What is the marvelous light in 1 Peter 2:9?

Response

The term “marvelous light” is found in 1 Peter 2:9, a verse that declares the identity of Christians: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (ESV). A similar verse, Exodus 19:6, describes the Israelites as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

These verses demonstrate that, just as the Israelites were recognized as God’s chosen people, all who have faith in Christ are esteemed. The passage in 1 Peter also suggests that we have been rescued from darkness into God’s marvelous light, indicating a transformation. What does this marvelous light represent?

In the Bible, light is associated with positive qualities and is frequently used to depict God and His followers. Light symbolizes truth, righteousness, holiness, and good deeds. 1 John 1:5 affirms that “God is light,” emphasizing His divine nature. Paul likens believers to “stars in the sky” «that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; », (Philippians 2:15). Jesus directly refers to His disciples as “the light of the world,” linking good actions with being the light (Matthew 5:14-16).

The opposite of light is darkness. If light symbolizes God’s nature and good deeds, then darkness represents evil and sin. Verses such as Isaiah 9:2, John 1:5, and Matthew 4:16 associate darkness with wickedness.

God calls each of His children out of darkness—away from a life controlled by sin and evil—into His marvelous light. A life without Christ is characterized by behaviors that oppose God’s ways. This transition is a divine rescue from the darkness into the light.Darkness can be subtle or overt, but it is present. It is easier to recognize evil in a murderer than in an unbelieving churchgoer, but, ultimately, we all have sinned «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23).

Every human being possesses a nature that is inclined to oppose God’s moral law and embrace darkness instead of light. We even rebel against man-made laws that reflect justice and goodness. The sinfulness of humanity is evident, and the more we yield to our sin nature, the more enslaved we become to it (Romans 6:16-23). Sin is an addiction that requires divine intervention.

John 3:19–21 presents Jesus as bringing God’s marvelous light into the world and indicts the sinful world for rejecting His light: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ broke the hold that sin has over everyone who places his or her trust in Him. We are set free from the dominion of sin and enter the marvelous light of God. As His truth, holiness, justice, and love become evident, we realize that to live for God is to walk in the light. The change the Lord makes in our lives is radical: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” «For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: », (Ephesians 5:8).

God’s marvelous light encompasses His truth, His ways.

ays, and even His kingdom. Colossians 1:13–14 states, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins” (NLT).

In response, we are called to “proclaim the excellencies of God,” as instructed in 1 Peter 2:8. The New Living Translation interprets this directive as “show others the goodness of God,” demonstrated through both words and actions.