(1) The power of Paul’s message (4:2-6)

Although Paul commends himself in contrast with dishonest teachers (4:2; cf. 2:17-3:1), he insists that Christ, not he, is the content of his proclamation (4:5; see 10:12-18). He tries not to get in the way of his message or ministry. Those who reject the Gospel of Christ he preaches do so because they refuse to believe. They have made this world their god and so are blind to the splendor of Christ, who makes the true God known. They are perishing, but their situation is not hopeless. They are not incapable of believing, nor are they already lost. Perhaps they will yet turn from unbelief and be saved through the ministry of the Gospel. God’s light may yet break through their darkness as it did for Paul (4:3-4, 6). The implied parallel here between the creation of the world (Ge 1:3) and Paul’s encounter with Christ (see also 1Co 9:1; 15:8; Gal 1:16) accounts for his description of conversion as a new creation in 2Co 5:17.