What does "the life was the light of men" mean in John 1:4?

What does "the life was the light of men" mean in John 1:4?

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What does ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων mean in John 1:4?

John 1:4 (KJV);

  1. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

The best I can come up with is the knowledge of Jesus’ exemplary life shows us how to live.: τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων representing knowledge for mankind and ἡ ζωὴ representing Jesus’ life on Earth. This is said with no intention to leave out the fact of Jesus Christ’s salvation story, which is covered in John’s Gospel.

These verses give John 1:4 a broader meaning that includes salvation: John 8:32; 14:6-7.

This seems to make the most sense if "the life" = the example and atonement of Jesus’ life.

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