4:6 For. One reason for not preaching ourselves is that only God gives new spiritual life.

Let light shine. God’s sovereign initiative is necessary to enable us to embrace the gospel message. Just as God’s original creative word made light where there was no light, so now God’s creative word gives spiritual life and understanding of the gospel where previously there was none. See theological note “The Authentication of Scripture.”

glory of God. In the Old Testament the glory of God was the bright light that surrounded the presence of God. It had led the people of Egypt as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21–22). Later, it had filled the tabernacle under Moses (Ex. 33:8–13; 40:34–38), and had then filled Solomon’s temple (1 Kin. 8:10, 11). But it departed from the temple in the time of Ezekiel because of the sins of the people (Ezek. 10:4, 18, 19; 11:23). It returned only in Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us. John says, “we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14). In contrast to the face of Moses, from which God’s glory faded (3:13), God’s glory forever shines brightly “in the face of Jesus Christ.”