Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 4:3

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:" — 2 Corinthians 4:3 (ASV)

Paul’s Gospel, some had claimed, was designed only for a spiritually minded elite; what he said was obscure and what he did was underhanded (v.2).For the sake of argument, Paul concedes his critics’ point. Even if his Gospel is veiled in the case of some people, it is not his doing, he insists, because he sets forth the truth plainly (v.2). Any veiling (cf. 3:14–15) comes from the unbelief of “those who are perishing” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15), whose minds have been blinded by the god of “the present evil age” (Galatians 1:4)—i.e., Satan, who wishes to prevent people from seeing the light of the Gospel that focuses on Christ’s glory as the image of God. Paul’s reference to Christ as “the image [GK 1635] of God” means that Christ is the visible and perfect representation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; cf.Jn 1:18). Christ is one with God the Father by nature, but distinct from him in person.