King James Bible
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
John identifies Jesus as the authentic, genuine light—contrasting Him with false or lesser lights. The Greek word for "true" (alethinos) emphasizes Jesus as the ultimate reality of divine illumination, not merely a reflection or shadow. Christ's light extends universally to all humanity, offering revelation and the possibility of spiritual understanding. This illumination is God's gracious act of making Himself knowable to every person, though not all respond to it. Every human being entering earthly existence encounters this divine light in some form. The phrase emphasizes the incarnational aspect—the Light himself came into the world to ensure no one is born in complete spiritual darkness.