skotos denotes darkness, both visible darkness and contexts opposed to light, truth, and righteous conduct.

The term most often marks a figurative condition or conduct contrasted with light: people walk in it, love it rather than light, or are called out of it. It also denotes visible darkness over the earth or affecting sight, a hostile authority or sphere, and the outer or reserved gloom described in judgment scenes.

1. Figurative darkness opposed to light · dominant

   In 1 John 1:6, the dative σκότει occurs in the clause about claiming fellowship while walking in darkness; the APB renders the contrast with practicing truth. In John 3:19, the accusative σκότος is what people loved rather than light because their deeds were evil, while Ephesians 5:8 uses nominative σκότος in the statement that the audience once was darkness but is now light.

   1 John 1:6John 3:19Ephesians 5:8Romans 13:12Ephesians 5:111 Peter 2:9
2. Darkness as a hostile authority or sphere · occasional

   The genitive σκότους modifies authority in Luke 22:53 and Colossians 1:13, where the APB renders an "authority of darkness" from which people are rescued. In Ephesians 6:12, the same genitive form occurs with world powers, and Acts 26:18 sets turning from darkness to light alongside turning from the power of Satan to God.

   Luke 22:53Colossians 1:13Ephesians 6:12Acts 26:18
3. Visible absence of light · occasional

   Nominative σκότος is the subject in Acts 13:11, where mist and darkness fell on a man who could not see the sun. The same nominative form is used when darkness came upon all the earth in Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, and Luke 23:44; Acts 2:20 uses accusative σκότος in the statement that the sun will be turned to darkness.

   Acts 13:11Matthew 27:45Mark 15:33Luke 23:44Acts 2:20
4. Outer or reserved gloom in judgment scenes · occasional

   Accusative σκότος occurs in the command to cast people into "the outer darkness" in Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, and Matthew 25:30, followed by weeping and gnashing of teeth. In 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13, genitive σκότους occurs in the phrase the APB renders "the gloom of darkness" reserved or kept for the persons described.

   Matthew 8:12Matthew 22:13Matthew 25:302 Peter 2:17Jude 1:13

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with "darkness," including contrasts with light and descriptions of darkness coming upon the earth. In 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13 it renders the phrase as "the gloom of darkness"; these are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.