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Returning to II Cor. 4: 3 we notice that it reads `it is hid TO them that are lost'.
Now the Greek preposition which is here translated `to' is en, which reappears at the
opening of verse 4 "In whom". Now the primitive meaning of en is `in', but the figure of
the veil prevented the translators saying `in' them that are lost, and so they adopted the
easier rendering `to' them. The preposition en, is constantly used in the LXX to translate
the Hebrew beth `in' `with' and `by', and this is called "The en of investiture" as when it
is said "The general came in his sword, the peers in their robes". The Greek of the N.T.
extends this use of the preposition to accompaniments which do not literally `invest'
(Green). I Cor. 4: 21 en rabdo `Am I to come to you WITH a rod?' In the epistles to
the Corinthians, this preposition en is translated `by' twenty-five times, thus `enriched by
Him', `revealed by fire', etc. We believe the words `the lost' of II Cor. 4: 3 do not refer
to the individual unbeliever, but to the terms of the Old Covenant, which have now been
`abolished', and accordingly set out these two verses as follows:
"But if our gospel be VEILED, it is VEILED by those things which are perishing, (i.e.
those things which are `abolished' and `done away', referred to in II Cor. 3: 13, 14), by
which the god of this age hath blinded the minds of them which believe not."
In other words, the enemy of truth fabricates a veil out of undispensational passages of
Scripture, keeps the mind on a truth that has been abrogated, and so prevents the eye from
beholding the light of the New Covenant gospel of glory, that shines, not in the face of
Moses, but in the face of Christ. If many of the Lord's own children set no value on the
principle of "Right Division" the enemy of truth, apparently realizes its high and
liberating value.
Where the god of this age finds a mind ready for the instillation of doubt he will lead
that one to deny the place of Moses altogether, and so strike the first blow at the whole
fabric of revelation. The evil one however has no scruples. He can quote Scripture when
it suits his purpose. To one he will bring pressure to bear until the inspiration of
Scripture is denied. To another he will bring pressure to bear, so that one part of
Scripture that is obsolete and undispensational shall so becloud the vision that the present
truth shall be obscured. That is what he is represented as doing here in II Cor. 4: A
veil has been fabricated out of `those things that are perishing', the law of Moses which is
`abolished'. The Galatians had this veil over the eyes for a time, so that Paul had to
write:
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? . . . . . Behold, I
Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing . . . . . Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen
from grace" (Gal. 4: 21; 5: 2, 4).
The Apostle asked the Galatians "Who hath bewitched you?" for the preaching of
Jesus Christ crucified had been so set forth before their eyes as to indicate the
interposition of this `veil'.
Another element in the making of this veil is the fear of man, the fear of
consequences, and to this the Apostle refers in Eph. 1::