2 Corinthians 4:4

2 Corinthians 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.

a. NLT: 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.

b. NIV: 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.

c. YLT: 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;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

e. Worrell Translation: In whom the god of this world blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should not shine upon them.

f. Wuest Translation: In whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelievers to the end that the light of the good news of the glory of the Christ who is the derived image of God should dawn upon them,

1. “In whom the god of this world…”

a. In [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.]

b. whom [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. the [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.]

d. god [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

e. of this [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.]

f. world [Strong: aion ahee-ohn' from the same as 104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):--age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end).]

1). The devil is referred to here as “god” of this world. Jesus called the devil the prince of this world three times in John’s gospel.

a). John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

b). John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

c). John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

2). The devil is also referred to as the prince of the power of the air by the Apostle Paul.

a). Ephesians 2:2, 3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

3). Jesus referred to the unregenerate religious leaders coming against him as children of the devil. He told them they would do the same things as their father the devil would do. Those lusts or works are listed in Paul’s epistle to the Galatians.

a). John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

b). Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

c). The devil is the god of this world in the human realm in the sense that all those not born again, the unregenerate non-believers of this world live their lives walking in the lust and works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5. He is their god.

2. “…hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…”

a. hath blinded [Strong: 5186 tuphloo toof-lo'-o from 5185; to make blind, i.e. (figuratively) to obscure:--blind.] [Thayer: to blind, make blind, in the NT metaph. to blunt the mental discernment, darken the mind.]

b. the [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.]

c. minds [Strong: 3540 noema no'-ay-mah from 3539; a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself:--device, mind, thought.]

d. of them which [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. believe not [Strong: 571 apistos ap'-is-tos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 4103; (actively) disbelieving, i.e. without Christian faith (specially, a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing):--that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever(-ing).]

1). This matches perfectly what the Scripture says in Ephesians.

a). Ephesians 4:17, 18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

2). The devil will use the ungodly philosophies of the world to blind humanity from the truth of the gospel.

a). 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

b). Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

c). Men of all ages have been captured by ungodly philosophies and belief systems that have kept them from the truth of the gospel, atheism and evolution just to name a few. The philosophies they cling to produce the blindness that prevents them from seeing the truth.

3). The devil uses any thought or thought system, a philosophy to deceive and blind any individual or group who will allow him to do so. Believers are to be on guard to remove any thought or system of thought that is contrary to the knowledge of God.

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;

b). The devil will blind individuals to the truth of the word of God by inspiring them to believe their own thoughts and what the popular culture says above what God’s word says.

3. “…lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

a. lest [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

b. lest [Strong: 3361 me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

1). Amplified Bible: “…preventing them”.

2). Their spiritual blindness will prevent them from seeing the truth of the gospel and prevent them from getting saved.

c. the [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.]

d. light [Strong: 5462 photismos fo-tis-mos' from 5461; illumination (figuratively):--light.]

e. of the [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.]

f. glorious [Strong: 1391 doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.]

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

h. of Christ [Strong: 5547 Christos khris-tos' from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

1). This light is the illumination coming from believers being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.

a). 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

b). What we as believers must keep in mind is that we have authority of the devil and we must take authority over him while we pray for those around us who are watching our lives, so that the Holy Ghost can shine into their hearts through us.