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"But and if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that are perishing: in whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them" (4: 3, 4
R.V.).
Using a different type of language, the Lord in His earthly ministry taught the same
thing, for out of four sowings of the Word of truth connected with the earthly kingdom
only one was fruitful in the fullest sense. Here the Apostle Paul continues the figure of
the veil which he has already used. One reason why the gospel is rejected is that Satan,
the arch-deceiver, draws a veil over the minds of such so that they cannot `see' properly
or understand. The glory of Christ, which the gospel makes known, is hidden in this way
and they continue to walk in spiritual darkness, however intellectually gifted they may
be. The good news of man's salvation wrought out by the crucified and risen Christ is
not only a deliverance from relentless bondage and a cleansing from guilt, but a rescue
from blindness and darkness as well, as Col. 1: 13 plainly teaches, and also this context.
Only in this way can this mental and spiritual darkness be removed. Sinners have not
sufficient ability or power to rescue themselves from such a terrible condition. Only the
power of the risen Saviour can do this, as He is personally received and trusted:
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants
for Jesus' sake. Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, Who shined
in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ" (4: 5, 6 R.V.).
The Apostle goes back in his mind to the Damascus road, on which the risen and
glorified Christ met him, made him a new creation and completely changed his whole
outlook and ways. The only adequate parallel reaches back to the beginning of creation
when the same Lord Jesus, the Creator, commanded the light to shine out of darkness
(Gen. 1: 3). This therefore is repeated in the new creation, when He Who is the only
Light of the world, the brightness of God's glory, shines into a darkened sinner's mind
upon being savingly beheld by faith.
The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is the most treasured of
all possessions. It is like an exquisite jewel, unique in its beauty. Literal jewels of beauty
are usually encased in an equally lovely setting, but the opposite is found with this jewel
of God, for He sets it in frail earthen vessels, men and women who are failing creatures,
subject to infirmity and weakness. One thing this striking paradox makes clear is that the
gospel is no product of human cleverness or lofty intellect, but is a revelation of God in
His power and sovereign grace. He condescends in His great love and mercy to place
this treasure in frail earthenware vessels to demonstrate, among other things, that His
strength is made perfect in weakness (II Cor. 12: 9).
Paul now contrasts the often humiliating experiences he passes through as a faithful
servant of Christ and minister of the gospel with the exceeding divine power that he finds
to be all-sufficient in all circumstances. In the verses that follow, there are four pairs of
present participles in an ascending scale, as it were. We find the climax to these testings
in chapter 11: 16-28. In chapter 4: the Apostle states: