2 Corinthians 4:1-6

In this paragraph the apostle recurs to the thought of 2 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 1:12; a ministry of such surpassing splendour demanded in himself and his comrades unflinching courage, and a life that commended itself by uprightness and straightforwardness to the judgment of other men. There were those who were still blind to the truth. They were blinded by the god of this world, i.e. by Satan. This striking phrase calls attention to the practical dualism of Paul's view of the world. It had fallen under the dominion, into the grasp (1 John 5:19) of the Evil One. The present age (or world) was wholly evil. Men were waging a real struggle with spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), with angels, potentates, and powers (Romans 8:38), who formed a veritable kingdom of darkness under the sovereignty of the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). It was part of Christ's great redeeming work that He had fought and worsted this whole host of evil forces (Colossians 2:15 *); and the issue of the great process of salvation is to be the complete and final subjugation of this temporary kingdom of evil (1 Corinthians 15:24). Through this blindness men are deprived of that illumination which comes from the glorious gospel of Christ, which finds its parallel in the miracle of creation itself. For the coming of this light to the soul is like nothing else than the birth of light in the world; and it is reflected from the face of Christ (Hebrews 1:3).