John 1:9

The identification of Jesus as 'the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' introduces the universal scope of the Logos' illumination even before the Incarnation narrative: the light operates on all humanity, not only on the believing community. The Greek alēthinon ('true' as in genuine/authentic rather than merely 'real') distinguishes the Logos-light from all derivative lights (including John the Baptist in v. 8) as the original of which others are reflections. The phrase 'coming into the world' has been variously parsed as referring to the light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world, or to the Logos himself who comes into the world — both readings have been defended by major commentators. The verse is foundational for Christian theologies of general revelation and for the logos spermatikos tradition of the early apologists (Justin Martyr) who argued for divine illumination across cultures.