2 Corinthians 4:3 seems hard to reconcile with invinsible ignorance

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Melchior

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Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. **And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. ** In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
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2 Corinthians 4:1-4
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How does one reconcile this with the idea of invincible ignorance or that an “virtuous” muslim or Buddhist or other non Christian can be saved apart from believing the gospel of Christ?

Please not I am not looking for an explanation or apology of the idea of the possibility of salvation for unbelievers. I am only interested in how Catholics reconcile this verse.

I have often thought that God will get the gospel to those who will believe. I honestly have a lot of trouble with the idea that there is such a person who earnestly seeks God and still dies without ever hearing the Gospel. It seems rather faithless to think that God would not make a way for the gospel to reach them if indeed anyone truly seeks Him without first hearing. I do not include small children or those without the mental capacity to understand since they are in a different category.

Mel
 
There isn’t a veil over his gospel because of how he presents it. If some fail to perceive its light, that is because of unbelief. The veil lies over their eyes, a blindness induced by satan, and a sign that they are headed for destruction.

Peace,

Ryan 🙂
 
Melchior said:
I think I see where you are going, but could you elaborate on how you think the preceding verses effect this seeming difficulty? Thanks.

Mel
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My personal take on this is that the ‘people of the promise’ with the OT to assist them still fail to understand or accept the arguments of the Apostles the Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophesies; the promised Redeemer. The gentiles, without these advantages, have heard and accepted the ‘good news’ and the ‘blindness’ of the Jews is inexcuseable.

The New Catholic Commenary on Holy Scripture regarding 2 Cor 4:3 comments: “To some his gospel is hidden …] to those on the way of perdition - whom the ‘god of this world’ (cf. Jn 12:31), Satan, the usurper, maintains in the blindness of their thoughts, to which their own culpable infidelity has led them.” (emphasis mine).
 
Melchior said:
How does one reconcile this with the idea of invincible ignorance or that an “virtuous” muslim or Buddhist or other non Christian can be saved apart from believing the gospel of Christ?

Please not I am not looking for an explanation or apology of the idea of the possibility of salvation for unbelievers. I am only interested in how Catholics reconcile this verse.

I have often thought that God will get the gospel to those who will believe. I honestly have a lot of trouble with the idea that there is such a person who earnestly seeks God and still dies without ever hearing the Gospel. It seems rather faithless to think that God would not make a way for the gospel to reach them if indeed anyone truly seeks Him without first hearing. I do not include small children or those without the mental capacity to understand since they are in a different category.

Mel
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***Hi, Mel!

From my understanding, the Church has never condemned anyone to Hell… the Church preaches what the Bible preaches and accepts that though she is a vessel of Christ only God has the final say on Salvation.

We know that it is God’s Holy Spirit that searches the depths of our being and that the Word of God (Holy Scriptures) was revealed to us by the Holy Spirit… so this Omnipotent being that has created everything out of nothing can, at His own choosing, extend Salvation to even the most ignorant human being.

Our job is not to determine who gets Saved but to announce God’s will to the world: there’s but one Name by which all can be Saved: Jesus Christ!

God Bless!

Angel***
 
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