in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God;2 Corinthians 4:4 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleIn whom the god of this world, etc. - We see here that those whose minds are blinded, are they who believe not; and because they believe not, their minds continue in darkness, and are proper subjects for Satan to work on; and he deepens the darkness, and increases the hardness. But who is meant by the god of this world? It is generally answered, the same who is called the prince of this world, John 16:11. But the question recurs, who is the prince of this world? and the answer to both is, Satan. The reader will do well to consult the notes on John 12:31, and the concluding observations on John 14:30. I must own I feel considerable reluctance to assign the epithet ὁ Θεος, The God, to Satan; and were there not a rooted prejudice in favor of the common opinion, the contrary might be well vindicated, viz. that by the God of this world the supreme Being is meant, who in his judgment gave over the minds of the unbelieving Jews to spiritual darkness, so that destruction came upon them to the uttermost. Satan, it is true, has said that the kingdoms of the world and their glory are his, and that he gives them to whomsoever he will; Matthew 4:8, Matthew 4:9. But has God ever said so? and are we to take this assertion of the boasting devil and father of lies for truth? Certainly not. We are not willing to attribute the blinding of men's minds to God, because we sometimes forget that he is the God of justice, and may in judgment remove mercies from those that abuse them; but this is repeatedly attributed to him in the Bible, and the expression before us is quite a parallel to the following, Isaiah 6:9 : Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the Heart of this People Fat, and Make their Ears Heavy, and Shut their Eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, etc. And see the parallel places, Matthew 13:14, Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; John 12:40; and particularly Romans 11:8-10 : God Hath Given Them the Spirit of Slumber, Eyes that they Should not See, and Ears that they Should not Hear; let their Eyes be Darkened, etc. Now all this is spoken of the same people, in the same circumstances of wilful rebellion and obstinate unbelief; and the great God of heaven and earth is he who judicially blinds their eyes; makes their hearts fat, i.e. stupid; gives them the spirit of slumber: and bows down their back, etc. On these very grounds it is exceedingly likely that the apostle means the true God by the words the god of this world.
And as to the expression this world, αιωνος τουτου, we are not to imagine that it necessarily means wicked men, or a wicked age; for it is frequently used to express the whole mundane system, and all that is called time: Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither εν τουτῳ τῳ αιωνι, in This World, nor in the world to come; Matthew 12:32. In Luke 20:34, the children, υἱοι του αιωνος τουτου, of This World, mean simply mankind at large in their state of probation in this lower world, in opposition to their state in the world to come. The same meaning the word has in several other places, to which l need not refer; it simply implying the present state of things, governed by the Divine providence, in contradistinction from the eternal state: and it is very remarkable that, in 1 Timothy 1:17, God himself is called Βασιλευς των αιωνων, the King of the World; what we call King eternal; but here it evidently means him who governs both worlds, and rules in time and eternity. This character among the Asiatics is considered essential to God; and therefore in the very first surat of the Koran he is called Rubbi Alalameen, "the Lord of both worlds," an expression perfectly similar to that above. But it is needless to multiply examples; they exist in abundance. Some, and particularly the ancient fathers, have connected του αιωνος τουτου with των απιστων, and have read the verse: But God hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers of this world, etc. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Photius, Theophylact, and Augustine, all plead for the above meaning; and St. Augustine says that it was the opinion of almost all the ancients.
Lest the light of the glorious Gospel - They have resisted the grace which God gave them, and have refused to yield to the evidences which amply prove the Messiahship of Jesus; and therefore their eyes were judicially darkened, as it is said in the prophet: He hath closed their eyes, and hath given them the spirit of slumber. That is, they have shut their eyes against the light, and their blindness and stupor are the consequence.
By glorious Gospel we are to understand the luminous Gospel; that which comes with so much light and evidence to every candid mind.
Who is the image of God - Christ is called, Hebrews 1:3, the brightness of God's glory, and the express image of his person. See the note at Hebrews 1:3.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the god.
Matthew 4:8,9 Again, the devil takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them...
John 12:31,40 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out...
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me.
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God...
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air...
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers...
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.
*Gr:
Revelation 20:2,3 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years...
blinded.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old testament...
1 Kings 22:22 And the LORD said to him, With which? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets...
Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes...
John 12:40 He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart...
test.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts...
2 Corinthians 3:8,9,11,18 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious...
John 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness...
John 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come on you...
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you...
1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
the image.
John 1:14,18 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory...
John 12:45 And he that sees me sees him that sent me.
John 14:9,10 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father...
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin...
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power...
shine.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts...
Psalm 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined.
Isaiah 60:1,2 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you...
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place...
1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past...
2 Corinthians 4:4 Parallel Commentaries
Age Believe Blind Blinded Christ Dawn Enlightening Faith Glad Glorious Glory Good Gospel Image Light Minds News Present Shine Shining Shut Sunshine Thoughts Unbelievers Unbelieving WorldAge Believe Blind Blinded Christ Dawn Enlightening Faith Glad Glorious Glory Good Gospel Image Light Minds News Present Shine Shining Shut Sunshine Thoughts Unbelievers Unbelieving WorldTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.2 Corinthians 4:4 Mobile Bible
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