Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
In Him was life—essentially and originally, as the previous verses show to be the meaning. Thus He is the Living Word, or, as He is called in I John 1:1-2, "the Word of Life."
the life . . . the light of men—All that in men which is true light—knowledge, integrity, intelligent, willing subjection to God, love to Him and to their fellow creatures, wisdom, purity, holy joy, rational happiness—all this "light of men" has its fountain in the essential original "life" of "the Word" (I John 1:5-7; Psalms 36:9).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing John 1:4:
Matthew 5:14
John 1:1
John 1:10-13
John 5:26
John 11:25
Ephesians 1:18
Philippians 2:16
1 Timothy 6:16
1 John 5:11
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.