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.
Yes God does blind eyes and hearts! So that some will not believe.
God also opens eyes and makes ears to hear, so that they do.
Why do you suppose Jesus often said
- Matthew 11:15
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
- Matthew 13:9
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Matthew 13:43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
- Matthew 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let himbe unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
- Mark 4:9
And He said unto them, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Mark 4:23
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Mark 7:16
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Luke 8:8
And other fell on good ground, and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold.” And when He had said these things, He cried, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!”
- Luke 14:35
It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Because God is the One who gives understanding and and knowledge about Himself and Christ by revelation, from His Spirit to our spirit about the things of God. That is true spiritual knowledge, versus the outsiders who are caught up in the lie of the world.
However, I believe Satan and God both blind men for differing reasons...
This truth is shown in both the old and new testament.
The below fully support God's purposes and will in His revelation of himself to individuals for those whom He has chosen.
Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, Unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins...
www.biblegateway.com
Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
2 and all the brethren who are with me, Unto the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,
5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him, that called you into the grace of Christ, for another gospel.
7 For this is not another; but there are some who trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ.
8 But should we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again: If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed!
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet sought to please men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11
But I certify to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man;
12
for I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my participation in times past in the Jews’ religion, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and wasted it.
14 I profited in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace,
16
to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen, I conferred not immediately with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles save James, the Lord’s brother.
The Covenant Renewed in Moab - These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb. Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did...
www.biblegateway.com
These
are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.
2 Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.
4
Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to [a]perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.
5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or
similar drink, that you may know that I
am the Lord your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them. 8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.