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.
In whom. Translate, 'in whose case.'
God of this world - only here so called: he is a defaced image of God. The worldly make him their god (Philippians 3:19). He is, in fact, 'the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience' (Ephesians 2:2). Christ, the God of the world to come, is the perfect image of the Father.
Minds - `understandings;' 'mental perceptions' х noeemata (G3540), as in 2 Corinthians 3:14].
Them which believe not - the same as 'them that are lost' (or 'are perishing') (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). South, 'When the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution' (Esther 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but blinded (2 Corinthians 3:14; Greek, 'hardened').
Light of the glorious gospel of Christ. Translate, 'the illumination [enlightening; footismon (G5462); the propagation from those already enlightened to others of the light] of the Gospel of the glory of Christ.' 'The glory of Christ' is not a mere quality (as "glorious") of the Gospel: it is its very essence and subject-matter. Image of God, х eikoon (G1504)] - implying identity of nature and essence (John 1:18; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). He who desires to see "the glory of God" may see it "in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:14-16). Paul recurs to 2 Corinthians 3:18: Christ is "the image of God," into which "same image" we, looking on it in the Gospel mirror, are changed by the Spirit; but this image is not visible to those blinded by Satan (Alford).