2 Corinthians 4:3

But if our Gospel be hid - Κεκαλυμμενον· Veiled; he refers to the subject that he had treated so particularly in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. If there be a veil on the Gospel, it is only to the wilfully blind; and if any man's heart be veiled that hears this Gospel, it is a proof that he is among the lost, απολλυμενοι , those who are fully under the power of sin; who have given up themselves to work wickedness; persons who are mere heathens, or live like such, and yet such as Jesus Christ came to seek and save; for the word does not necessarily imply those that will perish eternally, but is a common epithet to point out a man without the Gospel and without God in the world. Christ commands his disciples in preaching the Gospel to go to προβατα τα απολωλοτα , the Lost sheep of the house of Israel; Matthew 10:6 ; for himself says, Matthew 18:11 , and Luke 19:10 ; : The Son of man is come ζητησαι και σωσαι το απολωλος , to seek and to Save that which is Lost. And such persons he represents under the parable of the lost sheep; for to find το απολωλος , that which is Lost, the good shepherd leaves the ninety-and-nine in the wilderness, and goes in search of it; Matthew 18:12 ; Luke 15:4 . The word more properly signifies, in all those connections, and in the parallel passages, not those who Are Lost, but those who are perishing; and will perish, if not sought and saved.