This week we are studying 2 Corinthians 4. Within this chapter, Paul continues his analogy that only those with a veiled mind have rejected the light of Christ. In the readings last week, Paul says that the Jews continue to reject Jesus because they read the Scriptures with that same veil that Moses used to cover his radiant face when he descended Mount Saini with the Ten Commandments. But it is not only Jews whose minds are veiled. In the reading this week, Paul writes about the non-Jews who likewise fail to accept the gospel because “the god of this world” has veiled their mind to prevent the radiance of the gospel from shining through to them.
It is also within the passage that Paul compares himself to a “jar of clay.” The objection was continuously made that if Paul’s message was so glorious and life-changing, why would he have been appointed the messenger? Shouldn’t his god have chosen someone of greater stature and speech? But, Paul replies to this criticism by pointing out that it is the message, not the messenger that is important. And it is because of the importance of the message, that the messenger must be dispensable and of low stature (like an earthenware, not bronze, jar) so that only the message shines through. If the messenger himself had any worth, then he might get confused with the message.
Father Gabriel from St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church (Dana’s church) is leading our discussion this week. Dinner is at 6. The menu is chicken mole. Discussion about 6:45. Hope to see you here. Please bring a friend.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 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 likeness of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4