Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 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. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
In the previous section of this letter, Paul used the example of Moses and the veil over his face to demonstrate how we do not understand God’s Word until the veil is lifted and we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit through our faith in Christ.
Verse 1 of this passage also connects to 2 Corinthians 3:6: “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Paul was appointed to be a minister of this new covenant, and that is only through God’s mercy. Paul’s mission is not to enforce the law of the Old Testament but to promote the grace that God has shown to him and to every person through the death of Jesus.
This ministry that Paul refers to is not just his own, but that of all believers who are called to spread the message of the gospel. The phrase "do not lose heart" speaks to the challenges and tribulations faced by those engaged in this ministry. Despite setbacks, opposition, and hardships, believers are encouraged to persevere, drawing strength from the mercy of God.
Paul promotes doing this ministry with integrity in verse 2. Some believe Paul writes this because he had been accused of deceitful behavior, which he is continuing to reject here. He has not used any deceptive or shameful practices, and he honors the Word of God when he preaches the gospel message. This emphasis by Paul appeals to the conscience of the Corinthians, trusting that they will receive this truth with sincerity and authenticity.
This should apply to us today as well; we, too, should promote the gospel message with integrity, without using any kind of deceptive measures or secret and shameful ways. This would hamper the message of truth and love that we should be preaching with the gospel message.
In verse 3, Paul acknowledges that despite their efforts to proclaim the gospel plainly, there are still those who remain blind to its message. The metaphor of veiling refers back to the end of chapter 3 and suggests that some are unable or unwilling to see the truth of the gospel, often due to spiritual blindness or hardness of heart. However, Paul does not despair but recognizes that this blindness is temporary and a consequence of spiritual death.
Paul acknowledges that this veiling is not due to his lack of preaching the gospel message clearly but rather because of “the god of this age” (verse 4). The “god of this age” is not the one true God but rather Satan, who was referred to as the “prince of this world” in John 12:31. As Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
This adversary seeks to blind the minds of unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the illuminating truth of the gospel, which reveals the glory of Christ as the image of God. It's a reminder of the spiritual warfare inherent in spreading the gospel and the need for discernment and prayer in combating the forces of darkness. We need to fight against this adversary’s powers to blind people to the truth of God’s Word. We can do this through being in the Word ourselves and allowing God to open our minds to His truths, which we should not keep to ourselves but share with those around us to enlighten their minds as well.
While Paul did emphasize the integrity of his preaching tactics, he did not preach his own message but rather the message of Jesus Christ as Lord (verse 5). That is the essence of the gospel message – proclaiming Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Colossians 2:6-7). Paul’s role is one of service, humbly sharing the message of Christ for the benefit of others. This verse underscores the centrality of Christ in our Christian faith and the selfless nature of true ministry.
Paul concludes this section in verse 6 with a powerful reminder of God's transformative power. Just as God brought light into the darkness at the creation of the world, so too does He illuminate the hearts of believers with the knowledge of His glory through Christ. This light dispels spiritual blindness and reveals the beauty and majesty of God's presence in the person of Jesus Christ. This is also reminiscent of Paul’s own conversion to the faith where he was literally blinded by the great light of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-19). The metaphor of God being light and Satan/evil being darkness (the absence of light) is often seen throughout Scripture.
In this passage, we see multiple encouragements for our lives as believers. We all have this ministry through God’s mercy, and that includes all believers, not just those whose vocation is ministry. We should proclaim the gospel message with integrity, not using any kind of deceitful tactics. Spiritual warfare is real, where Satan tries to blind the hearts of many against the truth of the gospel message. But the light of God will ultimately defeat the darkness of evil, just as it did in Paul’s life. May the light of Christ continue to shine brightly in our hearts, illuminating our path and drawing others to the knowledge of God's glory through our lives!
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