There have been many ancient traditions that celebrated the yearly transition from darkness into light. After December 21, the daylight begins to increase, causing mankind to rejoice at this pivitol time. But is there a deeper reality beyond the courses of earth and sun which established the celebration of darkness to light?
While you contemplate, see here what the early speakers of our English language wrote so long ago and compare the change in the way they have expressed themselves over hundreds of years in the gospel of John.
MODERN ENGLISH
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
OLD ENGLISH
On anginne ærest wæs word. & þæt word wæs mid gode. & god wæs þt word.
þæt wæs on fruman mid gode. ealle þyng wæren ge-worhte þurh hyne. & nan þyng næs ge-worht butan hym. þæt wæs lyf þe on hym ge-worht wæs. & þt lyf wæs manne leoht. & þæt leoht lyhte on þeostrum. & þeostreo þæt ne ge-namen.
MIDDLE ENGLISH
In the bigynnyng was the Word and the Word was at God and God was the Word. This was in the bigynnyng at God. All thingis weren maad bi Hym and withouten Hym was maad no thing that was maad. In Hym was liif and the liif was the liyt of men; and the liyt schyneth in the derknessis. And derknessis comprehenddiden not it.
Hear the Middle English – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8pqljv81cI&t=104s
Middle English speech developed over time after the Norman invasion of 1066. The subjugated Anglo Saxons, who spoke Old English, mingled and intermarried with their conquerors and in so doing, added “French” and Latin words into the English language. Middle English developed into Early Modern English, the language of Shakespeare. Glæd Ġēol Eallum!
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