We began our discussion of verses 12-17 this way:
Beginning with this verse 12 and going through verse
17 we enter a new passage or line of thought in the
letter. It is a passage of joy, thanks and
acknowledgement. Paul is speaking for himself but
every word he utters here are the words we should be
uttering on a continual
basis. These are the same joys and thanks we are to
be giving. These are the same acknowledgments we are
to declare. Doing so will bring all of us to the
Christ level in all things. Clearly this is what
Paul is encouraging and tasking Timothy with doing.
This is God using this
communication between Paul and Timothy to speak to
us.
In our study of verse 16 we quoted from the Barclay
commentary this way"
"Paul's sin was something which he refused to forget
-- for, every time he remembered the greatness of
his sin, he remembered the still greater greatness
of Jesus Christ." ~Barclay Commentary on 1 Timothy
1.
Now the thought is concluded with the words we find
in verse 17: "Now unto the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory
for ever and ever. Amen."
To the casual reader, this seems the proper ending
to the line of thought found in verse 12-16. Paul is
giving total praise, acknowledgement, honor and glory
to God. At the same time, these verse are the
embodiment of the gospel message and how the
Salvation Process works. As we are going to see from
all the materials below, the Word of God, the plan
of God and the Salvation Process itself leads us to
God and Jesus Christ. There is no Word without God;
there is no plan or process of salvation without
God. Therefore all these things take us to the
highest understanding and the highest
focus...Almighty God.
Isn't it an interesting situation. When I see
disharmony in the church and manifestations of
debate, accusation and murmuring, the one thing that
invariably seems to be missing is God. Reason? The
ones causing the disharmony are either neglecting or
have fallen away from the certain elements that take
them right to the throne of God. This is what we are
seeing in verse 17. Let us go to the commentaries.
Now unto the king eternal
- This ascription of praise is offered to God in
view of the mercy which he had shown to so great a
sinner. It is the outbreak of that grateful emotion
which swelled his bosom, and which would not be
denied expression, when Paul recalled his former
life and the mercy of God to his soul. It somewhat
interrupts indeed the train of his remarks, but the
heart was so full that it demanded utterance. It is
just an instance of the joy and gratitude which fill
the soul of a Christian when he is led along in a
train of reflections which conduct him to the
recollections of his former sin and danger, and to
the fact that he has obtained mercy and has now the
hope of [the Kingdom].
The apostle Paul not unfrequently, in accordance
with a mode of writing that was common among the
Hebrews, interposes an expression of praise in the
midst of his reasonings; compare Romans1:25; 2
Corinthians 11:31. God is called King here, as he is
often in the Scriptures, to denote that he rules
over the universe. A literal translation of the
passage would be, “To the King of ages, who is
immortal,” etc. The meaning of this expression -
“the King of ages” - βασιλει τὼν αἰώνων basilei
tōn aiōnōn - is, that he is a king who rules
throughout all ages. This does not mean that he
himself lives for ever, but that his dominion
extends over all ages or generations. The rule of
earthly monarchs does not extend into successive
ages; his does. Their reign is temporary; his is
enduring, and continues as one generation after
another passes on, and thus embraces them all.
Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more than the
Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 11:31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
~Barnes Notes
Immortal - This refers
to God himself, not to his reign. It means that he
does not die, and it is given to him to distinguish
him from other sovereigns. All other monarchs but
God expire - and are just as liable to die at any
moment as any other people.
~Barnes Notes
Invisible - 1 Timothy
6:16; see the notes on John 1:18.
1 Timothy 6:16
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.
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten
Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath
declared him. ~Barnes Notes
Now the commentary on John 1:18:
John 1:18
No man hath seen God
at any time - This declaration is
probably made to show the superiority of the
revelation of Jesus above that of any
previous dispensation. It is said,
therefore, that Jesus “had an intimate
knowledge of God,” which neither Moses nor
any of the ancient prophets had possessed.
God is invisible: no human eyes have seen
him; but Christ had a knowledge of God which
might be expressed to our apprehension by
saying that he saw him. He knew him
intimately and completely, and was therefore
fitted to make a fuller manifestation of
him. See John 5:37; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12;
Exodus 33:20; John 14:9. This passage is not
meant to deny that men had witnessed
“manifestations” of God, as when he appeared
to Moses and the prophets (compare Numbers
12:8; Isaiah 6:1-13); but it is meant that
no one has seen the essence of God, or has
“fully known God.” The prophets delivered
what they “heard” God speak; Jesus what he
knew of God as his equal, and as
understanding fully nature.
John 5:37
And the Father himself, which hath sent me,
hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither
heard his voice at any time, nor seen his
shape.
John 6:46
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save
he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love
one another, God dwelleth in us, and his
love is perfected in us.
Exodus 33:20
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for
there shall no man see me, and live.
John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long
time with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew
us the Father?
~Barnes Notes
------------------------------
Numbers 12:8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even
apparently, and not in dark speeches; and
the similitude of the LORD shall he behold:
wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak
against my servant Moses?
Isaiah 6:1-13
(whole
chapter)
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw
also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up, and his train filled the
temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had
six wings; with twain he covered his face,
and with twain he covered his feet, and with
twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the
whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the
voice of him that cried, and the house was
filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone;
because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the
LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,
having a live coal in his hand, which he had
taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said,
Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine
iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord,
saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people,
Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see
ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and
make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart,
and convert, and be healed.
11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he
answered, Until the cities be wasted without
inhabitant, and the houses without man, and
the land be utterly desolate,
12 And the LORD have removed men far away,
and there be a great forsaking in the midst
of the land.
13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it
shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil
tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in
them, when they cast their leaves: so the
holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
~ Barnes Notes |
The only wise God -
notes, Romans 16:27. The word “wise” is missing in
many mss., and in some editions of the New
Testament. It is omitted by Griesbach; marked as
doubtful by Tittman, and rejected in the valuable
edition of Hahn. Erasmus conjectures that it was
added against the Arians, who maintained that the
Father only was God, and that as he is here
mentioned as such, the word wise was interpolated to
denote merely that the attribute of perfect wisdom
belonged only to him. Wetstein regards the reading
as genuine, and suspects that in some of the early
manuscripts where it is missing it was omitted by
the transcriber, because it was regarded as
inelegant for two adjectives to be united in this
manner. It is not easy to determine as to the
genuineness of the reading. The sense is not
materially affected, whichever view be adopted. It
is true that Yahweh is the only God; it is also true
that he is the only wise God. The gods of the pagan
are “vanity and a lie,” and they are wholly
destitute of wisdom; see Psalm 115:3-8; Psalm
135:15-18; Isaiah 40:18-20; Isaiah 44:10-17.
~Barnes Notes
Psalm 115:3-8
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done
whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's
hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have
they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have
they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have
they, but they walk not: neither speak they through
their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is
every one that trusteth in them.
Psalm 135:15-18
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the
work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have
they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is
there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is
every one that trusteth in them.
Isaiah 40:18-20
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness
will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the
goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth
silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no
oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he
seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a
graven image, that shall not be moved.
Isaiah 44:10-17
10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image
that is profitable for nothing?
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the
workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered
together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear,
and they shall be ashamed together.
12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the
coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh
it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry,
and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and
is faint.
13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh
it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and
he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it
after the figure of a man, according to the beauty
of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress
and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself
among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash,
and the rain doth nourish it.
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will
take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it,
and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and
worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and
falleth down thereto.
16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part
thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is
satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha,
I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his
graven image: he falleth down unto it, and
worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith,
Deliver me; for thou art my god.
~Barnes Notes
Be honour - Let there
be all the respect and veneration shown to him which
is his due. ~Barnes Notes
And glory - Praise. Let
him be praised by all for ever.
~Barnes Notes
Amen - So be it; an
expression of strong affirmation; John 3:3. Here it
is used to denote the solemn assent of the heart to
the sentiment conveyed by the words used; see the
Matthew 6:13 note; 1 Corinthians 14:16 note.
~Barnes Notes
Let us look at the three verses and
commentary referenced in this commentary on the
word, "Amen."
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Now the commentary on, "Amen."
Amen - This is
a word of Hebrew origin, from a verb
signifying “to be firm, secure, to be true
and faithful.” It is a word expressing
consent or strong approbation [warm
approval or praise]; a word of
strong asseveration [solemn
declaration]. It means “verily,
certainly, so be it.” It is probable that
this word was used by the people in the
synagogue to signify their assent to the
prayer that was uttered by the minister,
and, to some extent, it was probably so used
in the Christian Church.
1 Corinthians 14:16
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit,
how shall he that occupieth the room of the
unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks,
seeing he understandeth not what thou
sayest?
And the commentary:
Say Amen - This
word means “truly, verily;” and is an
expression of affirmation John 3:5 or of
assent. Here it means assent. How can he
pronounce “the” Amen; how can he express his
assent; how can he join in the act of
devotion? This “might” have been, and
probably “was,” expressed aloud; and there
is no impropriety in it. It “may,” however,
be “mental” - a silent assent to what is
said, and a silent uniting in the act of
thanksgiving. In one way or the other, or in
both, the assent should always be expressed
by those who join in acts of public worship.
~Barnes Notes |
Now from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge...
Now unto the King eternal:
Psalm 10:16
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are
perished out of his land.
Malachi 1:14
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock
a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a
corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD
of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Revelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb
shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and
King of kings: and they that are with him are
called, and chosen, and faithful.
Invisible:
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten
Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath
declared him.
Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
The only wise God:
Romans 16:27
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for
ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus,
and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Judges 1:25
And when he shewed them the entrance into the city,
they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but
they let go the man and all his family.
be honor and glory fore ever
and ever:
Psalm 72:18-19
18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who
only doeth wondrous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and
let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen,
and Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be
unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Amen:
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen. |