2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. FOR. Proof that we are true servants of Jesus unto you; for God imparted to me the heavenly light that I might impart it to others. The light that He shed on his path as he went to Damascus suggests the image. COMMANDED THE LIGHT - Greek, 'who by speaking caused light to shine.' So C G f g, Vulgate, "light" (Genesis 1:3). But 'Aleph (') A B Delta read 'who spake, Out of darkness the light shall (let the light) shine.' HATH SHINED - rather, as Greek, 'is He who shined;' Himself our Light and Sun, as well as the Creator of light (Malachi 4:2;...

6._God who commanded light to shine out of darkness. _I see that this passage may be explained in four different ways. In the _first _place thus: “God has _commanded light to shine forth out of darkness: _that is, by the ministry of men, who are in their own nature _darkness, _He has brought forward the _light _of His gospel into the world.” _Secondly, _thus: “God has made the _light _of the gospel to take the place of the law, which was wrapt up in _dark _shadows, and thus, He has brought _light _out of _darkness_. ” Those that are fond of subtleties, would be prepared readily to receive expositions of that sort, but any one, who will examine the matter more closely, will perceive, that they do not correspond with the Apostle’s intention. The _third _exposition is that of Ambrose: “When all things were involved in darkness, God kindled up the light of His gospel. For mankind were sunk i...

1-7 The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and De...

Verse 2 Corinthians 4:6. _FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED THE LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF_ _DARKNESS_] The apostle refers here to Genesis 1:3. For when God created the heavens and the earth DARKNESS _was on the face of the_ _deep; and God said, Let_ THERE BE LIGHT; _and there was light_. Thus he caused the light to shine out of darkness. _HATH SHINED IN OUR HEARTS_] He has given our _hearts_ the glorious light of the _Gospel_, as he has given the _world_ the glorious light of the _sun_. As sure, therefore, as God is the author of the _light_ and the creator of the universe, so sure is he the author of the Gospel; it is no human invention; and is as far beyond the power of man's wisdom and might, as the creation of the world

FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED ... - The design of this verse seems to be, to give a reason why Paul and his fellow-apostles did not preach themselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:5. That reason was, that their minds had been so illuminated by that God who had commanded the light to shine out of darkness, that they had discerned the glory of the divine perfections shining in and through the Redeemer, and they therefore gave themselves. to the work of making him known among people. The doctrines which they preached they had not derived from people in any form. They had not been elaborated by human reasoning or science, nor had they been imparted by tradition. They had been communicated directly by the source of all light - the true God - who had shined into the hearts that were once benighted by sin. Having been thus illuminated, they had felt them

EXPOSITION The glory of the gospel ministry (2 Corinthians 4:1), which sustains the hearts of Christ's ministers among all weaknesses and trials (2 Corinthians 4:7), especially by the faith in things unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16). 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1 THEREFORE. Because of the freedom and open vision of the gospel. AS WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY. Gratitude for a mercy so undeserved (1 Timothy 1:13) makes us fearless and vigorous in a minis

FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED THE LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS,.... The causal particle for, shows these words to be also a reason of the foregoing; either why they so clearly beheld the glory of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:18 or why they renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, 2 Corinthians 4:2 or why their Gospel could not be hid, 2 Corinthians 4:3 or why they did not preach themselves, but Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:5 because God had SHINED IN THEIR HEARTS; and in this light, they saw the glory of Christ; could not bear any secret, hidden, scandalous practices; and held forth the word of

2 Corinthians 4:1. _Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;_ It is a very high privilege to be called to the work of the Christian ministry, and when the minister remembers what great mercy he has himself received, what sins have been forgiven, what favors have been bestowed, he has the very best incentives in all the world to pursue his ministry with diligence and with zeal. «We faint not,» says the apostle. We do not hang our harps upon the willows. We do not pray to be allowed to retire from the battle, and give up the strife; but, feeling how great has been the mercy of God to our own souls, we are stirred up to press forward with holy zeal to win the victory. We long that others may taste of the same good things on which we have feasted....

2 CORINTHIANS 4:6 @VIhsou/# Cristou/ There are three variants: (_a_) VIhsou/ Cristou/, read by î46 a C H K L P 049 056 075 0142 0209 most minuscules syrp, h copbo goth arm _al_; (_b_) Cristou/, read by A B 33 1739* copsa armmss Marcion Tertullian Origen Ephraem Athanasius Chrysostom _al_; and (_c_) Cristou/ VIhsou/, read by D F G 6 206 630 1739 1758 1881 1898 itd, g vg _al_. On the basis of what was regarded as superior external support, a majority of the Committee preferred the reading VIhsou/ Cristou/. At the same time, in view of the evidence sup...

5. THE CHARACTER OF THE TRUE MINISTRY. CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Gospel of the Glory of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1)_ 2. The Treasure in Earthen Vessels; Weakness and Power. (2 Corinthians 4:7) 3. Resurrection and Coming Glory. (2 Corinthians 4:13 .) This ministry which the apostle mentions is the ministry of the Gospel. And those who know it by having received mercy are to be the witnesses. Every Christian who has obtained mercy, who is saved by grace, is called to witness to this blessed fact in some way. “We faint not”--we are not discouraged, but encouraged to go on in its proclamation, knowing that it is a sweet savor unto God and the power of God unto salv