II Corinthians 4
==ii corinthians 4-1-3:
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
==ii corinthians 4:4:
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whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them
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II Corinthians 4:4 says, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." So, those who are unbelievers are blinded to the way of deliverance in their lives by Satan, "the god of this world." They may stumble from religion to religion and church house to church house, but never find deliverance and only become more confused to Satan's pleasure. -Charles Empey
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The word “veiled” (covered) literally means to cover. Paul used it figuratively here with the meaning of hidden or concealed. It is extremely significant to note that “veiled” is present tense. In other words, at this very moment it is veiled. Therefore the possibility of the veil being removed is very real. They are not predetermined or predestined to be veiled. This is a description of their current state, not necessarily future. --Chip Warre
The “god of this age” has blinded the minds of unbelievers from seeing the light of the gospel so that they could understand and follow Christ. In the Greek, there is no distinction between an upper case “God” or lower case “god.” Theos can mean either of these depending on syntax and context. There are a few competing views regarding the identity of this being. The problem with this view is that Paul does not write “God” like he normally does if he simply meant “God.” He writes instead, “the G/god of this age.” Paul associates the present age (aiȏnos) with what is evil and fallen (1 Corinthians 1:20–21; 2:6–8; 3:18–19; Galatians 1:4; Romans 12:2; cf. Ephesians 2:2). Thus, this deity seems to be associated with what is evil and fallen. -BJ Oropeza
Please note that while it’s not wise to overly focus on the demonic, it is absolutely foolish to act as though it is irrelevant. Let’s read what Gods’ Word says about Satan’s role:
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.2 Corinthians 4:4
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12 /29
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. - Ephesians 2:1
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.2 Corinthians 4:4
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12 /29
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. - Ephesians 2:1
Dominque
Whether you believe in and follow Him or not, God created you for a reason. He created you to know Him and experience His love. He created you for you to love others as you love yourself and to use your skills and talents for the good of the world — to point people to Him.
However, God has an enemy, who is known as Satan or the devil. Because he is an enemy to God and God’s people, he is sometimes referred to as simply “the enemy.”
Satan is committed to preventing people from knowing God and trusting Him with their lives. The enemy’s tactics may differ depending on whether someone is already a Christian or not, but his ultimate purpose is always to keep people from experiencing the love of God.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” — 2 Corinthians 4:4
Whether you feel under spiritual attack right now, you know someone else who might be or you just want to understand spiritual warfare better, below are some resources to help you understand this topic and how to use one of the greatest tools God has given us in our battle: prayer.
-Dominque; My Prayer Space; Am I Going Through Spiritual Warfare?
However, God has an enemy, who is known as Satan or the devil. Because he is an enemy to God and God’s people, he is sometimes referred to as simply “the enemy.”
Satan is committed to preventing people from knowing God and trusting Him with their lives. The enemy’s tactics may differ depending on whether someone is already a Christian or not, but his ultimate purpose is always to keep people from experiencing the love of God.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” — 2 Corinthians 4:4
Whether you feel under spiritual attack right now, you know someone else who might be or you just want to understand spiritual warfare better, below are some resources to help you understand this topic and how to use one of the greatest tools God has given us in our battle: prayer.
-Dominque; My Prayer Space; Am I Going Through Spiritual Warfare?
One of the ways you can live differently is by understanding the power of God’s Word to transform your mind and the way you live. In this article, we help you find answers in scripture to common questions about spiritual warfare, the battle for your mind, and how to win these battles.
What does the Bible say about the mind?In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus tells opponents that evil thoughts come from the heart, meaning the mind. Their problem was that their thinking was controlled by the “god of this world,” because they did not believe the gospel:
…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:4)
The “god of this world” is Satan,
…the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
(Ephesians 2:2)
And the thinking of those controlled by him is hostile toward God:
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds…
(Colossians 1:21)
But there’s hope!! There’s a solution to a mind whose thoughts are hostile to God, whose thoughts are like everyone else’s thoughts in the “world” with the society’s morals and attitudes. Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ reconciles us to God.
Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
(Colossians 1:22) -Precept Austin
What does the Bible say about the mind?In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus tells opponents that evil thoughts come from the heart, meaning the mind. Their problem was that their thinking was controlled by the “god of this world,” because they did not believe the gospel:
…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:4)
The “god of this world” is Satan,
…the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
(Ephesians 2:2)
And the thinking of those controlled by him is hostile toward God:
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds…
(Colossians 1:21)
But there’s hope!! There’s a solution to a mind whose thoughts are hostile to God, whose thoughts are like everyone else’s thoughts in the “world” with the society’s morals and attitudes. Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ reconciles us to God.
Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
(Colossians 1:22) -Precept Austin
ii Corinthians 4:5:
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5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
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A preacher who preaches Jesus Christ as Lord above all preaches with authority and is honorable. The more that a preacher proclaims his version of Jesus then the less honor should be given to him as a Preacher. Jesus Christ anoints ....self absorbed preachers disappoint and make mockery of the the gospel. |
II Corinthians 4:6-7:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
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II Corinthians 4:8-12:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you |
CS Lewis: the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds. (C S Lewis - “On Living in the Atomic Age.” Written in 1948.
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Paul the apostle suffered for the gospel like no other apostle in his generation. Yet, he remained committed despite severe suffering. The Lord wants us to be committed to spreading the gospel everywhere even if it means suffering persecution. (8-16)
Bruce Ashford Files
In light of the degraded nature of our nation’s public discourse, therefore, evangelical Christians must model the “more excellent way” to which Paul refers (1 Cor. 12:31). This more excellent way goes beyond the mere intellectual evaluation of political ideologies and policies. It also includes the practice of convictional civility.
Instead of degrading the people on the other side of the political aisle by demonizing them, questioning their motives, and caricaturing their arguments, the Bible instructs us to speak the truth in a way that communicates Christian concern and respect. We should represent our debate partners accurately, not misrepresent them. We should recognize the good in their lives and their arguments, not glorify ourselves and demonize them. In other words, we must cultivate a public demeanor that is worthy of the Lord whose name we carry (2 Cor. 4:10).
If the gospel message is true—and if it truly transforms—then gospel-minded Christians should expect to be radically different in every arena. As those convinced of the gospel’s truth, it is right and proper for us to defend it in public. However, the manner in which we defend it can either defraud or reflect its truth. Truth without grace makes us political bullies and jerks. Grace without truth makes us political non-entities and wimps.
But Jesus’s powerful combination of truth and grace exemplifies for us the more excellent way of convictional civility. With confidence, then, we must stand firm in our convictions—but do so winsomely in ways that honor the Christ whose gospel we cherish.
-Bruce Ashford; Gospel Coalition; How the Gospel Should Shape Our Political Posture 6.1.21
Instead of degrading the people on the other side of the political aisle by demonizing them, questioning their motives, and caricaturing their arguments, the Bible instructs us to speak the truth in a way that communicates Christian concern and respect. We should represent our debate partners accurately, not misrepresent them. We should recognize the good in their lives and their arguments, not glorify ourselves and demonize them. In other words, we must cultivate a public demeanor that is worthy of the Lord whose name we carry (2 Cor. 4:10).
If the gospel message is true—and if it truly transforms—then gospel-minded Christians should expect to be radically different in every arena. As those convinced of the gospel’s truth, it is right and proper for us to defend it in public. However, the manner in which we defend it can either defraud or reflect its truth. Truth without grace makes us political bullies and jerks. Grace without truth makes us political non-entities and wimps.
But Jesus’s powerful combination of truth and grace exemplifies for us the more excellent way of convictional civility. With confidence, then, we must stand firm in our convictions—but do so winsomely in ways that honor the Christ whose gospel we cherish.
-Bruce Ashford; Gospel Coalition; How the Gospel Should Shape Our Political Posture 6.1.21
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
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II Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. |
In times of suffering, we must remember what is awaiting us in eternity with Christ. Romans8:18 says, “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Second Corinthians 4:17 promises, “Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
Though the glory of Christ is precious above all, Christ also promises a derivative glory for his people that we will experience in Heaven. Some say Christ should be our only treasure. The Bible says Christ should be our primary treasure. When God commands us to store up treasures for ourselves, that doesn’t mean we are to store up christs for ourselves (which it would have to mean if he were our only treasure). Christ is not our only treasure, but also the Treasure above and behind all treasures. --Randy Alcorn If your treasures are on this Earth, each day you are moving further away from them but if you treasures are in Heaven, each day you are moving closer to them.
Looking around at the houses, cars, landmasses, skyscrapers, highways, planes, etc., one would tend to think these are all permanent fixtures, but not so.
It matters not how much or how little we possess for inevitably everything around us is passing or fading away, including you and me. Even the earth itself is destined to be replaced. Apostle John writes in Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. - Eugene Morton 
And how is this renewal done? Romans 12:2 (NKJV) tells us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The renewed mind is not conformed to this world but is transformed by the Word of God.
“So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” |
Eugene H Peterson
"Nothing contrasts [the believing] and the humanist traditions more clearly than their respective responses to suffering. The modern humanist traditions see suffering as a deficiency—usually under the analogy of sickness … Suffering, as such, has no value and no meaning—it is only a sign that things have gone wrong." --Eugene H. Peterson
V Raymond Edman
"The things which are seen are temporal," declares II Corinthians 4:18, "but the things which are not seen are eternal." Better then any material heritage that we can pass on to our children is the unwavering assurance that God will also be their God, even unto death. Wealth and health may not be their abiding portion, fortune and fame they may never have; but if only we, like Jacob, have brought them into acquaintance with the God of salvation, then they in their generation will find Him to be their unfailing Helper. They will know, as we have learned, that "he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb 11:6). -V Raymond Edman; But God!; 1962
Arthur W Pink
Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us. ~ Arthur Pink
The Origins of 'This Too Shall Pass'
Let’s get to the heart of the matter: this exact phrase isn’t stated in the Bible. There are several verses that are very close to the wording, but the exact phrase of “this too shall pass” cannot be found in the pages of God’s Word.
According to an article from Christianity.com, the phrase may be pinpointed to a well-known figure within the biblical text, that of the wise King Solomon. There is an ancient Jewish story involving the king, where King Solomon wanted to humble his wisest of servants by asking him to find a magic ring that would make a sad person happy and a happy person sad. When the servant couldn’t find such a thing, King Solomon had a ring made bearing this phrase in Hebrew, “Gam ze ya’avor,” which means, “this too shall pass” (attributed to Israel Folklore Archive #126).
Though the phrase “this too shall pass” isn’t listed in the Bible, there are several verses that closely resemble this term and could be interpreted as sharing the same sentiment.
Most notably is 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
It can be seen that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment,” could easily be connected to “this too shall pass” in saying this issue we are dealing with now will soon be behind us. Many know the verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13, reminding believers that temptations will not overtake us because, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” -Blair Park; Bible Study Tools
Let’s get to the heart of the matter: this exact phrase isn’t stated in the Bible. There are several verses that are very close to the wording, but the exact phrase of “this too shall pass” cannot be found in the pages of God’s Word.
According to an article from Christianity.com, the phrase may be pinpointed to a well-known figure within the biblical text, that of the wise King Solomon. There is an ancient Jewish story involving the king, where King Solomon wanted to humble his wisest of servants by asking him to find a magic ring that would make a sad person happy and a happy person sad. When the servant couldn’t find such a thing, King Solomon had a ring made bearing this phrase in Hebrew, “Gam ze ya’avor,” which means, “this too shall pass” (attributed to Israel Folklore Archive #126).
Though the phrase “this too shall pass” isn’t listed in the Bible, there are several verses that closely resemble this term and could be interpreted as sharing the same sentiment.
Most notably is 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
It can be seen that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment,” could easily be connected to “this too shall pass” in saying this issue we are dealing with now will soon be behind us. Many know the verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13, reminding believers that temptations will not overtake us because, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” -Blair Park; Bible Study Tools