2 Corinthians 4:1-6, The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Comments:

Apparently Paul is in a dilemma with his authority being opposed by itinerate “apostles” who practice Sophist rhetoric and boast about themselves in Corinth. Needing to make a case for himself, he turns to what Plutarch calls “inoffensive self-praise.” Paul wants his converts neither to praise him nor ignore him, so he praises himself in a way that is consistent with his principle that one should boast only in the Lord. This means he will boast of his own weakness and suffering in order to show that his triumphs must result from God’s work through him.

Paul has a ministry to the Corinthians given to him by God, and even though it has proven to be a difficult ministry, he will not lose heart in it or in the Corinthians because it is God’s call on his life. Paul knows that if such a sinner and murderer as he can be transformed by God, then so can they. He also states that he will not manipulate God’s word to suit himself or the Corinthians. He speaks with a transparent declaration of the truth and not in veiled or mysterious utterances as some of the practitioners of pagan religions did. There is no “secret knowledge” in Christianity.

If some do not understand the gospel, it is not because of Paul’s presentation, but because Satan, the “god of this world” has blinded them to the light of truth and from seeing God in and through Jesus. When Paul speaks of Christ’s glory, he is referring to the manifestation of God’s presence in Jesus. He is the very image and full and true representation of God, which is why Paul includes this basic early Christian confession: “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Paul sees himself as a servant. Is he referring to Isaiah’s Suffering Servant or to a slave? The role of the Suffering Servant was to preach the Good News to the Poor (Isaiah 61:1), and this is what Paul has been doing. He is willing to suffer as his Master suffered. Yet Jesus speaks of his disciples as “servants who are not greater than their Master, Jesus.” Hence Paul proclaims Jesus as Lord and not himself. Light in verse 6 stands for the knowledge of God. As light was the first thing created in Genesis, “the light of the knowledge of Jesus” is the dawning of a new creation when people come to faith in him.

Reflection:

Dear Lord, it seems that you are so madly in love with your creatures that you could not live without us. So you created us; and then, when we turned away from you, you redeemed us. Yet you are God, and so have no need of us. Your greatness is made no greater by our creation; your power is made no stronger by our redemption. You have no duty to care for us, no debt to repay us. It is love, and love alone, which moves you.

-- Catherine of Sienna, 1347-1380