Why does the translation of the pronoun for light change within John 1?

Question

The pronoun (αὐτὸ) in John 1:5 which refers to the light (φῶς) is translated as “it”. But in John 1:10 and thereafter, pronouns which refer to the light are translated as “he/him/his”. Why?

This is true in every English translation I’ve looked at. In KJV and NKJV there is the additional distinction that “light” is not capitalized in 1:4 and 1:5, but is capitalized 1:7-9.

What is the reason for this? Did the light change from an “it” to a “he” when it came into the world in 1:9? Is there a way to infer this from the Greek text itself? If so, what is it? If not, what is the basis for such translations?

In the verses below, the second word, him, refers to Logos. This light is the life, which in turn is in the Logos, and the Logos is already a “him”. But before coming into the world, the light itself is an “it”. Is this hermeneutic linguistic or something else?

It does appear that just using Greek text, translators could have chosen either “it” or “him” for:

• Logos in 4, and chose “him”

• Light in 5, and chose “it” (making logos = light harder to assume when considering the v4 choice?)

• Light in 10,11; and chose “he/him”

John 1:4-11 NIV then SBL Greek New Testament.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.

6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι’ αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ’ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον.

10 Ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.

Answer 1

It is true. αὐτὸ is neuter in 1:5. Basically, Logos/Word in the New Testament does not always mean Jesus as it does in John 1:1-18. The same can be said for light. It does not always mean Jesus, even in John 1. Personifying light as Jesus was an way of expressing him as the ultimate revelation of God. As soon as John wrote that John is not the Light. Light is personified regardless of the pronouns. Many of the following pronouns could refer to Logos or Light. It makes no difference the two are the same. John the Baptist only prepared the way for the Christ, as the Gospels report John saying. Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (John 14:6–11, ESV)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12 (John 14:6–12, KJV)

Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life. He also said he is the light of the world.

Answer 2

John 1:9-is where things get a little messy, because, in English, some of the pronouns are supplied and are not explicit in the Greek.

• V9: Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. // ὃ (= "who") is a relative pronoun which is neuter singular because it refers to "true" and "Light", both neuter singular. Note that the verb, Ἦν (= "was") has no explicit pronoun and so must be translated "he/she/it was", according to the choice of the translator.
• V10: ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. Both these highlighted pronouns are masculine singular (gen & Acc respectively) and so must be translated "him". These both have the referent of the implied pronoun that is the subject of ἦν (= "was") and so must be translated "he/she/it was". The explicit use of "him" later in the sentence clears this ambiguity.
• V11: εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον. Same comments as above. In this case, the verb ἦλθεν has no explicit subject and so must be translated, "he/she/it came" - the later explicit pronoun "him" removes the ambiguity.

Thus, while Jesus is the Light" (John 1:4, 8:12) the noun "light" is neuter and so any pronoun which refers to it must be neuter as per V4 & V9. However, in subsequent sentences, the pronouns do not refer to light specifically but to the One who is the light, namely Logos/Word; therefore, we have masculine pronouns.