2 Corinthians 4:3 BSB

2 Corinthians 4:3

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:

KJV

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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Commentary

4 voices

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians (1274)

Here the Apostle answers a tacit objection. For someone could say to him: you say that you do not grow faint in manifesting the truth of Christ. But this does not seem true, because many people contradict you. To this question, therefore, he responds. And …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But if our Gospel be hid,.... When the Gospel is called ours, the meaning is, not that ministers are the authors or subject of it; but it is so styled, because they are intrusted with it; it is preached by them; and is in opposition to another Gospel, the Gospel of the false apostles.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But if our gospel be hid - Paul here calls it his gospel, because it was that which he preached, or the message which he bore; see note, Rom 16:25. The sense here is, “if the gospel which I preach is not understood; if its meaning is obscure or hidden; if its glory is not seen.” It is “implied” here, that to many the beauty and glory of the gospel was not perceived. This was undeniable, notwithstanding the plainness and fullness with which its truths were made known.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἰ	ei	If	G1487 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
καὶ	kai	even	G2532 →
ἔστιν	estin	is	G1510 →
κεκαλυμμένον	kekalummenon	concealed	G2572 →
τὸ	to	the	G3588 →
εὐαγγέλιον	euangelion	gospel	G2098 →
ἡμῶν,	hēmōn	of us,	G3165 →
ἐν	en	to	G1722 →
τοῖς	tois	those	G3588 →
ἀπολλυμένοις	apollumenois	perishing	G622 →
ἐστὶν	estin	it is	G1510 →
κεκαλυμμένον·	kekalummenon	concealed;	G2572 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
  The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Romans 1:16
  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10
  and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23–25
  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
- 1 Corinthians 1:21
  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Through
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
leads to
- Matthew 21:16
  “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
- Psalms 8:2
  From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
- Matthew 16:17
  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.

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Light

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About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: 2 Corinthians 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 2 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 2 Corinthians