2 Corinthians 4:4

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

In whom ... Macknight translated this "by whom" and referred it to intellectual sinners in high places whom the devil uses as instruments in blinding yet others.[14]

SATAN; GOD OF THIS WORLD

The god of this world ... "Satan is not here called the god of the COSMOS, but god of THIS AGE."[15] Nevertheless, as Filson said, "Christ has broken the grip of Satan on mankind, but his remaining power is so great that Paul can call him the god of this present evil age."[16] McGarvey was right in declaring that this passage does not impute deity to Satan. "Satan is not a god properly, but is merely one in reference to those who have sinfully made him such."[17] Many believe, as did Lipscomb, that the sin of Adam "transferred the allegiance and rule of the world from God to the devil";[18] but the conviction here is that all of Satan's authority is usurped, that only what God permits is he able to do; and as for the notion that Satan in any meaningful sense rules the world, Nebuchadnezzar had to eat grass for seven years in order to learn that "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Daniel 4:25). This means that Satan's promise to give Christ the rulership of the world in return for falling down and worshipping the devil (Matthew 4:4ff) was an unqualified falsehood.

Other New Testament passages that refer to Satan in a similar manner to that of Paul here are:

"the prince of the powers of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).

"the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

Blinded the minds ... This refers to "hardening" as it is called in other places in the New Testament (Romans 1:21; 11:7,25, etc.). An extensive study of this phenomenon was undertaken in the Commentary on Romans, and reference is here made to pp. 39-51,392-419. Blinding, darkening and hardening all refer to the same thing. The condition that results is sinful, and at the same time punishment for sin. Hardening occurs when the individual rebels against God, who then allows Satan to have his way, with a result of further hardening; and thus, in a sense God hardens people, as in the case of Pharaoh (Romans 9:17,18). Satan was never able to blind any person who had not already rebelled against God.

That the light ... refers to the illumination of the minds of all who accept Christ.

Of the gospel of the glory of Christ ... The gospel of Christ is the source of all spiritual light. It is a gospel of glory, and that glory is of Christ.

That the light ... should not dawn upon them ... The great purpose of Satan is to prohibit any true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tertullian pointed out that Satan used superstition to blind people. He said: "The whole superstition of this world has gotten into his hands, so that he blinds effectively the hearts of unbelievers."[19]

Who is the image of God ... Other New Testament passages in which Christ is referred to as God's image are:

"Who is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).

"The very image of his substance" (Hebrews 1:3).

"He that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me" (John 12:45).

"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Christ is the image of God in two ways: (1) As a perfect man, he, like Adam, was "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:26). (2) As God in human form, Jesus accurately mirrored the Father's will for mankind.

[14] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 350.

[15] F. W. Farrar, op. cit., p. 89.

[16] Floyd V. Filson, op. cit., p. 316.

[17] J. W. McGarvey, Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1916), p. 188.

[18] David Lipscomb, op. cit., p. 59.

[19] As quoted by Philip E. Hughes, op. cit., p. 128.