2 Corinthians 4:1-6

God, as a good and loving Father, opens our minds to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Seek Him and He will be found.

Knock and the door to truth will be opened.

He stands ready to answer you. Just ask!

2 Corinthians 4:1–6

4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 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. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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.

This ministry refers to the ministry of the Spirit and the ministry of righteousness. 

Despite his hardships and opposition, Paul remains encouraged in his proclamation of the message of reconciliation). He did not lose heart because God had already won victory through the resurrection of Jesus. Paul continues to contrast himself with itinerant teachers who preached the Word only for financial gain and distorted God’s Word. Paul acknowledges that some did not accept the gospel message—not because he obscured or hid anything from them), but because they were blinded by the work of evil forces and false teachers. Satan further blinds those who refuse to obey the gospel. Paul teaches that believers are to conform to the image of Christ just as Christ bears the image of God. 

Jesus as the Image of God

Paul and his companions focused their message on Christ’s divine nature as Lord. Paul’s remark suggests that some “false apostles” were presenting themselves as important rather than as servants. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers a new creation. Faithlife Bible. 

This ministry is the NT ministry, a ministry of the Spirit, of life, and of righteousness. It is a glorious ministry of liberty. 

Paul did not achieve this ministry by his own human ability but by God’s mercy. Lose heart means “to become weary,” “to become tired,” or “to despair.” No matter how difficult the task or how great the opposition, Paul did not retreat in silence but spoke boldly because he was motivated by the grace of God. Paul defended his ministry because it was based on the truthfulness of the Word of God.

Unbelievers have a barrier to overcome: the god of this age has blinded their minds. Because of Satan’s deception, sometimes what the world thinks is obviously true is painfully wrong. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and He perfectly reveals God the Father to us. Although human beings have been created in the image of God, through sin they have fallen from a perfect relationship with God. Jesus Christ is restoring believers to what they were originally created to be. Paul’s message is that Jesus is divine. 

Paul describes himself and those who minister with him as slaves to people. They served the Corinthians for Jesus’ sake.

As God commanded the light to shine in the darkness at creation, so he “turns on” the light in peoples’ hearts so they can see who Jesus Christ is. People who do not believe are blinded by Satan. But believers see the light. NKJ Bible.

Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles’ preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Matthew Henry Commentary.

2 Thessalonians 3:13  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

2 Peter 1:19  And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;