The answer can be understood as follows: the creation account distinguishes between two stages in the appearance of light.

Two Phases of Divine Illumination

The answer can be understood as follows: the creation account distinguishes between two stages in the appearance of light. First, on the first day, a primordial light appears – a creative manifestation of God's word that is not tied to specific luminaries, but rather is an expression of divine energy that permeates the entire world. Later, on the fourth day, the sun, moon, and stars are created to order time, serve as signs, and establish the cycle of day and night.

As noted in one source, "The sun was created on the fourth day not to attract light, but to serve as a means of time management for humans. Light already existed and was already a manifestation of God's goodness, as confirmed by the text 'let there be light.' Thus, light had an essentially different nature before the creation of the luminaries" (source: link txt). This suggests that the initial light, which appeared on the first day, was independent of the luminaries and served as the primary source of radiance.

Another author emphasizes, "Sacred scripture and the Holy Fathers clearly explain that the sun and other heavenly luminaries are not the source of the original light. The first light was created not by the heavenly luminaries, but by God's word. This is stated directly in the text of Genesis: 'And God said, Let there be light. And there was light'" (source: link txt). Here, the focus is on the fact that the existence of light did not depend on the appearance of specific light sources; they were created later to order the times according to God's plan.

Thus, the apparent contradiction is resolved by distinguishing between two phases of creation: the initial manifestation of light as a sign of God's creative power, and the subsequent creation of the solar (and other heavenly) luminaries, which were intended to organize time and events. This separation emphasizes that the appearance of visible luminaries on the fourth day does not diminish the fact that light was created on the first day, but rather serves to structure creation and its functioning.