Light as Image of God
The creation of light on the first day as the noblest, most joyful, and most useful quality. Dionysius teaches it is a living image of God. Tropologically, light signifies right intention, faith, knowledge, wisdom, law, and Gospel. Allegorically, Christ incarnate is the light of the world. Anagogically, light signifies the light of glory and beatific vision.
Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— Light formed before all other things because it is the noblest and most powerful quality; Dionysius teaches it is a living image of God.
"in Genesis and the creation of the world, light was formed before all other things, because light is the noblest, most joyful, most useful, most efficacious, and most powerful quality"
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— What was this light? Best view: a luminous body from which sun, moon, and stars were later fashioned.
"this light was a luminous body -- either a bright part of the heaven, or rather of the abyss, which, formed in the shape of a circle or column, shone forth upon the world, and which was like the material from which afterward, divided and separated into parts, increased and fashioned as it were into fiery globes, the sun, moon, and stars were made."
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— Tropologically: God who said light should shine out of darkness now shines in our hearts with faith; light signifies right intention, knowledge, wisdom, law, and Gospel.
"Just as God of old in Genesis produced light from darkness, so now He has made us believers out of unbelievers, and illumined us with the light of faith."
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— Allegorically: Christ incarnate is the light of the world; He shares this name with Apostles, Doctors, and Preachers ("You are the light of the world").
"Allegorically, Christ incarnate is the light of the world, John 8:12: "He was the true light that enlightens every man coming into this world.""
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Verse 3: And God said: Let there be light
— Anagogically: light signifies the light of glory and beatific vision ("In Your light we shall see light").
"Anagogically, light signifies the light of glory and the brightness of the beatific vision, according to Psalm 36:10: "In Your light we shall see light.""