Lexical Summary phótizó: To enlighten, illuminate, bring to light, make clear. Original Word: φωτίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance enlighten, illuminate, make to see. From phos; to shed rays, i.e. To shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively) -- enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see. see GREEK phos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5461 phōtízō (from 5457 /phṓs, "light") – properly, enlighten; (figuratively) God sharing His life, exposing and overcoming darkness – like the ignorance (prejudice) caused by sin. See 5457 (phōs). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom phós Definition to shine, give light NASB Translation bring to light (2), brought (1), enlightened (3), enlightens (1), illumine (1), illumined (2), illumines (1), light (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5461: φωτίζωφωτίζω; future φωτίσω (Revelation 22:5 L WH; 1 Corinthians 4:5), Attic φωτιῶ (Revelation 22:5 G T Tr); 1 aorist ἐφωτισα; perfect passive participle πεφωτισμενος; 1 aorist passive ἐφοτίσθην; 1. intransitive, to give light, to shine (Aristotle, Theophrastus, Plutarch, others; the Sept. for אור, Numbers 8:2, etc.): ἐπί τινα, Revelation 22:5 (Rom. WH brackets ἐπί). 2. transitive, a. properly, to enlighten, light up, illumine: τινα, Luke 11:36: τήν πόλιν, Revelation 21:23 (ἀκτισι τόν κόσμον, of the sun, Diodorus 3, 48; the Sept. for הֵאִיר); ἡ γῆ ἐφωτίσθη ἐκ τῆς δόξης (A. V. was lightened) shone with his glory, Revelation 18:1. b. to bring to light, render evident: τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους, 1 Corinthians 4:5; (Ephesians 3:9 according to the reading of T L brackets WH text (but see c.)) (τήν αἵρεσιν τίνος, the preference, opinion, of one, Polybius 23, 3, 10; τήν ἀλήθειαν, Epictetus diss. 1, 4, 31; πεφωτισμενων τῶν πραγματον ὑπό τῆς ἀληθείας, Lucian, cal. non tem. cred. 32); to cause something to exist and thus to come to light and become clear to all: ζωήν καί ἀφθαρσίαν διά τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, opposed to καταργῆσαι τόν θάνατον, 2 Timothy 1:10. c. by a use only Biblical and ecclesiastical, to enlighten spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge: τινα, John 1:9; with a saving knowledge of the gospel: hence, φωτισθέντες of those who have been made Christians, Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 10:32; followed by an indirect question Ephesians 3:9 (see b. above) (Sir. 45:17; for הֵאִיר, Psalm 118:130 The New Testament verb rendered “light,” “give light,” or “enlighten” occurs eleven times and consistently portrays the gracious action of God that dispels darkness—whether cosmic, moral, intellectual, or eschatological. It is always divine or divinely-mediated activity: the Father, the Son, the Spirit, or God’s messengers impart clarity, revelation, and life. The word never describes human self-enlightenment; it is received, not achieved. Christ the True Light John introduces the incarnate Word as “the true Light who gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). Here the term identifies Jesus Christ as the universal source of revelation and salvation, echoing Isaiah’s promise that the Servant would be “a light for the nations.” All subsequent New Testament uses flow from this foundational christological assertion: the Light has come, and darkness cannot overcome Him. Personal Illumination in Salvation Twice Hebrews recalls how believers were once “enlightened” (Hebrews 6:4; 10:32), a shorthand for conversion that includes conviction of sin, reception of truth, and participation in the Holy Spirit. Likewise Paul celebrates the gospel’s effect: God “saved us and called us to a holy calling…now revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has…brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Salvation is pictured as a dawning; the soul once shrouded in death awakens to incorruptible life. Ongoing Spiritual Insight Illumination is not confined to initial faith. Paul prays that believers may have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened” to grasp the hope, riches, and power that are theirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18). Later he states his ministry purpose: “to enlighten everyone about the administration of this mystery” (Ephesians 3:9). Apostolic teaching functions as a conduit of divine light, deepening understanding and fortifying assurance. Ethical and Ecclesial Implications Jesus teaches, “If your whole body is full of light, with no part in darkness, it will be radiant as when a lamp illumines you with its brightness” (Luke 11:36). Spiritual illumination produces moral clarity and integrity; the enlightened heart yields an enlightened life. Paul applies the same principle corporately: when the Lord returns “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Divine light tests authenticity, purifies the church, and guarantees just judgment. Cosmic and Eschatological Manifestations Revelation depicts climactic bursts of divine brightness. An angel’s descent causes the whole earth to be “illuminated with his glory” (Revelation 18:1). The New Jerusalem needs “no sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23), and “the Lord God will be their light” through unending ages (Revelation 22:5). The consummation fulfills every earlier beam of gospel light, establishing a universe permanently free from night. Historical Theology Early church writers saw baptism as “illumination,” stressing the decisive transfer from ignorance to knowledge of God. During the Reformation, the doctrine of the Spirit’s inner illumination was central to the authority of Scripture, asserting that the same God who inspired the Word must enlighten readers’ minds. Evangelical missions have long cherished this verb, trusting that the proclamation of Christ “enlightens” darkened cultures without erasing their God-given dignity. Ministry Significance Today 1. Proclamation: Preaching should aim not merely at information but at Spirit-empowered illumination that awakens sinners and builds saints. Summary Across its occurrences, the verb underscores God’s initiative to shine truth and life into a dark world through Christ, His Word, and His people, culminating in the radiant glory of the age to come. Englishman's Concordance Luke 11:36 V-PSA-3SGRK: τῇ ἀστραπῇ φωτίζῃ σε NAS: the lamp illumines you with its rays. KJV: doth give thee light. INT: shining might light you John 1:9 V-PIA-3S 1 Corinthians 4:5 V-FIA-3S Ephesians 1:18 V-RPM/P-AMP Ephesians 3:9 V-ANA 2 Timothy 1:10 V-APA-GMS Hebrews 6:4 V-APP-AMP Hebrews 10:32 V-APP-NMP Revelation 18:1 V-AIP-3S Revelation 21:23 V-AIA-3S Revelation 22:5 V-FIA-3S Strong's Greek 5461 |
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