2 Corinthians 4:4 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Though some, by the god of this world, understand the true and living God, the Lord of heaven and earth; yet the notion of the most interpreters, that it is the devil who is here called the god of this world, because he ruleth over the greatest part of the world, and they are his servants and slaves, is most consonant to Scripture: for though we no where else find him called the god of this world, yet our Saviour twice calls him the prince of this world, 1 Thessalonians 12:31, 1 Thessalonians 14:30; and our apostle, Ephesians 2:2, calls him the prince of the power of the air. The effect also doth more properly belong to the devil, than unto God, who no otherwise blindeth the eyes of them than either permissively, by suffering them to shut their own eyes, or judicially. And the apostle declares, that those who are so blinded are such persons as believe not. He further declareth the end of the devil's agency in blinding men's eyes with errors, malice, and prejudice, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, the express image of his person, (considered as to his Divine nature), should shine unto them, that is, into their hearts.

2 Corinthians 4:4

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.