Note 4 at 2 Cor. 4:3: The Greek word used here for "hid" is "kalupto" and means "to hinder the knowledge of a thing, to cover, veil, or hide it" (Thayer). It is used in Matthew 8:24 of the waves of the sea that covered (kulupto) the ship in the midst of the storm. It is used in Luke 8:16 of a candle being covered (kulupto) with a vessel. It is used in James 5:20 of a multitude of sins being hidden (kulupto) and in 1 Peter 4:8 of the love that covers (kulupto) a multitude of sins.

We can see from this text that it is Satan's work to hinder, hide, and cover the truthfulness of the gospel from the minds of mankind. As a result, the Greek participle for "lost" which Paul uses in this verse, is expressing Paul's concern that men are perishing. It was this concern that led Paul to continue to preach Jesus (v. 5) in spite of the hardships that he endured (vv. 8-10).

The reason the gospel is hidden to some is because they refuse to accept Jesus. Paul said in Colossians 2:3, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." There is no access to the wisdom of God without Jesus. When a person turns to Jesus in true, childlike faith, then the message of the gospel is no longer hidden from him.