Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.
because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth: In chapter one, "darkness" is a symbol for impurity or sin, and "light" denotes purity or holiness. In this section, darkness and light take on another meaning. It is the darkness of hate and the light of love. "Past" and "shineth" are in the present tense, indicating that the darkness is passing and the light is shining. John is not saying that the darkness of hate has completely passed; but in the lives of these Christian people, it is passing as the light of true love continues to shine through their lives. John has just said that this love-commandment is "true in you." It is true because darkness is giving way to light and hate is giving way to love. The "true light" is now shining. "True" is alethinos and means genuine. Love is made real in the lives of Christian people as the light of genuine love shines forth in their lives.