Who is "the god of this world"? God or satan?

[ewq1938]

I do not believe the verse is speaking about Satan being the God of this world. Satan is called the Prince of the world (not a God and not a King) but not the God of it. Certainly much of the world worships Satan in one form or another but in order to know whom is being spoken of we simply have to use the context:



2 Corinthians 4:4 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.

Some will say it's a little "g" on god so that means its not God. Not so. There are no capitals vs. small letters in the manuscripts. The small g is purely the translators opinion.


So who was it that "blinded the minds of them which believe not"?

It was God.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.


The HE here is God and this is very similar language. God blinded them so they could not convert and be healed! Isn't that what the other verse is saying?

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.


God does the blinding!

While Satan can be considered a false god of this world, he simply isn't the one being spoken of because it is God which blinds so people cannot convert to Christ and be healed.
There are no capitals in the manuscripts.

Gen_24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Isa_54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Revelation 11:4 these are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth.

Is this Satan because it is believed that saying "god of something" rather than just "god" means that it isn't the one true God? If Satan is the supposed "god of this world" then he must also be the "god of the earth" right?

Remember, there are no capitals in the manuscripts. god and God are spelled exactly the same way so we can't go by that. Naturally, context matters. Naturally, using other scriptures to help us understand scriptures matter. Forget tradition, forget what has been assumed for generations and look without assumption at all the evidence and decide who is doing the blinding in the world.

 

[tablet123]

Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Psa 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

God is the God of the earth for He created the earth and His will be done in the earth.

2Co 4:4 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.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, the lust of the flesh.

And that it was pleasant to the eyes, the lust of the eyes.

And a tree to be desired to make one wise, the pride of life.

Satan is the god of this world according to the world's worldly ways that is sin.

 

[GWH]

Yes, there is only one God, who is God of all creation.

Satan is described as the leader of the angels who rebelled against God (thereby indicating angels have MFW).

Those who choose to worship Satan as a god are idolatrous, and to worship themselves are I-dolaters.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

'Capital G' God blinds the hearts and minds of the world by authorizing the 'little g' god of this world, ie, satan, to deceive the world's inhabitants because they don't have the love of the truth in them.

'Capital G' God is not the god of the world; he is God of the earth and his creation. The world was and is created by man who is ruled by the 'little g' god.

 

[CalledByChrist]

You are looking at this the wrong way. Much of scripture is obscured by fear. Cast out fear, replace with love and faith, know the Truth.

Verse by verse breakdown;

2 Corinthians 4:1
We have this ministry because of God, through His compassion.

2 Corinthians 4:2
We have renounced deceit, dishonesty and all underhanded tactics. We spread the Truth in its pure untampered form, and we can stand in good conscience knowing this.

2 Corinthians 4:3
And even if somehow the Gospel was stopped, the message could not be spread any further in any way, we can know it would be unknown to those who are already perished.

2 Corinthians 4:4
Because in this theoretical case — of which it is because the Gospel cannot be stopped — it would be the case that the God of this age had blinded those who did not believe. So that they would not see the light of the Gospel and glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:5
How can this be? Well, because we do not share this news ourselves, but it is Christ through us, of whom we are servants to for His purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, did so by shining light in our hearts. Through which He saved us by giving us the light which is knowledge of the glory of God in the appearance of Jesus Christ.


###
So basically, God, His Word, His image, is pure goodness. Knowing this we must act in such a way too, not to lose heart and know that we are to spread the message of good news hoping to save who are currently lost. Remember that once we were in darkness but His Light and Love pulled us out of that place. We know He does not wish any to perish. But since He is sovereign, if somehow anyone was to perish, it was His holy decision for it to be so. We can rest assured knowing all we did was our best.

Your post basically ignores 2 Corinthians 4:3, which is what 4:4 is expanding on.

 

[Dino246]

I do not believe the verse is speaking about Satan being the God of this world. Satan is called the Prince of the world (not a God and not a King) but not the God of it. Certainly much of the world worships Satan in one form or another but in order to know whom is being spoken of we simply have to use the context:



2 Corinthians 4:4 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.

Some will say it's a little "g" on god so that means its not God. Not so. There are no capitals vs. small letters in the manuscripts. The small g is purely the translators opinion.


So who was it that "blinded the minds of them which believe not"?

It was God.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.


The HE here is God and this is very similar language. God blinded them so they could not convert and be healed! Isn't that what the other verse is saying?

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.


God does the blinding!

While Satan can be considered a false god of this world, he simply isn't the one being spoken of because it is God which blinds so people cannot convert to Christ and be healed.
There are no capitals in the manuscripts.

Gen_24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Isa_54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Revelation 11:4 these are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth.

Is this Satan because it is believed that saying "god of something" rather than just "god" means that it isn't the one true God? If Satan is the supposed "god of this world" then he must also be the "god of the earth" right?

Remember, there are no capitals in the manuscripts. god and God are spelled exactly the same way so we can't go by that. Naturally, context matters. Naturally, using other scriptures to help us understand scriptures matter. Forget tradition, forget what has been assumed for generations and look without assumption at all the evidence and decide who is doing the blinding in the world.

Thanks for sharing this. I’m going to have to think through it.

 

[Gideon300]

I do not believe the verse is speaking about Satan being the God of this world. Satan is called the Prince of the world (not a God and not a King) but not the God of it. Certainly much of the world worships Satan in one form or another but in order to know whom is being spoken of we simply have to use the context:



2 Corinthians 4:4 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.

Some will say it's a little "g" on god so that means its not God. Not so. There are no capitals vs. small letters in the manuscripts. The small g is purely the translators opinion.


So who was it that "blinded the minds of them which believe not"?

It was God.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.


The HE here is God and this is very similar language. God blinded them so they could not convert and be healed! Isn't that what the other verse is saying?

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.


God does the blinding!

While Satan can be considered a false god of this world, he simply isn't the one being spoken of because it is God which blinds so people cannot convert to Christ and be healed.
There are no capitals in the manuscripts.

Gen_24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Isa_54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Revelation 11:4 these are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth.

Is this Satan because it is believed that saying "god of something" rather than just "god" means that it isn't the one true God? If Satan is the supposed "god of this world" then he must also be the "god of the earth" right?

Remember, there are no capitals in the manuscripts. god and God are spelled exactly the same way so we can't go by that. Naturally, context matters. Naturally, using other scriptures to help us understand scriptures matter. Forget tradition, forget what has been assumed for generations and look without assumption at all the evidence and decide who is doing the blinding in the world.

God made man the ruler of the world. Adam and Eve had authority over all of of God's creation. Adam disobeyed God and so put himself under Satan's control (1 John 5:19). The world is not the earth. The world is the system that is in competition with God's kingdom. Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33).

God is the one who wants to open the eyes of the blind. God is the one who is willing that none should perish. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save.

So no, the world is not the earth and God is the One who wants to open blind eyes. Satan is the one who blinds those who are perishing.

 

[Karlon]

when people say, "satan is the god of the world", they mean the subject of worldliness: money, sex, power, status, materialism, excess of anything, etc. Christians know that God is the 1 & only God of our world & complete universe. i've heard people use the term, "prince of peace'" meaning God or the devil. i do not give credit in any way, shape or form to the devil.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

For even if indeed there are ones being called gods (θεός), whether in heaven, whether upon the earth (as there are many gods (θεός), and many lords), 1 Corinthians 8:5

G2316 θεός theos (the-os') n.
1. (properly, in Greek) a god or deity. a supernatural, powerful entity (real or imagined).
2. (by Hebraism, especially with G3588) God, the Supreme Being, the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Yahweh by name.
3. (figuratively) a supreme magistrate (in the land).

 

[Mem]

God blinded Israel for His purpose to graft in the rest of the world, there is no interest nor purpose in God blinding the world so that (all, both jew and gentile) those in it cannot be saved. That is, on the other hand of primary interest of the ruler of the air.

Eph 2:
1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.…

 

[Mem]

If Israel would have recognized Jesus, they would have fought for Him, and there's scripture that says as much.

And now that His resurrection has revealed His glory, the strategy that Satan missed the opportunity to exploit which was keeping Jesus from going to the cross (1Cor 2:8), leaves his only option to resort to blinding them of seeing that glory.

 

[ewq1938]

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Luke didn't use the term blinding because it's not about blinding but THEFT. The parable is concerning the word of God being stolen from people. But scripture speaks of God blinding:

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

God did this, not satan. Once blinded, satan can take "the word out of their hearts" but they were blinded by God.

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.

Who made it so they could not see? Who blinded them? God.

Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Isaiah 6:11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
Isaiah 6:12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

And the OT original. God does the blinding.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

God blinded them, not satan.

2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

We have numerous passages that everyone agrees is God blinding people from accepting the truth of Christ. Then we have one single verse where a translator decided to use a lower case g on "god" and the verse is still about someone who is a "god" blinding people from accepting Christ.

There is no reason why both God and Satan would be doing the same blinding to the same people for the same reason. They aren't a team and they don't do the same work for the same goals.

It's either God doing it and not satan, or satan doing it and not God.

 

[ewq1938]

2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But 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.
2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2Co 4:2 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.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 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.


Context never changed. 3:15 is about God doing the blinding and 8 verses later, it is still God doing the blinding.

 

[ewq1938]

God is the one who wants to open the eyes of the blind.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

 

[Gideon300]

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

That was referring to rebellious Israel. Jesus also said that He had overcome the world. John said that our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. You mean that Jesus and believers overcome God?

The Greek word for world is "kosmos"; English Cosmos. For earth, it is "geo". We get our words geology, geography and geosphere from that root. So Satan is god of the cosmos; God has made Jesus Lord over heaven and earth. Satan never had direct control over the earth. It has always been the Lord's along with everything in it. There was no "kosmos" until Adam rebelled against God. Satan took advantage to form the world system.

Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. How could he? Because they were his to give.

 

[ewq1938]

The Greek word for world is "kosmos"; English Cosmos. For earth, it is "geo". We get our words geology, geography and geosphere from that root. So Satan is god of the cosmos

Except you haven't studied the text in question because it does not use kosmos.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world/AION 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.

satan is not the god of anything. Only God is the God of the Aion.

 

[Gideon300]

Except you haven't studied the text in question because it does not use kosmos.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world/AION 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.

satan is not the god of anything. Only God is the God of the Aion.

"God of this age" does not fit God's character. God is eternal, not only of this age but from eternity past to eternity future. There are at least 3 ages, depending on interpretation.

Just as an aside, your insistence on KJV does you a disservice. Modern translations put "age" instead of "world". I don't know why people persist with such an outdated and inaccurate translation.

Satan boasted that he would make himself like the most High. (Isaiah 14). Psalm 82, quoted by Jesus, states that people are gods. So God recognises gods other than Himself, so to speak.

 

[ewq1938]

"God of this age" does not fit God's character. God is eternal, not only of this age but from eternity past to eternity future. There are at least 3 ages, depending on interpretation.

Well He is still the God of this age, and AION can mean eternity.

Just as an aside, your insistence on KJV does you a disservice. Modern translations put "age" instead of "world". I don't know why people persist with such an outdated and inaccurate translation.

You are wrong that I insist on the KJV.

Satan boasted that he would make himself like the most High. (Isaiah 14). Psalm 82, quoted by Jesus, states that people are gods. So God recognises gods other than Himself, so to speak.

Wrong. Context shows it is God doing the blinding as well as other passages.

 

[TMS]

Adam was the son of God and was given the control of the world.

He handed it over to Satan when he fell

Satan became the king of this world.

The kingdoms of this world were his to give to Christ.

Mat 4:8-9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

When Jesus died and went back to heaven he put on the priestly garments to be our high priest to be our advocate.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

But when Jesus come again He will be coming as King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's.

The Earth will be His again.

 

[Clayman]

I do not believe the verse is speaking about Satan being the God of this world. Satan is called the Prince of the world (not a God and not a King) but not the God of it. Certainly much of the world worships Satan in one form or another but in order to know whom is being spoken of we simply have to use the context:



2 Corinthians 4:4 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.

Some will say it's a little "g" on god so that means its not God. Not so. There are no capitals vs. small letters in the manuscripts. The small g is purely the translators opinion.


So who was it that "blinded the minds of them which believe not"?

It was God.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.


The HE here is God and this is very similar language. God blinded them so they could not convert and be healed! Isn't that what the other verse is saying?

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.


God does the blinding!

While Satan can be considered a false god of this world, he simply isn't the one being spoken of because it is God which blinds so people cannot convert to Christ and be healed.
There are no capitals in the manuscripts.

Gen_24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Isa_54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Revelation 11:4 these are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the god of the earth.

Is this Satan because it is believed that saying "god of something" rather than just "god" means that it isn't the one true God? If Satan is the supposed "god of this world" then he must also be the "god of the earth" right?

Remember, there are no capitals in the manuscripts. god and God are spelled exactly the same way so we can't go by that. Naturally, context matters. Naturally, using other scriptures to help us understand scriptures matter. Forget tradition, forget what has been assumed for generations and look without assumption at all the evidence and decide who is doing the blinding in the world.

I wonder if its worth asking, How does God blind the minds of them that believe not?

To me its quite simple He sent the light into the world! And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.

I guess another way to present it, is that God sent his Word through His prophet to Pharoah to let His people go, Pharoah upon hearing Gods Word hardened his heart against it, in this sense God hardened Pharaohs heart.

If a man has a big shining torch light, and people want to oppose it and stand in front of it they will be blinded, to me we have to be willing to follow the light to be able to see.

So I think you may be right, but good luck trying to convince people that its not Satan blinding the minds of men, they seem to want to magnify him with more ability than what he really has, imagine if he could actually stop people being saved? Does not make any sense to me!