哥林多后书 4:3-4 CUVS

But if our gospel be hid. This is added to avoid the semblance of a contradiction. He has spoken of "manifestation of the truth," and yet has spoken of all Jews as unable to see it because they will not remove from their hearts the veil which hides it from them. How can "a veiled gospel" be a "manifested truth"? The answer is that the gospel is bright, but the eyes that should gaze on it are wilfully closed. Similarly in 2 Corinthians 2:16 , he has compared the gospel to a fragrance of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The condition of unregenerated men. "But if our gospel be hid," etc. These words give an appalling view of ungodly men. I. They are BLIND TO THE GOSPEL . "If our gospel be hid [or, 'veiled']." Men have different organs of vision. There is the bodily eye: the gospel is not "hid" from that—they can see the volume that contains it, they can see the print, and perhaps read its chapters. There is the intellectual eye to discover its sense and discern its meaning. There is the ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:4

The god of this world; rather, the god of this age . It is, as Bengel says, "a great and horrible description of the devil." He is not, however, here called a god of the kosmos, but only of the olam hazzeh, the present dispensation of things as it exists among those who refuse to enter that kingdom in which the power of Satan is brought to nought. The melancholy attempt to get rid of Manichean arguments by rendering the verse "in whom God blinded the thoughts of the unbelievers of this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:3

But if our gospel be hid - Paul here calls it his gospel, because it was that which he preached, or the message which he bore; see note, Romans 16:25. The sense here is, “if the gospel which I preach is not understood; if its meaning is obscure or hidden; if its glory is not seen.” It is “implied” here, that to many the beauty and glory of the gospel was not perceived. This was undeniable, notwithstanding the plainness and fullness with which its truths were made known. The “object” of Paul... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:4

In whom - In respect to whom; among whom; or in whose hearts. The design of this verse is to account for the fact that the glory of the gospel was not seen by them. It is to be traced entirely to the agency of him whom Paul here calls “the god of this world.”The god of this world - There can be no doubt that Satan is here designated by this appellation; though some of the fathers supposed that it means the true God, and Clarke inclines to this opinion. In John 12:31, he is called “the prince of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

2 Corinthians 4:3-4. But if our gospel also, (so it is in the original,) be hid Κεκαλυμμενον , veiled, as well as the law of Moses; it is veiled to them that are lost Εν τοις απολλυμενοις , in those that are perishing, namely, in a state of ignorance and unbelief; of guilt, depravity, weakness, and wretchedness. “In 2 Corinthians 3:13-14, the apostle had observed that there were two veils, by which the Israelites were blinded, or prevented from understanding the meaning of the law,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

The life and work of a servant (4:1-18)God’s true servants do not avoid their responsibilities or use dishonest methods. They do not change the plain meaning of God’s Word to suit themselves, but teach that Word faithfully and directly (4:1-2). Not all will believe, because Satan blinds their minds, but true preachers remember always that the message they preach is Christ’s, not theirs. Then, when the hearers allow the light of that message to shine into their hearts, they see Christ as their... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:3

if. App-118 . gospel , Compare App-140 . hid = hid (Greek. kaluptd, to cover or veil) also. Compare James 5:20 . 1 Peter 4:8 , and See 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 . hid . Same verb. to = in. Greek. en. lost = perishing. Greek. apollumi. See 1 Corinthians 1:1 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:4

god . App-98 . world = age. Greek. aion . App-129 . Compare John 12:31 ; John 14:30 ; John 16:11 ; where, however, world is kosmos ( App-129 .) minds . Greek. noema . See 2 Corinthians 2:11 , them , &c. = the unbelieving. Greek. apistos. Compare App-150 . lest , &c. = to (Greek. eie . App-104 .) the end that the light . . . should not (Greek. me as in 2 Corinthians 4:2 ). light = illumination. Greek. photismos. App-130 . glorious gospel = gospel (or good news) of the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:3