The Hope of Scripture in 3 Latin Words

The gospel in Latin is “Post Tenebras Lux”. This Latin phrase simply means: “After Darkness, Light.” Ok, so I don’t mean that the words translate into what we might state in English as Good News or News of Victory, but this Latin concept certainly does portray the gospel as I will explain below.

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This phrase was popularized during the European Protestant Reformation. It was quite fitting for their time. The Roman Catholic Church had left many in the dark by severely limiting and occasionally completely disconnecting the population from the Word and Sacraments; truly a time of Darkness. However, as the Reformers labored to bring the Word and Sacraments back to the people Light began to dawn on 16th century Europe, and beyond.

The phrase “Post Tenebras Lux” to my knowledge does not appear in the Latin Bible, yet the truths conveyed therein are littered through out scripture. Consider the following from Genesis to Revelation.

Genesis: From the very beginning we find Post Tenebras Lux portrayed in the very way creation came into being.

• Genesis 1:1-3, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

• Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31, “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The role of Darkness followed by Light seems to be woven into the very purpose of God as it is the pattern used in the birth of creation; we might say that such patterns are in the DNA of God’s creation.

Furthermore, in this particular example we see that the goodness of God’s work in creation came out from a chaotic beginning: “The earth was without form and void…” A beautiful habitation for humanity was birthed from a dark chaos. Post Tenebras Lux. 

Psalms: This evening followed by morning pattern calls our attention to the Gospel also as we think of the joy we receive from God.

• Psalm 30:5, “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (see also Isaiah 54:7-8)

Christ: We see the Gospel as conveyed in the phrase Post Tenebras Lux in the very events that historically portrayed the gospel. Amid the darkness of Calvary from the 6th to 9th hour, Christ suffer on the cross under the crown of thorns; then at dawn on the First Day of the week He rose that he might ascend to the light and glory of heaven.

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• Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Christianity: We find ourselves in the same narrative as Christ in our discipleship. There is the darkness of trials, yet the light of a purposeful end in them by God’s hand:

• Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

• James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 

Finally: From the beginning we see Chaos then Creation, Evening then Morning, the Sorrow of the night followed by the Joy of the morning, the darkness of Calvary then the light of the Resurrection, the Cross then the Crown. Finally, we see that this age will conclude in such a fashion.

No matter what the finer points of your belief regarding the End Times (eschatology) a very high percentage of Christians understand that a very Dark Time will precede the Return of Jesus (i.e. Armageddon, the Release of the Devil from the pit, the Rebellion…as an Amillennialist I believe these are all one event described in three ways…but I digress, that discussion is for another day). The Darkness will escalate temporarily prior to the eternal Dawn of Christ’s return. There will be a Rebellion then the Return. Post Tenebras Lux.

Conclusion

We need to know and appreciate this overarching narrative of the Bible for it adds a much needed texture to the gospel story. We have observed this pattern of darkness followed by light from Genesis to Revelation, yet we must know that it goes far beyond Bible times. We can live in joy knowing that the darkness of our trials and testings is not the end, but there is a sure and happy ending.

In whatever way suffering finds us it is not useless nor is it God’s frown.

• When the news of the death of a beloved friend or child feels like its carving your insides…
• When you feel that you have prayerfully and diligently been faithful to the tasks given you by the Lord (in home or outside) yet they seem to crumble before your eyes…
• When the close friend you trusted, never suspecting, turns and betrays you…
• When your health deteriorates while doctors, one-after-another, look at your charts and give no answers…

…not only do we know that “sorrow last for the night but joy comes with the morning”, but we have further certainty because the Lord says, “When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.”

Post Tenebras Lux is a truth which all of God’s children must hold close so that they may live in hope knowing that joy is theirs because God is faithful.