ECT Minds and power

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes this :

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
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.
2 Cor 4:3-4

Here he is speaking about the blindness of the minds of those who are lost. That these men are not enlightened in their minds. But immediately after...

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
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.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Cor 4:5-7

Men whose minds have been enlightened...but now he speaks not just of minds, but of power.

What is the excellency of the power? Why introduce power here when he hasn't used the term at all (previously) in this letter?

He has often spoken of said power, and has been doing just that there also. There, he is merely returning to its topic once more. Paul often does that. He'll go into something; shift focus onto other things related in one way or another, and then return to what he began with.

What is your take on what he is talking about?

nikolai_42 said:

Men whose minds have been enlightened...but now he speaks not just of minds, but of power.

What is the excellency of the power? Why introduce power here when he hasn't used the term at all (previously) in this letter?

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The power of God unto salvation - Romans 1:16-17 KJV -

Danoh said:

He has often spoken of said power, and has been doing just that there also. There, he is merely returning to its topic once more. Paul often does that. He'll go into something; shift focus onto other things related in one way or another, and then return to what he began with.

What is your take on what he is talking about?

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This verse speaks of the power that accompanies the gospel.

Danoh said:

He has often spoken of said power, and has been doing just that there also. There, he is merely returning to its topic once more. Paul often does that. He'll go into something; shift focus onto other things related in one way or another, and then return to what he began with.

Click to expand...

In this letter to the Corinthians, however, he has not spoken of power until now. At least not used the Greek word δύναμις (dynamis) yet. But now he just speaks of the excellency of the power. That was my only point. So the term "excellency of the power" would have meant something specific to the Corinthians. Today, it takes on different meanings depending on who you talk to...

Danoh said:

What is your take on what he is talking about?

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In short, revelation. Not the type of revelation you see on TBN or the flesh-tickling idea of prophecy that seems to appeal to evoke (and probably derive from) all manner of carnality - but the revelation of Christ that Peter had and that all believers must have if they are to be born again. It is the life of God in the believer - being born again of incorruptible seed, yet struggling with the corruption that challenges even the saintliest on a daily basis. The excellency of the power is of God. That is, the victory we have in Christ and the overcoming of the world the flesh and the devil which Christ obtained - which we can only realize by dying daily and being led by the Spirit of God. Those who try to do this in their own strength, their own obedience, their own effort - will necessarily fail. They exude themselves, but those who cease from their own wisdom (Prov 23:4) and their own labors (Hebrews 4:9) find that what is expressed, is not themselves, but the Spirit of Christ.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2 Cor 2:14-16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Why would men glorify God if they see you work...your good works? Because it is not really your work...

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13

I think I started preaching...sorry.

nikolai_42 said:

In this letter to the Corinthians, however, he has not spoken of power until now. At least not used the Greek word δύναμις (dynamis) yet. But now he just speaks of the excellency of the power. That was my only point. So the term "excellency of the power" would have meant something specific to the Corinthians. Today, it takes on different meanings depending on who you talk to...

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Good post. I'm wondering if you've given any thought to this verse being evidence of the "power" Paul is talking about. The source being the grace of God, with the indwelling Spirit being the conduit of that grace by which we are "enriched".

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.