Read 2 Corinthians 4 at Bible Gateway.
This chapter forms a chiastic structure with part of chapter 3, which I have halfway worked out in my notes. But this passage forms a smaller chiastic structure:
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:3-6
2 Cor 4:3-6
1a) 2 Cor 4:3a, If the gospel is veiled;
1b) 2 Cor 4:3b-4, The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe the gospel;
central axis) 2 Cor 4:5, For we do not preach ourselves but Christ, and we your bondservants for Jesus’ sake;
2b) 2 Cor 4:6, The God who commanded light has shone the light of the gospel in our hearts;
2a) 2 Cor 4:6b, The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
This is amazing, for Paul has given us the secret to pray effectively for the unbelievers in our lives that we are praying for! People do not choose unbelief, just as they do not choose to be sick, or blind. But they have been blinded by an outside agent, the god of this age. He is ever working against us, to steal, kill, and destroy.
Their minds, therefore, have been darkened. But the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness is the God we serve! And when Jesus came,
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Mat 11:2-5
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Act 10:38
God restores sight to the blind! So rebuke the god of this age in his oppression, and command sight to be restored to those who are perishing in the name of Jesus. And do not stop there. Notice that the god of this world blinds minds, but the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has shone in the hearts of those who believe. Pray for that light to so shine!
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