2 Corinthians 4 (KJV) - Bible Truth Library

• In their ease, the god of this age blinded the thoughts, or understandings, of the unbelieving. It was no defect in the truth, no obscurity in the message from God, nor insincerity in the messenger, who gave it out as purely as he received it. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 4:1-4” by W. Kelly)

• {god of this age} And as the Lord, in view of His own rejection unto death, spoke of the devil as the prince of this world (John 12; 14), so the Apostle here designates him, with striking propriety, as "god of this age." During the new age, when the Lord takes the sovereignty of the world (Rev. 11), it will not be so; he will be bound, and thereby kept from his old deceits. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 4:1-4” by W. Kelly)

• {glad tidings of the glory, JND Trans.} The gospel, as Paul preached it, was not of His descent and life here only, nor of His death and resurrection, but of His glory in heaven also. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 4:1-4” by W. Kelly)

• If such glad tidings were veiled, they were veiled in the lost, not by those that preached the truth. In their ease, the god of this age blinded the thoughts, or understandings, of the unbelieving. It was no defect in the truth, no obscurity in the message from God, nor insincerity in the messenger, who gave it out as purely as he received it.... the gospel, as Paul preached it, was not of His descent and life here only, nor of His death and resurrection, but of His glory in heaven also. (“Notes on 2 Corinthians 4:1-4” by W. Kelly)

• This is translated “glorious gospel.” But we have seen that the fact of Christ’s being in glory, the glory of God being seen in His face, was the special subject of the preceding chapter. To that the Apostle here alludes as characterizing the gospel which he preached. (“2 Corinthians 4” by J.N. Darby)

• The gospel that Paul preached was not only that Christ had died and was risen, but that He is glorified — "the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ". It is not only that Christ is in glory, but that the One Who fully set forth God is glorified, the everlasting witness to God's infinite satisfaction in Christ and His work, as well as to the believer's place of acceptance and favor, and the righteous ground of the proclamation of forgiveness and salvation to sinners. (“2 Corinthians 4” by H. Smith)

• As “the god of this world” he is in control of this world’s religious activities (2 Cor. 4:4). As “the prince of this world” he is in control of this world’s secular activities (John 12:31; 14:30). (“A True Christian Minister Has Personal Exercises Regarding the Ministry He Carries: 2 Corinithains 4” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine forthi for them.

JND Translation Notes

I add "for them" to complete the sense. I have doubted as to this passage. The word translated "shine forth" is only found here in the New Testament and generally means "to see," or "discern." If this be the meaning here, we should read "so that they should not discern the shining forth of the glad tidings of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

W. Kelly Translation

in whom the god of this age blinded the mindsa of the faithless, that the illumination of the gospel of the gloryb of Christ, who is [the] image of God, should not shine forthc.

WK Translation Notes

Or, "thoughts."

"The glorious gospel," as in the KJV, is not only inadequate, but incorrect. For "the glory" is definitely of Christ exalted to God’s right hand, not in "the glorious gospel."

"Unto them" as reads the T. R. is an addition of the more recent copies against the oldest MSS.