The concept of darkness in the creation account in Genesis has sparked much theological debate. Victor P. Hamilton, in his commentary on Genesis (1989, p. 11), points out that while the text refers to various aspects of creation as “good,” darkness is never explicitly called good. However, this observation must be understood in light of Genesis 1:31, where the entirety of creation—including darkness—is described as “very good.” The question arises: How should we understand the role of darkness in creation?

The Nature of Darkness in Creation

When Genesis 1:31 states, “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good,” it implies that everything within creation, including darkness, falls under the umbrella of God’s good and perfect design. While darkness is not specifically labeled as “good” in the earlier verses, this final evaluation of creation as “very good” suggests that darkness, as part of the created order, is not inherently evil.

Hamilton’s point that darkness is not called “good” reflects an important distinction. But if we were to suggest that God did not create darkness, we would face theological problems. This argument could imply either that darkness existed eternally with God or that it came into existence apart from God—both of which contradict the biblical teaching that God is the Creator of all things. Scripture is clear: “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). Therefore, darkness, in some form, is part of God’s creative work, whether directly or as a byproduct of His creation of light.

Darkness and Light: Symbolism and Reality

Allen P. Ross takes a similar approach to Hamilton but adds a layer of symbolism, noting that the creation of light was a victory that dispelled darkness. Ross emphasizes that darkness and light in Scripture often carry symbolic meanings, representing evil and good, respectively. For instance, Revelation 22:5 speaks of the age to come when there will be “no more night,” symbolizing the full triumph of God over evil (Genesis, 1985, p. 29).

However, it’s important to differentiate between the symbolic use of darkness and its physical reality. While darkness can symbolize evil in many biblical contexts, it does not follow that physical darkness itself is evil. To suggest that would imply that evil was present in creation before the Fall, which contradicts the biblical teaching that God’s creation was “very good” before sin entered the world.

Physical darkness, like other created elements, served a purpose in the order of creation. God separated the light from the darkness, establishing day and night, and declared it good (Genesis 1:4-5). There is no hint of moral evil in this creative act; rather, the distinction between light and darkness functions to establish the rhythms of time and life within creation.

The Ontological Status of Darkness

Carl Sorenson’s argument in Understanding the Bible (2005, p. 10) posits that darkness is simply the absence of light and, therefore, is not a created entity. However, this view has its limitations. While it is true that darkness, as an absence of light, is not a “thing” in the same way that light is, it still plays a role in creation. Darkness did not exist prior to God’s act of creation because, before creation, there was only God. When God created light, He simultaneously made the experience of darkness possible by allowing for the absence of light.

Sorenson’s conclusion that darkness already existed is problematic because it implies that some aspect of the cosmos existed apart from God’s creative will. In this sense, it would be more accurate to say, as Ambrose suggests, that God is the “cause of darkness” rather than the creator of darkness (Oden, 2001, p. 7). God’s act of creating the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) inherently involved the establishment of physical realities where darkness, as the absence of light, could exist. Thus, darkness, while not a created substance, is still part of the created order, caused by God’s creative power.

Darkness as Part of God’s Good Creation

While darkness is not explicitly called “good” in the Genesis creation account, the broader context of Genesis 1:31 shows that all of creation, including darkness, was declared “very good.” Darkness serves a functional role in God’s design for the universe, and it is not to be equated with moral evil. To claim otherwise would be to suggest that God’s creation was tainted by evil before the Fall, which contradicts the biblical narrative.

We affirm that God created all things, and nothing exists apart from His sovereign will. Darkness, while often symbolically associated with evil, is not in itself evil. It is part of the good creation that God ordained, serving as a contrast to light and playing its role in the natural order. The ultimate victory of light over darkness, as described in Revelation, is a promise of God’s triumph over sin and evil, not a condemnation of physical darkness as part of His good creation.