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In John, the contrast between light and darkness may reflect Jewish wisdom traditions found in the Wisdom of Solomon, where wisdom is described as a radiant light that overcomes evil and overpowers the night.
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Wisdom of Solomon 7:29
Deuterocanon
24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. 25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. 27 Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; 28 for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. 29 She is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, 30 for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.
Date: 100-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
John 1:5
New Testament
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
Date: 90-110 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The Psalmist describes God's presence as a source of light (Psalm 4:6; 89: 15; 104:2), and can even talk of the 'word' (logos) of God as a light to his feet (Psalm 119:105). Essentially, however, the theme of light must also be connected to the aforementioned tradition of Sophia as the first of God's creations, which according to the Genesis tradition was light ... John 1:5 introduces the contrast between light and darkness. While this is not a prominent theme of the Wisdom tradition, it is nevertheless unnecessary to seek its origins in Gnostic dualism. There is evidence from the Wisdom of Solomon that such a contrast was not unthought of in the later Jewish Wisdom schools ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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