Immortality, Light and Invisibility 1 Timothy 6:16

Paul the apostle gave instructions to Timothy his “son in the faith” concerning the church in Ephesus where he was pastor. Among them was for Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” and “lay hold on eternal life”. Timothy, according to Paul, was to profess a “a good profession before many witnesses” as Jesus gave example before “Pontius Pilate”, and was charged to “witness a good confession” “without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” who “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” In chapter six and verse sixteen of his letter to Timothy, Paul added more qualities of Jesus as he wrote of his “immortality, light and invisibility” where we read:

Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

The verse begins, “Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;” Paul continued his description of Jesus with, “Who only” or “who solely, alone, destitute of help and without a companion” “has immortality” which means “deathlessness, undying, everlasting and endless life” “dwelling” or “living or abiding” “in the light” or “in the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge together with the spiritual purity associated with it with the power of understanding especially concerning moral and spiritual truth” “which no man” which refers to “no one and nobody” “can approach unto” or “access”. Only Jesus, “the King of kings, and Lord of lords” possesses “immortality” without an outside source from which to obtain it, and He abides in brilliance of light which contains such purity and truth that nobody can access it or gain entry before it.

The verse goes on to say, “whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” Paul continued his words with, “whom no man” which refers to “a human being whether male or female” “has seen” or “perceived, experienced or known” “nor can see” which means “has the ability to perceive, experience or know”. Paul added this praise, “to whom” which points to Jesus “be honor” or “value for which a price is fixed, deference and reverence” “and power” which means “strength, might and dominion” “everlasting” or “without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be and never to cease” “Amen” which literally means “firm” and refers to being “faithful” with the idea “so it is, so be it and may it be fulfilled”.

As we ponder Paul's words, we may feel as in “awe” of Jesus as Paul was when he wrote these things. Jesus possesses the power of “immortality” without having received it from anyone, and He is able to extend it to whomever He wills. He dwells in such purity of light, that He is invisible with a brilliance cannot be approached by anyone, and yet He extends an invitation for everyone who will to “come unto” Him. If we think about these ideas long enough, we too may burst out in praise as Paul did when he declared Jesus to be worthy of “honor and power everlasting”. May the Lord God Almighty bring the fullness of these truths to us, and may we ever learn to value the one and true God whom we serve.

Next time Paul shares about the “rich” in this world, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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