1 John 1:5,6

God Is Light

The Gnostics John was likely dealing with claimed to be specially enlightened. The word gnosko means "I know." John proclaimed God as light and even said there was no darkness in Him. Of course, in the Bible light is used to represent righteousness, holiness and salvation (Psalms 36:9; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:130; Psalms 27:1; Isaiah 49:6; John 1:9; John 3:19-21; John 8:12; John 12:35-36; John 12:46). In contrast to that, Satan is pictured as the prince of darkness, which stands for all that is evil (Ephesians 2:2-3; Ephesians 5:8-14; Ephesians 6:22; Isaiah 5:20; Colossians 1:13). Our English statement "no darkness at all" comes from a double negative in the Greek which stresses emphatically God's lack of any darkness, or evil (1 John 1:5; James 1:17).

The knowledge the Gnostics believed they possessed was a mystical one imparted to them specially. There were ascetic gnostics who tried to totally separate themselves from the world. The libertine gnostic believed he could participate in all kinds of evil without harming his pure knowledge. Thus, John took up a discussion of some who claimed to be in partnership with God, yet walked in darkness. The word "walk" describes the whole of human life or conduct. John says it is impossible to be in fellowship with God and live in sin. Christianity is not a mere mental exercise, but a belief practiced in one's life (1 John 1:6; James 1:21-22).