words "like" or "as."
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Here in 1 Peter 1:24 The scripture says, "For all flesh is as grass …"
In this verse we have a simile: notice the word "as."
Isaiah 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass,
Here we have a metaphor. "All flesh is grass."
The simile says "all flesh is as grass," the metaphor carries the figure across at once and states: "all flesh is grass:"
A metaphor is not as true to fact as a simile, but is truer to feeling.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep …
…Once again we have a simile notice the word like.
Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Here in Psalm 100:3 we have a metaphor. Isaiah tells us, "All we like sheep", while Psalms speaks of "people being the sheep of his pasture." While the word "resembles" marks a simile, the word "represents" marks the metaphor.
If I was to hold up a picture and say, "this is my son," you would understand that I do not have him present, I am presenting him to you. The verb is in this case means "represents." The picture I am holding represents my son: this is the figure.
Furthermore the verb is always has this meaning and no other when it's used as a metaphor. In a metaphor, the two nouns themselves must be mentioned, and are always to be taken in their absolute literal sense.
Isaiah 40:6 ...All flesh is grass,
Flesh is to be taken literally as the subject spoken of and grass is to be taken equally literal, as to that which represents flesh. All the figure lies in the verb "is." If we used the word "resembles" or "is like," this would be truer to fact though not so true to feeling.
When the verb "is" is used, the meaning of one thing is carried across and transferred to the other. It is there to get our attention. If we do not understand these figures, we will never be able to rightly divide the Word of truth.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Jehovah here is represented as a shepherd. It is he who tends to the people above and beyond what any earthly shepherd could do.
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Here the metaphor is taken from the effects of the two nouns mentioned. He is my light and my protection.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth:
You are to represent to the earth what salt is to things it is used on. Salt preserves, cleanses, purifies etc.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Here we have a pronoun used in place of the noun. However, the figure still holds. The figure lies in the verb "is."
Matthew 26:27-28 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Here we have a pair of metaphors however, only one is taught by the Roman church to be literal. If we were looking at a map and I said, "this is France," you immediately understand the figure and realize I mean that this represents France. In Matthew 26, the metaphor means the bread represents my body likewise the cup representsmy blood. Without understanding the figure you will never rightly divide the Word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now with this understanding of the figure we call a metaphor let's look at 1 John again.
Here we see the figure in the phrase "God is light." God here is represented as light. What does light represent? Without light, life itself would be impossible. Light guides and illuminates our path. Light dispels darkness. The North Star acts like a compass and will guide one on a journey. Light warms and causes things to grow. There are many more things that light does. God is light, in other words, what light represents, God represents to us. God gives life physical and eternal.
Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;...1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
God illuminates our path.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God dispels darkness.
Psalm 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
God will guide.
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
According to 1 John 1:5, God is light. This is a figure to tell us that all that light represents to the world, God is to us.
Did you ever observe how a plant grows? They always grow towards the light. This is how we will grow also. As we face God and continue to move in his direction we will continue to grow.
God bless you and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones.
To be continued …ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.