2 Corinthians 4:3

2 Corinthians 4:3

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

a. NLT: If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.

b. NIV: And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

c. YLT: And if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.

e. Worrell Translation: And, if our Gospel has been veiled, it has been veiled in those who perish.

f. Wuest Translation: But if also, as is the case, our gospel has been covered, in the case of those who are perishing it has been covered.

1. “But if our gospel be hid…”

a. But [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. if [Strong: 1499. ei kai i kahee from 1487 and 2532; if also (or even):--if (that), though.]

c. our [Strong: 2257. hemon hay-mone' genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]

d. gospel [Strong: 2098. euaggelion yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on from the same as 2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel:--gospel.]

e. be [Strong: 2076. esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

f. hid [Strong: 2572. kalupto kal-oop'-to akin to 2813 and 2928; to cover up (literally or figuratively):--cover, hide.]

1). There are two ways to hide the gospel. One is by our disobedience, as it refers to it in Matthew.

a). Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2). The other is by the blindness the devil inflicts upon the minds of unbelievers referred to in the context of the passage.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:4:3, 4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4:4 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.

3). This blindness takes different forms. In many cases it is merely lies, untruths and deceptions an individual or family or people group collect over time either from an experience, or from what they were taught from their family or things they learned in school. These deceptions develop into thought processes that produce unbelief and block the light of the truth of the gospel from entering the heart of the individual.

a). 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2. “…it is hid to them that are lost:”

a. it is [Strong: 2076. esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

b. hid [Strong: 2572. kalupto kal-oop'-to akin to 2813 and 2928; to cover up (literally or figuratively):--cover, hide.]

c. to [Strong: 1722. en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

d. them [Strong: 3588. ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. that are lost [Strong: 622. apollumi ap-ol'-loo-mee from 575 and the base of 3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:--destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.] [Zodhiates: to destroy, be destroyed, perish.]