{
  "id": "dict_000909",
  "term": "Christ as light of the world",
  "slug": "christ-as-light-of-the-world",
  "letter": "C",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, meaning He reveals God, exposes darkness, and brings the life and truth people need for salvation.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "In Scripture, light commonly signifies truth, purity, life, and God’s saving presence. When Jesus says He is the light of the world, He presents Himself as the One who reveals the Father, overcomes spiritual darkness, and guides believers into life. The image especially emphasizes His unique identity and saving mission.",
  "description_academic_full": "The expression \"Christ as light of the world\" comes especially from Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel and draws on the Bible’s broader use of light as a symbol of God’s holiness, truth, revelation, and life. To call Christ the light of the world is to confess that in Him God’s saving self-disclosure has come into the world: He makes the Father known, exposes human sin and unbelief, and provides the true way out of spiritual darkness. This theme does not merely describe Jesus as a teacher of truth, but as the divine Son whose person and work bring life to those who follow Him. Believers are also called to bear light in the world, but only as witnesses who reflect the light that is properly and uniquely His.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, meaning He reveals God, exposes darkness, and brings the life and truth people need for salvation.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/christ-as-light-of-the-world/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/christ-as-light-of-the-world.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}