“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil — the cosmic judgment narrative reaches its nadir: humanity prefers darkness to light because darkness conceals rather than exposes deeds. "Loved" (agapaō) applies to darkness what should be reserved for light and God; misdirected affection constitutes the fundamental sin. Evil deeds (ergā poneara) prefer concealment to exposure, suggesting that ethical corruption includes love of darkness.
Church Fathers on John 3:19
Here is the reason why men believed not, and why they are justly condemned; This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world.
As if He said, So far from their having sought for it, or labored to find it, light itself has come to them, and they have refused to admit it; Men loved darkness rather than light, Thus He leaves them no excuse. He came to rescue them from darkness, and bring them to light; who can pity him who does not choose to approach the light when it comes unto him?
He calls Himself the light, whereof the Evangelist speaks, That was the true light; whereas sin He calls darkness.
Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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