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NASB | 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. |
Bible Question: 2 corn. the god of this world hath blinded. I will stop there. my question is this. who is the god of this world, and who has he blinded. |
Bible Answer: Greetings Matronsgt13! The common assumption concerning this verse is that Satan is the 'god of this world'. There are a couple of problems with this assumption. First of all, the word 'Satan' is not used in this passage at all. Secondly, Satan is never called 'a god' a single time in the entire Bible. Here is what Clarke says about this question in his commentary: *********************************** I must own I feel considerable reluctance to assign the epithet, The God, to Satan; and were there not a rooted prejudice in favor of the common opinion, the contrary might be well vindicated, viz. that by the God of this world the supreme Being is meant, who in his judgment gave over the minds of the unbelieving Jews to spiritual darkness, so that destruction came upon them to the uttermost. Satan, it is true, has said that the kingdoms of the world and their glory are his, and that he gives them to whomsoever he will; Mat_4:8, Mat_4:9. But has God ever said so? and are we to take this assertion of the boasting devil and father of lies for truth? Certainly not. We are not willing to attribute the blinding of men’s minds to God, because we sometimes forget that he is the God of justice, and may in judgment remove mercies from those that abuse them; but this is repeatedly attributed to him in the Bible, and the expression before us is quite a parallel to the following, Isa_6:9 : Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the Heart of this People Fat, and Make their Ears Heavy, and Shut their Eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, etc. And see the parallel places, Mat_13:14, Mat_13:15; Mar_4:12; Joh_12:40; and particularly Rom_11:8-10 : God Hath Given Them the Spirit of Slumber, Eyes that they Should not See, and Ears that they Should not Hear; let their Eyes be Darkened, etc. Now all this is spoken of the same people, in the same circumstances of wilful rebellion and obstinate unbelief; and the great God of heaven and earth is he who judicially blinds their eyes; makes their hearts fat, i.e. stupid; gives them the spirit of slumber: and bows down their back, etc. On these very grounds it is exceedingly likely that the apostle means the true God by the words the god of this world. *********************************** Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |