1 Timothy 6 16

1 Timothy 6:16 kjv

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

1 Timothy 6:16 nkjv

who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:16 niv

who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:16 esv

who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:16 nlt

He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 16 Meaning

This verse is a profound declaration about the unique and supreme nature of God. It states that God alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light. He is unseen by humans and eternally exists, deserving of honor and everlasting dominion.

1 Timothy 6 16 Context

In the preceding verses, Paul warns Timothy about the dangers of greed and the pursuit of wealth, highlighting how it can lead people astray from faith. He then contrasts the ephemeral nature of worldly riches with the true, eternal treasures found in godliness. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of the source of true, unending wealth and security: God Himself. It sets the stage for the exhortations in the following verse concerning faithful service and guarding the deposit of faith. The historical context involves early Christianity facing both internal struggles (like the allure of wealth) and external pressures, requiring steadfastness in the face of a decaying world.

1 Timothy 6 16 Word analysis

• Which (Greek: os) - "who" or "which," functioning as a relative pronoun referring to God.
• alone (Greek: monos) - emphasizes exclusivity, meaning "sole," "only." God alone possesses these attributes.
• has (Greek: echo) - "to hold," "to possess." Indicates possession or ownership of qualities.
• immortality (Greek: athanasia) - "deathlessness." The quality of not being subject to death, a state unique to God.
• dwelling (Greek: oikōn) - Present participle of oikeō, meaning "to inhabit," "to dwell." Signifies His constant, resident presence.
• in (Greek: eis) - A preposition indicating motion into or unto, here denoting the sphere or environment.
• light (Greek: phōs) - Refers to literal light, but more importantly, spiritual and moral purity, truth, and the very essence of God.
• unapproachable (Greek: aprochitōn) - From aprositos, meaning "inaccessible," "unapproachable," "unreachable." No one can come to or penetrate this light.
• whom (Greek: hon) - Accusative form of os, referring to God.
• no (Greek: meis) - Negative particle.
• man (Greek: anthropos) - "human being," "mankind."
• has (Greek: oraō) - Second person singular present indicative of horaō, "to see," "to perceive."
• seen (Greek: idōn) - Aorist participle of horaō. The past action of seeing.
• nor (Greek: oute) - A conjunctive particle meaning "and not," "neither." Used to join negative clauses.
• can (Greek: dynatai) - Third person singular present indicative of dynamai, "to be able," "can." Indicates ability or possibility.
• see (Greek: idē) - Second person singular aorist subjunctive of horaō. Indicates seeing with the potential for future or present action.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• The only God has immortality: This emphasizes God's unique and inherent eternality, distinguishing Him from any created being.
• dwelling in the light unapproachable: This phrase conveys God's absolute holiness and separation from sin and darkness, His glory being too dazzling for human eyes to bear.
• whom no man has seen nor can see: This reiterates His invisible nature, transcending human perception and comprehension in His essential being.

1 Timothy 6 16 Bonus section

The concept of God being unseen yet known is central to biblical theology. While His essence is beyond human sight (John 1:18), His power, nature, and love are manifest in creation (Romans 1:20) and, most profoundly, in Jesus Christ, who is the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). Moses desired to see God's glory and was shown God's goodness and backside, but not His face (Exodus 33:18-23). This highlights the truth that while we cannot see God in His unapproachable glory in this life, He graciously reveals Himself to us through various means, ultimately pointing to the encounter with Him in eternity where we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). The pursuit of godliness mentioned in the previous verse leads to a true apprehension of God, which is a treasure far exceeding any earthly riches.

1 Timothy 6 16 Commentary

This verse encapsulates the supreme sovereignty and untouchable holiness of God. His immortality is not acquired but is inherent to His very being, as He is the fountain of life. The "light unapproachable" speaks of His absolute purity and glory, which are both attractive and terrifying in their perfection, far beyond human sinful perception. He is truly unseen in His essence, meaning no human has ever perceived the totality of God. Yet, through His self-revelations, particularly in Jesus Christ, humanity can know God, not by direct visual sight of His divine essence, but by faith and understanding of His character as revealed in scripture and embodied in His Son.