2Cor 4:4 | JFB | STEP | 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" ( ). minds-- "understandings": "mental perceptions," as in . them which believe not-- the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare . South quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" ( ). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded ( , ): 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 ( ; ; ). He who desires to see "the glory of God," may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" ( ; ). Paul here recurs to . 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].

‏ 2 Corinthians 4:4

4. In whom--Translate, "In whose case."

god of this world--The worldly make him their God (Php 3:19). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (Ep 2:2).

minds--"understandings": "mental perceptions," as in 2Co 3:14.

them which believe not--the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare 2Th 2:10-12. South quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" (Es 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded (2Co 3:14, 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 (Joh 1:18; Col 1:15; He 1:3). He who desires to see "the glory of God," may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Co 4:6; 1Ti 6:14-16). Paul here recurs to 2Co 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].