Borchert, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, sv. It is only through the light of God in Jesus Christ that darkness can be dispelled.īibliography. But for believers darkness will be dispelled by the presence of the light of the glory of God ( Rev 21:23-24 22:5 ). 'Hell' and 'pits of darkness' describe the fate of angels who sinned ( 2 Peter 2:4 Jude 6 ). The Old Testament and New Testament describe the future of the ungodly in terms of eschatological darkness, symbolizing perdition ( 1 Sam 2:9 Matt 22:13 Jude 12-13 ). But the torn curtain exhibits the opening of salvation to all through the death of God's Son.įinal Darkness. It also indicates God's judgment on evil. Job 10:21-22 ), darkness at the crucifixion scene displays God's displeasure on humankind for crucifying his son. While darkness often accompanies the conception of death in Scripture (cf. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two' ( 23:44-45 cf. Luke records, 'it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.

It is against this background that the emphasis on darkness in the crucifixion scene may be understood. The time of God's ultimate judgment, the day of the Lord, is portrayed in both the Old Testament and New Testament as a day of darkness ( Joel 2:2 Amos 5:18 Amos 5:20 Zeph 1:15 Matt 24:29 Rev 6:12-17 ).ĭarkness and Crucifixion.

Finally, God rules over the darkness eschatologically. Third, God uses the darkness for his own purposes: to hide himself from the sight of men ( Psalm 18:11 1 Kings 8:12 ) and to bring his judgment on evildoers ( Deut 28:28-29 Matt 8:12 22:13 ), evil nations ( Eze 30:18-19 ), and false prophets ( Jer 23:12 Micah 3:6 Rev 16:10 ). Second, God rules over the darkness because he created it ( Isa 45:7 cf. He knows where it is ( Job 34:22 ) and what it contains ( Dan 2:22 ). The absolute, sovereign God rules over the darkness and the powers of evil. There is no thought that darkness is equal in power to God's light. The biblical view of darkness and light offers a unique contrast. Indeed, God can veil himself in darkness at moments of great revelation ( Deut 4:11 5:23 Psalm 18:11 ). Although darkness is opaque to man, it is transparent to God ( Psalm 139:12 ). Salvation brings light to those in darkness ( Isa 9:2 ). If light symbolizes God, darkness connotes everything that is anti-God: the wicked ( Prov 2:13-14 1 Thess 5:4-7 ), judgment ( Exod 10:21 Matt 25:30 ), and death ( Psalm 88:12 ). 'Darkness' in both the Old Testament (Heb.

Darkness Watches by Jason Parrish