Verse 4
4. In whom—Translate, "In whose case."
god of this world—The worldly make him their God ( :-). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).
minds—"understandings": "mental perceptions," as in Ephesians 2:2- :.
them which believe not—the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. SOUTH quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" (Esther 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded (2 Corinthians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 3:15): Greek, not "blinded," but "hardened."
light of the glorious gospel of Christ—Translate, "The illumination (enlightening: the propagation from those already enlightened, to others of the light) of the Gospel of the glory of Christ." "The glory of Christ" is not a mere quality (as "glorious" would express) of the Gospel; it is its very essence and subject matter.
image of God—implying identity of nature and essence (John 1:18; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). He who desires to see "the glory of God," may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:14-16). Paul here recurs to 2 Corinthians 3:18. Christ is "the image of God," into which "same image" we, looking on it in the mirror of the Gospel, are changed by the Spirit; but this image is not visible to those blinded by Satan [ALFORD].
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