Who Is “the God of This Age”?

Dr. Poobalan's masterful work tackles a narrow, but theologically crucial, exegetical question with an uncommon breadth of learning. The study reflects a commitment to the notion that the exegete has not finished until the text has been situated within the mission and life of the church. This is biblical interpretation as it should be: exegetically careful, theologically rich, and deeply conversant with the communion of the saints. Steven M. Bryan, PhD Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois, USA In this thoroughly researched study, Ivor Poobalan contends humbly, yet convincingly, for an interpretation of ""the god of this age"" in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that virtually no one has considered since the fifteenth century. I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Poobalan for his exemplary and careful study that will inspire the next generation of biblical scholars here in Asia. Steven S. H. Chang, PhD Professor of New Testament, Torch Trinity Graduate University, South Korea Dr. Poobalan has written a significant study on an important passage in Paul's second letter to the Corinthian believers. He argues that ""the God of this age"" who, according to Paul, has ""blinded the minds of the unbelievers"" is not Satan, as is commonly assumed, but the God of Israel who hardens the minds of unbelievers, in particular Jews who resist the gospel, as argued by the early church fathers. This volume is highly recommended. Eckhard J. Schnabel, PhD Mary F. Rockefeller Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts, USA Dr. Poobalan boldly reopens the question of whom exactly Paul has in mind when he speaks of ""the god/God of this age"" blinding the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4). This is a rich and wide-ranging study and will not be ignored by any responsible commentator on 2 Corinthians henceforth. David A. deSilva, PhD Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio, USA It is a joy for a student of the Bible to find fresh light shed on what seemed to be an age-old consensus, opening up a new way to understand the text. In Who is ""the God of This Age""?, Ivor Poobalan challenges the widespread modern view that the phrase ""the God/god of this age"" in 2 Corinthians 4:4 refers to Satan. No future discussion of 2 Corinthians will be complete without engaging this work. I highly recommend it. Kazuhiko Yamazaki-Ransom, PhD Academic Dean, Covenant Seminary, Tokyo, Japan