A Blinded Mind 2 Corinthians 4: 2-5 Cornel Rasor, Pastor

doloó: to ensnare, fig. to adulterate δολόω doloō 1) to ensnare 2) to corrupt doloó: to ensnare, fig. to adulterate Original Word: δολόω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: doloó Phonetic Spelling: (dol-o'-o) Short Definition: I adulterate, corrupt Definition: I adulterate, corrupt, ensnare. Cognate: 1389 dolóō (from 1388 /dólos, "bait") – properly, to lure (or snare) by using bait – holding out the worm and concealing the hook!; to handle deceitfully; "primarily, to ensnare; then to corrupt – used of adulterating gold, wine, etc." (WS, 818). See 1388 (dolos). © Kootenai Community Church | Adult Sunday School: 2 Corinthians | Series taught by Cornel Rasor, Pastor | Any unauthorized alteration of this material is prohibited. kootenaichurch.org

“The false apostles were, in effect first-century marketing experts “The false apostles were, in effect first-century marketing experts. They viewed the gospel as a product and themselves as salesmen. Part of selling the product (the gospel) was veiling its truth and sprucing it up by adding some mystery and magic. By tweaking the message, repackaging it to make it more popular and trendy, they hoped to better appeal to first-century consumers. They would then succeed in making converts (and money). Paul’s straightforward, powerful presentation of the pure unadulterated gospel (cf. Romans 1:16) frustrated and threatened them. It also exposed their secret lives of shame. It is no wonder then that they bitterly opposed Paul. © Kootenai Community Church | Adult Sunday School: 2 Corinthians | Series taught by Cornel Rasor, Pastor | Any unauthorized alteration of this material is prohibited. kootenaichurch.org

Had all those men calmly read Paul’s words, it would never have occurred to any one of them to twist them in this way into a forced meaning; but as they were harassed by their opponents, they were more concerned to refute them, than to investigate Paul’s meaning. But what occasion was there for this? For the subterfuge of the Arians was childish — that if the devil is called the god of this world, the name of God, as applied to Christ, does not express a true, eternal, and exclusive divinity. For Paul says elsewhere, many are called gods, (1 Corinthians 8:5;) but David, on the other hand, sings forth — the gods of the nations are demons. (Psalm 96:5.) When, therefore, the devil is called the god of the wicked, on the ground of his having dominion over them, and being worshipped by them in the place of God, what tendency has this to detract from the honor of Christ? And as to the Manicheans, this appellation gives no more countenance to the Manicheans, than when he is called the prince of this world. (John 14:30.) There is, therefore, no reason for being afraid to interpret this passage as referring to the devil, there being no danger in doing so. For should the Arians come forward and contend, that Christ’s divine essence is no more proved from his having the appellation God applied to him, than Satan’s is proved from its being applied to him, a cavil of this nature is easily refuted; for Christ is called God without any addition, nay, he is called God blessed for ever. (Romans 9:5.) He is said to be that God who was in the beginning, before the creation of the world. (John 1:1-3.) The devil, on the other hand, is called the god of this world, in no other way than as Baal is called the god of those that worship him, or as the dog is called the god of Egypt. © Kootenai Community Church | Adult Sunday School: 2 Corinthians | Series taught by Cornel Rasor, Pastor | Any unauthorized alteration of this material is prohibited. kootenaichurch.org

image εἰκών eikōn 1) an image, figure, likeness 1a) an image of the things (the heavenly things) 1a1) used of the moral likeness of renewed men to God 1a2) the image of the Son of God, into which true Christians are transformed, is likeness not only to the heavenly body, but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind, which Christ possesses 1b) the image of one 1b1) one in whom the likeness of any one is seen 1b2) applied to man on account of his power of command 1b3) to Christ on account of his divine nature and absolute moral excellence eikón: an image, i.e. lit. statue, fig. representation Original Word: εἰκών, όνος, ἡ Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eikón Phonetic Spelling: (i-kone') Short Definition: an image, likeness, bust Definition: an image, likeness, bust. 1504 eikṓn (from 1503 /eíkō, "be like") – properly, "mirror-like representation," referring to what is very close in resemblance (like a "high-definition" projection, as defined by the context). Image (1504 /eikṓn) then exactly reflects its source (what it directly corresponds to). For example, Christ is the very image (1504 /eikṓn, supreme expression) of the Godhead (see 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15). "1504 (eikṓn) assumes a prototype, of which it not merely resembles, but from which it is drawn" (R. Trench). 1504 (eikṓn) then is more than a "shadow"; rather it is a replication (F. F. Bruce, Hebrews, 226; see also Lightfoot at Col 3:10 and 2:21). © Kootenai Community Church | Adult Sunday School: 2 Corinthians | Series taught by Cornel Rasor, Pastor | Any unauthorized alteration of this material is prohibited. kootenaichurch.org

1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition 1a) a slave bond servant δοῦλος doulos 1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition 1a) a slave 1b) metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men 1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests 2) a servant, attendant doulos: a slave Original Word: δοῦλος, ου, ὁ Part of Speech: Adjective; Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration: doulos Phonetic Spelling: (doo'-los) Short Definition: a male slave Definition: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. 1401 doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, 1401 /doúlos ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers. © Kootenai Community Church | Adult Sunday School: 2 Corinthians | Series taught by Cornel Rasor, Pastor | Any unauthorized alteration of this material is prohibited. kootenaichurch.org