We have been studying the word νὸημα (Strong's #3540), following it through Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. Νὸημα represents, not just the perceptive process, but the very perceptions and thoughts themselves. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul teaches that Satan has the ability to perceive a believer's weaknesses and to formulate a systematic or methodical attack against that believer based upon what he has perceived. Last week we learned from 2 Corinthians 3:14 that the sons of Israel were not allowed to see the glory of God fade from Moses' face because their perceptions were hardened making them unable to perceive that the Law and its glory were temporary.
Paul says that even today in the reading of the Law, there is still a veil over the hearts of the people causing them to be unable to perceive that the veil is being taken away in Christ. Paul finishes chapter three by stating that the Spirit of the Lord is taking away the veil and is magnifying His glory upon us.
This week's study is taken from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (Literal Translation).
Paul starts this chapter by referring back to his last statements using the connecting words, "On account of this." He is referring back to the permanent glory unveiled in Christ. He says that he has received this ministry of permanent glory according to the mercy that the Lord has given him. Based upon this, he does not faint or give up from being weary.
In verse 2, Paul uses the verb ἀπείπον (Strong's #550), "to speak out against, to renounce." He states the fact that he does not faint, but rather has renounced the hidden things of shame. He enumerates the ways in which he has renounced the hidden things of shame by using three phrases, each introduced by a participle. The first is "not walking in craftiness." The Greek word for craftiness is πανουργὶα (Strong's #3834) and means to use any and all things necessary to reach a goal. Paul is saying that he doesn't use motivational tools or clever ways to manipulate people.
The second phrase is "nor falsifying the Word of God." The word translated "falsifying" is δολὸω (Strong's #1389), which means deceit or adulterating. An example of this word, in the adjective form, is found in 1 Peter 2:2, "as newborn babes, greatly desire the unadulterated milk that feeds the reasoning process, in order that you may grow in it…" Peter uses ἄδολος (Strong's #97) for "unadulterated." ̓́Αδολος means something that is unmixed or without duplicity. So we find Peter saying that the milk feeding the reasoning process of the believer is unmixed or without double meaning. He is presenting the fact that the word of God is pure when it is presented according to the meaning of the original writer, without being mixed with tradition, personal beliefs or other religious understandings. In like manner, Paul uses the same root word in 2 Corinthians 2:2 to convey the understanding that he is not involved in "mixing" things into the word of God. He is not adulterating the word of God to make it say something that it does not say in order to manipulate people into doing what he wants them to do.
The third phrase is, "commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God by the manifestation of the truth." While the first two phrases denote two things Paul is not doing, this third phrase indicates something he is doing. Therefore, this section of scripture shows us that Paul renounces the hidden things of shame in three ways: He does not use any and all means (craftiness) to accomplish the results of his ministry. He does not adulterate or deceitfully use the word of God, but rather is commending himself, by the manifestation of the truth, to their consciences before God.
We are fortunate indeed when the minister of a congregation can say what Paul has said. However, much sin and hidden things of shame remain within our churches because the pure Word of God has not been proclaimed to every person's conscience. Evidently, many of our ministers do not believe or do not trust that the unadulterated word of God is alive and powerful bringing conviction and instruction (Hebrews 4:12) to those who hear it. Even worse than this unbelief, is the presence within today's Church of those who refuse to give or receive the unadulterated Word of God. These people adulterate God's word because they do not want to submit themselves to its instruction or suffer its convicting power.
Verse 3 is Paul's disclaimer. The Word of God, as proclaimed by Paul, is unadulterated; but, if the gospel is hidden, it is hidden from the ones "who are perishing." The word for "perishing" is the present participle form of ἀπὸλλυμι (Strong's #622). The present participle expresses that the gospel is hidden to people who are already in the process of perishing; therefore, the gospel being hidden from them does not produce their destruction.
In verse 4, Paul presents the reason behind the gospel being hidden from the ones perishing. The god of this age (Satan) blinds the "perceptions" of the ones who are already unbelieving. Here our study word νὸημα is used to express that the ones who are unbelieving have their perceptions blinded by Satan. The purpose for their perceptions being blinded is, "in order that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine upon them." The Greek word for "shine" is not the normal word used for that expression. The word used here expresses a very special concept pertaining to the Lord's deity. The word is αὐγὰζω (Strong's #826), which means "to beam or radiate upon." In Hebrews 1:3, the ma noun form of this word, ἀπαὺγασμα (Strong's #541), means "out-beam." In this Hebrews 1:3 text, it says of Jesus Christ that He is the "out-beam of glory." ̓Απαὺγασμα is used to express that the glory of God was projected through the time-space factor and became resident in the person of Jesus Christ. Here in 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul is saying that those who are unbelieving are blinded to not perceive the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ that has been projected (αὐγὰζω) through the time-space factor.
In verse 5, Paul gives the "method" by which he approaches every person. He does not preach himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and presents himself, Paul, as their servant on account of Jesus.
Paul finishes this section by proclaiming that the same God who spoke light to come into existence out of darkness, shined (λὰμπω, Strong's #2989) into our hearts, "to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
In this chapter, Paul goes to great lengths to present that he does not proclaim a gospel containing a hidden agenda; but rather he preaches Jesus Christ the Lord. If this pure, simple gospel message is hidden or veiled, it is veiled to the ones who are being destroyed; those who have their perceptions blinded to the truth of Christ. A person can only perceive the truth of Christ when God illuminates a person's mind to perceive and receive the truth: that God has projected Himself through this time-space continuum and has manifested Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Next week we will continue our study of the word νὸημα from 2 Corinthians 10.
* "Noema" is the English font spelling of the Greek word νὸημα.
Technical Notes:
F1 The preposition of purpose εἰς, "for," with the accusative subject τὸν͂φωτισμὸν, "the illumination," is translated διὰ͂νὰ͂ὁ͂φωτισμὸς, "in order that the illumination..."
F2 The articular infinitive of purpose τὸ͂μὴ͂αὐγὰσαι, "the not to beam out" is translated νὰ͂μὴ͂ἐπιλὰμψῃ, "that not should shine."
F3The infinitive λὰμψαι, "to shine" is translated νὰ͂λὰμψῃ, "that should shine."
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.