The sad truth is I have yet to meet any Calvinist who is aware or is willing to admit an awareness, that their reading is based on assumptions , i.e. all rather than some. Non-Cal's read it "some of those who are perishing" and "blinded the minds of some of the unbelieving" to be consistent with Matthew 13.
Nor are they willing to take into consideration the entire context;
2Co 4:1-6
(1) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
(2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
--Paul is speaking of false teachers, Judaizers to be specific, who came "dishonestly," with a "hidden" message, "handling the word of deceitfully," etc.
Paul did none of those things. Therefore he says:
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
"But If..." Indicating a hypothetical. If we did as the false teachers did.
"But if we hid our gospel it would still be hid to them that are lost."
--But Paul's gospel was not hid. It is a glorious gospel, not hidden at all.
It shines forth the glory of God and is available to the lost that they may be saved. It is not hidden. Why would Paul preach a hidden message? He doesn't.
(4) 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.
--But Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and does his best to keep them from believing. Peter says "he goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."
However the power of Paul's message is "the light of the glorious message (that can overcome Satan), can shine into the lost men, and make them in the image of God! What power!
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
--Paul did not come as the false teachers came preaching their prideful selves. He came preaching Christ, and Christ the Lord.
(6) 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.
--It is the Gospel that declares the message that God commands light to shine out of darkness resulting in light in our hearts, giving the knowleged of the glory of God in face of Christ. This is the result of the gospel, and what it can do for the lost.
This is what the Calvinist is missing, especially SBM.
