[Greek] φωτίζω (phōtizō), [Latin] inluminare, [Latin] lucerna, [Latin] manifestare, [German] lampe, [French] divulger: to give light, to bring to light, to illuminate, to make to see, to shine, to enlighten; Lk.11:36, Jn.1:9, 1Cor.4:5, Eph.1:18, Eph.3:9, 2Tim.1:10, Heb.6:4, Heb.10:32
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to be visible, to be open, to bring to light, to illuminate, to make known, to teach, and to illustrate.
Sophocles’ Philoctetes 624: “I could be persuaded, when dead, to come back from Hades into the light.”
Plato’s Republic 6.508a: “Visibility and the faculty of sight are no more precious by no slight from what which unites them. Neither vision itself, nor its vehicle is identical with the sun.”
Pindar’s Pythian Ode 9.90: “May the pure light of the clear voiced Graced not desert me.”
Plato’s Republic 7.518a: “There are two distinct disturbances of the eyes from two causes, from light to darkness or from darkness to light. That same thing happens to the soul.”
Homer’s Iliad 6.6: “Ajax was first to break a battalion of the Trojans, and to bring a light of deliverance to his comrades.”
Euripides’ Iphigenia in Tauris 1026: “For the night belongs to thieves, the light to truth.”
Old Testament: This term means to shine, to cause to shine, and to light up. Prayer is made to God so that He will cause His face to shine. His commandments give light to the eyes. Yahweh is not light, yet He is surrounded by brightness. Light denotes salvation, self-understanding, and freedom. God is the sovereign Lord of light and darkness.
New Testament: This term means to make known and to shine upon. One’s body full of light (from Christ) will be like an illuminating lamp. Christ, the true light, comes into the world enlightening others. The Lord will bring to light to what is hidden in darkness. Our hearts (spiritual perception) strive to be enlightened by heavenly things. This grace enables Paul to bring to light God’s mystery. Jesus brings life and immortality to light through the gospel. We are enlightened by faith and through baptism.
Scripture:
“If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness.” Lk.11:36
The eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sound, your whole body is filled with light. God gives us this gospel light. We are called to show this light to others.
“Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will praise from God.” 1Cor.4:5
Jesus will make known our motives (motivations), whether or not they are good or bad. The hidden things of darkness, under cover of hypocrisy and pretense, will be uncovered.
“May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to His call, what are the riches of glory in His inheritance among the holy ones.” Eph.1:18
The ‘eyes’ of our hearts refer to spiritual perception. This pertains to knowledge of heavenly things, the call to conversion, and the inheritance of God.
Conclusion:
Illuminate, illumination, manifestation, lamp, divulge, lucent, translucent
In Greek Hellenism, light is both the means and object of sight. It is also interesting to note that the Greek noun photismos means truth and revelation. Light can provide deliverance, joy, and truth.
In contrast, light is just an aspect of God. Light is not an object of sight.
It is important to note that the eye (perception) determines whether one becomes illuminated or not. Jesus is the light of the world. Paul’s mission was to bring to light the gospel message to the Gentiles.
Update: 2 Republican governors have helped to shed light on our illegal immigration problems to many others.
Many are being enlightened about the unfairness of trans women competing in women’s sports.
Many are now being enlightened about the graphic realities of surgery and chemical blockers in the sex reassignment surgery of people.
The crimes (murders) by illegal immigrants continue to reveal our failing border immigration policies.
The current immigration problems have brought to light attention to the border to the mainstream media. They are finally reporting on this.
Social media has recently brought to light the Iranian people’s backlash and opposition to the woman killed by the Iranian morality police.
Elon Musk is providing satellite media coverage in spite of the Iranian government’s effort to block current events in Iran.
President Biden’s ‘eyes’ of his heart views MAGA supporters as enemies of the state.
The overturn of Roe vs. Wade is shedding a light on the cultural divide in how states are implementing policies about abortion.
Recent events have shined more light on the fact that Elon Musk will complete his purchase of Twitter. This will in turn further shed more light on Twitter’s history of censorship, content moderation, and bots.
Allow me to shed some light on the next post. As in many situations, we can permit or allow things to happen in which we often take for granted. It is often quite revealing when Jesus does not allow such actions to happen (following Him and committing sin). Allow me to be blunt. When Jesus manifests Himself, He expect us to act more like grown-ups, rather than like adolescents who divulge hardness in their hearts.
Next post: to permit and to turn over