What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:3? And even if Paul begins with a gentle concession—there may be times when it seems the life-giving message of Jesus is hidden. • This admission does not weaken the gospel; it underscores human limitation (2 Corinthians 3:5). • The same humble tone appears in Romans 3:3–4, where unbelief cannot nullify God’s faithfulness. • By saying “even if,” Paul prepares us to look beyond appearances and trust the unchanged power of God (2 Timothy 2:9). our gospel Paul calls it “our” because he and his coworkers personally steward the message, yet the content is unmistakably Christ’s. • “The gospel” centers on “Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5) and nothing less. • Galatians 1:11–12 reminds us this gospel is received by revelation, not human invention. • “Our” also signals shared responsibility—every believer is entrusted to guard and proclaim the same good news (1 Thessalonians 2:4). is veiled A veil covers, blocks, or dims sight. Here it pictures spiritual blindness, not a deficiency in the gospel itself. • 2 Corinthians 3:14–16 shows the Old Covenant veil lifted only in Christ. • In Luke 24:16, the risen Jesus walks with disciples whose eyes are “kept from recognizing Him” until He opens them. • The veil is lifted through divine illumination (Psalm 119:18; Ephesians 1:18). it is veiled Paul repeats the phrase to stress that any concealment lies entirely on the human side, never on God’s. • The gospel remains “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16) whether believed or ignored. • Isaiah 6:9–10 foretells hearts grown dull; Jesus echoes this in Matthew 13:14–15. • Responsibility is twofold: the hearer must respond, and Satan actively blinds minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). to those who are perishing The veil rests on those moving toward destruction because they refuse the light. • 1 Corinthians 1:18 contrasts “those who are perishing” with “us who are being saved.” • John 3:18–19 emphasizes that condemnation follows persistent unbelief, not lack of information. • Yet God “is patient… not wanting anyone to perish” (2 Peter 3:9); the verse is a sober warning, not a final sentence for those who will repent. summary Paul assures us the gospel itself is never deficient. If it seems hidden, the problem is spiritual blindness in people already moving toward ruin. Our task is to keep proclaiming Christ clearly, trusting God to lift veils and bring the perishing into His saving light. |
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