2 Corinthians 4 6

2 Corinthians 4:6 kjv

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.

2 Corinthians 4:6 nkjv

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 niv

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 esv

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 nlt

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4 verses

2 Corinthians 4 6 Meaning

2 Corinthians 4:6 declares that the same sovereign God who commanded physical light to emerge from primeval darkness during creation has, through a decisive act, shone spiritual light into the hearts of believers. This divine illumination provides an understanding, a knowledge, of God's magnificent glory, which is fully and uniquely revealed through the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. It underscores the active role of God in bestowing spiritual sight, countering the spiritual blindness that keeps people from understanding the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4 6 Context

2 Corinthians Chapter 4 stands within Paul's fervent defense of his apostolic ministry and the truth of the gospel, contrasted with the deceptive practices of false apostles. The immediate context of verse 6 begins with Paul affirming that ministers do not "peddle the word of God for profit" (v. 2) but rather plainly declare truth. He then addresses the spiritual blindness of unbelievers in verses 3-4, attributing it to "the god of this world" who "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Verse 6 serves as the divine solution and direct antithesis to this spiritual blindness. It explains how some come to see the gospel's light—not through human effort or merit, but by God's sovereign, creative act. This spiritual illumination in the hearts of believers then sets the stage for the paradox Paul explores in the following verses (v. 7-12) regarding the "treasure in jars of clay," where the immense power of God is manifested through the weakness of human vessels. Historically, Corinth was a city steeped in diverse philosophical traditions, mystery religions, and imperial cults, many of which promised secret knowledge (gnosis) or divine experiences. Paul's message stands in direct polemic against these by asserting that true spiritual knowledge and the revelation of divine glory come solely through the active work of God in Christ, not through human-initiated rituals or philosophical enlightenment.

2 Corinthians 4 6 Word analysis

• For God, who commanded: (ὁ γὰρ θεός, ὁ εἰπών - ho gar theos, ho eipōn)

  • For: (γὰρ - gar) Links back directly to the spiritual blindness mentioned in verse 4. It introduces the divine remedy.
  • God: (θεός - theos) The absolute, sovereign, Creator God, emphasized as the active agent.
  • who commanded: (ὁ εἰπών - ho eipōn) Literally "the one having said." This is a participle stressing God's verbal, authoritative act. This phrasing is a direct, deliberate allusion to Genesis 1:3 ("Let there be light") to highlight God's creative power, connecting physical creation with spiritual regeneration. The very same God with the same authority.

• the light to shine out of darkness: (ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι - ek skotous phōs lampsai)

  • light: (φῶς - phōs) In creation, physical light; here, used analogously for spiritual light and understanding. It dispels confusion and reveals truth.
  • shine out of darkness: (ἐκ σκότους...λάμψαι - ek skotous...lampsai) Signifies not merely illumination within darkness, but an emerging from it. σκοτοὺς - skotous refers to thick, oppressive darkness. The imagery of light appearing from utter darkness powerfully signifies a new creation, both physically and spiritually.

• hath shined in our hearts: (ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν - hos elampsen en tais kardiais hēmōn)

  • hath shined: (ἔλαμψεν - elampsen) This is a historical, definite past tense (aorist), emphasizing a completed, specific, and effective action by God. It's not a suggestion or a request, but a powerful divine intervention.
  • in our hearts: (ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν - en tais kardiais hēmōn) "Hearts" (καρδίαις - kardiais) in biblical thought refers not just to emotion but the very center of one's being, including intellect, will, conscience, and moral capacity (not just emotions). This implies an internal, radical transformation and intellectual apprehension.

• to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God: (πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ - pros phōtismon tēs gnōseōs tēs doxēs tou theou)

  • to give the light of: (πρὸς φωτισμόν - pros phōtismon) "For the purpose of enlightenment" or "for illumination." This describes the goal or effect of God's shining in their hearts. It's an active process of making clear and understood.
  • knowledge: (γνώσεως - gnōseōs) This is not mere intellectual awareness but experiential, personal knowledge. It is insight and spiritual understanding that comes through divine revelation.
  • glory of God: (δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ - doxēs tou theou) God's inherent radiance, majesty, weighty splendor, and moral perfection. This is the ultimate subject matter being revealed. It encompasses His character, power, holiness, and love.

• in the face of Jesus Christ: (ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - en prosōpō Iēsou Christou)

  • in the face of: (ἐν προσώπῳ - en prosōpō) This phrase means "through the person of," "by means of," or "in the presence of" Jesus Christ, emphasizing Christ as the focal point and medium of this revelation. The "face" is the locus of identity and expression. This echoes Moses' experience on Mount Sinai (Ex 34) where his face shone, but here, it is God's glory seen in Christ's own face and person.
  • Jesus Christ: (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Iēsou Christou) The divine Son and Messiah, through whom the invisible God makes Himself visible and comprehensible. He is the ultimate, perfect revelation of God's glory.

Words-group analysis:

• "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness": This phrase establishes a direct analogy between the initial physical creation and the spiritual new creation. Just as God's powerful word brought forth cosmos from chaos, so His divine intervention transforms spiritually blind hearts. This grounds salvation in God's omnipotence and sovereignty.
• "hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God": This highlights the internal and personal nature of spiritual revelation. It's not external information alone but an inward, transformative enlightenment that enables understanding and appreciation of God's inherent splendor and character.
• "in the face of Jesus Christ": This is the climax and specificity of the revelation. It is through Christ, His incarnate life, suffering, death, and resurrection, that the ultimate, full, and final expression of God's glory is seen. He is the definitive icon of the Father's glory.

2 Corinthians 4 6 Bonus section

The phrase "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" deliberately evokes Moses' encounter with God's glory on Mount Sinai (Ex 34). While Moses' face shone with reflected glory and required a veil due to its fading nature and the people's inability to look at it, Christ is the source of the glory, being the very "radiance of the glory of God" (Heb 1:3). Paul implies that through Christ, believers now experience a superior, unveiled, and permanent access to God's glory. The contrast between the veiling over the Law and the unveiled face of Christ is a core theme in 2 Corinthians 3, leading directly into chapter 4, reinforcing the superiority of the New Covenant revelation over the Old. This also strongly implies a direct link between seeing Christ and spiritual regeneration: to see His glory by God's internal illumination is to enter into a saving relationship.

2 Corinthians 4 6 Commentary

2 Corinthians 4:6 serves as a pivotal theological declaration in Paul's defense of his ministry and the power of the gospel. It offers a profound counter-narrative to the spiritual blindness depicted in the preceding verses, establishing God's creative power as the origin of all spiritual illumination. Paul draws an explicit parallel between the initial "let there be light" in Genesis 1:3—God's command bringing cosmos out of primordial darkness—and the "shining in our hearts." This analogy elevates the act of conversion to the status of a divine new creation, emphasizing that spiritual sight is not achieved by human effort or will, but by a sovereign, miraculous intervention of God.

This divine light is not abstract; it is intensely practical, leading to "the knowledge of the glory of God." This knowledge (gnosis) is not merely intellectual ascent but a profound, personal, and experiential understanding of God's nature and attributes. Crucially, this glory is seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." Christ is not just a revealer of God's glory, but He is the very embodiment and ultimate manifestation of it. He is the express image, the exact representation of God's being (Heb 1:3; Col 1:15), through whom humanity can grasp the invisible God. This negates any idea of a hidden or secret knowledge necessary for salvation, presenting Christ's person and work as the clear, public revelation accessible to those whose hearts God illuminates. This transformation allows believers, unlike Moses whose glory was veiled (2 Cor 3), to behold God's glory directly in Christ and to be changed into that very image.

Practical usage:

• This verse assures believers that their understanding of the gospel is a divine gift, fostering humility and gratitude for God's active role in their salvation.
• It serves as a powerful evangelistic premise: that those in spiritual darkness need divine light, reminding us to pray for God's illuminating work in unbelievers' hearts.
• It provides encouragement for ministers and laypeople in their witness, reminding them that God empowers the message to shine light even in the darkest circumstances, countering the enemy's blinding work.