2 Corinthians 4:6
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.
Original Language Analysis
ὅτι
For
G3754
ὅτι
For
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
1 of 27
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
God
G2316
θεοῦ
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
3 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἐκ
out of
G1537
Ἐκ
out of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
6 of 27
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
σκότους
darkness
G4655
σκότους
darkness
Strong's:
G4655
Word #:
7 of 27
shadiness, i.e., obscurity (literally or figuratively)
φῶς
the light
G5457
φῶς
the light
Strong's:
G5457
Word #:
8 of 27
luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative)
ἔλαμψεν
hath shined
G2989
ἔλαμψεν
hath shined
Strong's:
G2989
Word #:
9 of 27
to beam, i.e., radiate brilliancy (literally or figuratively)
ὃς
G3739
ὃς
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
10 of 27
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔλαμψεν
hath shined
G2989
ἔλαμψεν
hath shined
Strong's:
G2989
Word #:
11 of 27
to beam, i.e., radiate brilliancy (literally or figuratively)
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καρδίαις
hearts
G2588
καρδίαις
hearts
Strong's:
G2588
Word #:
14 of 27
the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
πρὸς
to
G4314
πρὸς
to
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
16 of 27
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γνώσεως
of the knowledge
G1108
γνώσεως
of the knowledge
Strong's:
G1108
Word #:
19 of 27
knowing (the act), i.e., (by implication) knowledge
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δόξης
of the glory
G1391
δόξης
of the glory
Strong's:
G1391
Word #:
21 of 27
glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)
τοῦ
who
G3588
τοῦ
who
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
God
G2316
θεοῦ
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
23 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
προσώπῳ
the face
G4383
προσώπῳ
the face
Strong's:
G4383
Word #:
25 of 27
the front (as being towards view), i.e., the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person
Cross References
Isaiah 60:2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.Genesis 1:3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:2 Peter 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:Ephesians 5:8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:2 Corinthians 4:4In 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.Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Isaiah 40:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.John 11:40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?2 Corinthians 3:18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Historical Context
Paul's Genesis 1 allusion would resonate powerfully with Jewish readers who saw creation and redemption as parallel works of God. The concept of God's glory revealed in a human face (Christ) was scandalous to both Jews (who avoided divine representations) and Greeks (who saw deity in idealized forms). Paul insists the crucified Christ reveals God's true glory.
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing conversion as 'new creation' rather than human decision affect your understanding of evangelism and discipleship?
- Where do you seek knowledge of God's glory apart from 'the face of Jesus Christ'—through experiences, ideas, or methods divorced from Christ?
- What does it mean practically that the same God who created light creates spiritual sight in your heart?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness (ho theos ho eipōn ek skotous phōs lampsai, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι)—Paul invokes Genesis 1:3 ('Let there be light') to describe conversion. The God who spoke creation into existence hath shined in our hearts (elampen en tais kardiais hēmōn, ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν). Salvation is new creation, not self-improvement—just as original light required divine fiat, so does spiritual illumination.
To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (pros phōtismon tēs gnōseōs tēs doxēs tou theou en prosōpō Christou, πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Χριστοῦ)—God's glory is revealed in the face (en prosōpō, ἐν προσώπῳ) of Christ, not in abstract theology. To know Christ is to know God's glory. This is personal, relational knowledge (gnōsis, γνῶσις), not mere information.