John 9:3-5

9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man ¹  nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that ²  the acts ³  of God may be revealed ⁴  through what happens to him. ⁵  9:4 We must perform the deeds ⁶  of the one who sent me ⁷  as long as ⁸  it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁹ 

[9:3]  ¹ tn Grk “this one.”

[9:3]  ² tn Grk “but so that.” There is an ellipsis that must be supplied: “but [he was born blind] so that” or “but [it happened to him] so that.”

[9:3]  ³ tn Or “deeds”; Grk “works.”

[9:3]  ⁴ tn Or “manifested,” “brought to light.”

[9:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “in him.”

[9:4]  ⁶ tn Grk “We must work the works.”

[9:4]  ⁷ tn Or “of him who sent me” (God).

[9:4]  ⁸ tn Or “while.”

[9:5]  ¹¹ sn Jesus’ statement I am the light of the world connects the present account with 8:12. Here (seen more clearly than at 8:12) it is obvious what the author sees as the significance of Jesus’ statement. “Light” is not a metaphysical definition of the person of Jesus but a description of his effect on the world, forcing everyone in the world to ‘choose up sides’ for or against him (cf. 3:19-21).