For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For. Proof that we are true servants of Jesus unto you; for God imparted to me the heavenly light that I might impart it to others. The light that He shed on his path as he went to Damascus suggests the image.
Commanded the light - Greek, 'who by speaking caused light to shine.' So C G f g, Vulgate, "light" (Genesis 1:3). But 'Aleph (') A B Delta read 'who spake, Out of darkness the light shall (let the light) shine.'
Hath shined - rather, as Greek, 'is He who shined;' Himself our Light and Sun, as well as the Creator of light (Malachi 4:2; John 8:12). Regeneration answers to creation.
In our hearts - in themselves dark.
To give (that we might give) the light - to others, which is in us х pros (G4314) footismon (G5462)] (cf. note, 2 Corinthians 4:4).
The glory of God - answering to 'the glory of Christ' (note, 2 Corinthians 4:4).
In the face of Jesus Christ. 'Aleph (') C Delta G f g, Vulgate, retain "Jesus." AB omit it. Christ is the manifestation of the glory of God, as His image (John 14:9): antitypical to the brightness on Moses' "face." The only true and full manifestation of God's brightness and glory is "in the face of Jesus" (Hebrews 1:3).