2 Corinthians 4:3 Commentary and Bible Study

But now another heading. From verse 3 we see how the glory of Christ can be withheld from human souls, and this is what we are up against in our witness. ‘But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.’ Not all embrace the gospel. The apostle is going to remind us that this is not because the gospel itself is weak or inadequate. It is not. He is going to answer the implicit question, ‘Why is everybody not saved, or why does everybody not believe?’ If it has such an authentic ring, why does everyone not respond to it, instantly? Well, because it is ‘hid’. Now this is the word that we have seen in the previous chapter. It is veiled. Why do people not respond? Because their minds are veiled, veiled in this sense. The gospel is self-authenticating; their conscience will tell them it’s true but due to the veil they do not see it as imperative. They do not see it as something to be feared and received, or else eternal tragedy will result. They do not see it as a divine warning also.