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Selected Verse: 1 Timothy 6:16 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Ti 6:16 |
Strong Concordance |
Who [3588] only [3441] hath [2192] immortality [110], dwelling [3611] in the light [5457] which no man [3762] can approach unto [676]; whom [3739] no man [444] hath seen [1492], nor [3761] can [1410] see [1492]: to whom [3739] be honour [5092] and [2532] power [2904] everlasting [166]. Amen [281]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Who only hath immortality--in His own essence, not merely at the will of another, as all other immortal beings [JUSTIN MARTYR, QuÃ&brvbr;st. ad Orthod., 61]. As He hath immortality, so will He give it to us who believe; to be out of Him is death. It is mere heathen philosophy that attributes to the soul indestructibility in itself, which is to be attributed solely to God's gift. As He hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself (Joh 5:26). The term used in the New Testament for "immortal," which does not occur, is "incorruptible." "Immortality" is found in Co1 15:53-54.
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto--After life comes mention of light, as in Joh 1:4. That light is unapproachable to creatures, except in so far as they are admitted by Him, and as He goes forth to them [BENGEL]. It is unapproachable on account of its exceeding brightness [THEOPHYLACT]. If one cannot gaze steadfastly at the sun, which is but a small part of creation, by reason of its exceeding heat and power, how much less can mortal man gaze at the inexpressible glory of God [THEOPHYLACT, To Autolycus] (Psa 104:2; Jo1 1:5).
no man hath seen-- (Exo 23:20; Joh 1:18; Col 1:15; Heb 11:27; Jo1 4:12). Perhaps even in the perfect state no creature shall fully see God. Still the saints shall, in some sense, have the blessedness of seeing Him, which is denied to mere man (Mat 5:8; Co1 13:12; Jo1 3:2; Rev 22:4). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Who only hath immortality - The word here - ἀθανασία athanasia - properly means "exemption from death," and seems to mean that God, in his own nature, enjoys a perfect and certain exemption from death. Creatures have immortality only as they derive it from him, and of course are dependent on him for it. He has it by his very nature, and it is in his case underived, and he cannot be deprived of it. It is one of the essential attributes of his being, that he will always exist, and that death cannot reach him; compare the expression in Joh 5:26, "The Father hath life in himself," and the notes on that passage.
Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto - Greek, "Inhabiting inapproachable light." The light where he dwells is so brilliant and dazzling that mortal eyes could not endure it. This is a very common representation of the dwelling place of God. See examples quoted in Pricaeus, in loc. Heaven is constantly represented as a place of the most pure and brilliant light, needing not the light of the sun, or the moon, or the stars Rev 21:23-24; Rev 22:5, and God is represented as dwelling in that light, surrounded by amazing and inapproachable glory compare Rev 4:6; Eze 1:4; Heb 1:3.
Whom no man hath seen nor can see - notes on Joh 1:18.
To whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen - see the notes on Rom 11:36. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
whom no man
(See Scofield) - (Joh 1:18).
|
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Who only hath immortality (ὁ μόνος ἔχων ἀθανασίαν)
Comp. ἀφθάρτῳ incorruptible, Ti1 1:17. It has been suggested that there is here a possible allusion to the practice of deifying the woman emperors, with an implied protest against paying them divine honors. In the Asian provinces generally, this imperial cultus was organised as the highest and most authoritative religion. Domitian (81-96 a.d.) assumed the titles of "Lord" and "God," and insisted on being addressed as Dominus et Deus noster in all communications to himself. Trajan (98-117 a.d.) forbade his subjects to address him as "Lord" and "God," but Pliny (112 a.d.) required the citizens of Bithynia to pay divine honors to Trajan's statue. Hadrian (117-138 a.d.) allowed the worship of his statues.
In light
Comp. Psa 103:2; Jo1 1:5, Jo1 1:7; Jam 1:17.
Which no man can approach unto (ἀπρόσιτον)
More simply, unapproachable. N.T.o. olxx. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Who only hath underived, independent immortality. Dwelling in light unapproachable - To the highest angel. Whom no man hath seen, or can see - With bodily eyes. Yet "we shall see him as he is." |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Who only hath immortality - All beings that are not eternal must be mutable; but there can be only one eternal Being, that is God; and he only can have immortality.
Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto - All this is said by the apostle in three words φως οικων απροσιτον, inhabiting unapproachable light. Such is the excessive glory of God, that neither angel nor man can approach it. It is indeed equally unapproachable to all created beings.
Whom no man hath seen, nor can see - Moses himself could only see the symbol of the Divine presence; but the face of God no man could ever see. Because he is infinite and eternal, therefore he is incomprehensible; and if incomprehensible to the mind, consequently invisible to the eye.
To whom - As the author of being, and the dispenser of all good, be ascribed honor and power - the sole authority of all-pervading, all-superintending, all-preserving, and everlasting might.
The words of St. Paul are inimitably sublime. It is a doubt whether human language can be carried much higher, even under the influence of inspiration, in a description of the supreme Being. It is well known that St. Paul had read the Greek poets. He quotes Aratus, Epimenides, and Menander; this is allowed on all hands. But does he not quote, or refer to, Aeschylus and Sophocles too? Scarcely any person suspects this; and yet there is such a complete similarity between the following quotations from the above poets and the apostle's words, that we are almost persuaded he had them in his eye. But if so, he extends the thought infinitely higher, by language incomparably more exalted. I shall introduce and compare with the text the passages I refer to.
Ti1 6:15
Ὁ μακαριος και μονος Δυναστης, ὁ Βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων, και Κυριος των κυριευοντων.
The supreme Being is also styled the King of kings, and the Blessed, by Aeschylus in his tragedy of the Supplicants: -
Αναξ ανακτων, μακαρων
Μακαρτατε, και τελεων
Τελειοτατον κρατος.
Ver 520. Ed. Porson.
"O King of kings! most Blessed of the blessed! most Perfect of the perfect!"
Ti1 6:16
Ὁ μονος εχων αθανασιαν, φως οικων απροσιτον.
In the Antigone of Sophocles there is a sublime address to Jove, of which the following is an extract:
Αγηρως χρονῳ Δυναστας,
Κατεχεις Ολυμπου
Μαρμαροεσσαν αιγλαν.
Ver. 608. Edit. Brunk.
"But thou, an ever-during Potentate, dost inhabit the refulgent splendor of Olympus!"
This passage is grand and noble; but how insignificant does it appear when contrasted with the superior sublimity of the inspired writer! The deity of Sophocles dwells in the dazzling splendor of heaven; but the God of Paul inhabits light so dazzling and so resplendent that it is perfectly unapproachable!
Synesius, in his third hymn, has a fine idea on the mode of God's existence, which very probably he borrowed from St. Paul: -
Κεκαλυμμενε νου
Ιδιαις αυγαις.
"O intellectual Being! veiled in thine own effulgence!"
And a few lines after, he says, -
Συ το κρυπτομενον
Ιδιαις αυγαις.
"Thou art He who art concealed by thy splendors."
All these are excellent, but they are stars of the twelfth magnitude before the apostolic Sun.
See a quotation from Euripides, Ti2 4:8. |
4 And [2532] they shall see [3700] his [846] face [4383]; and [2532] his [846] name [3686] shall be in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359].
2 Beloved [27], now [3568] are we [2070] the sons [5043] of God [2316], and [2532] it doth [5319] not yet [3768] appear [5319] what [5101] we shall be [2071]: but [1161] we know [1492] that [3754], when [1437] he shall appear [5319], we shall be [2071] like [3664] him [846]; for [3754] we shall see [3700] him [846] as [2531] he is [2076].
12 For [1063] now [737] we see [991] through [1223] a glass [2072], darkly [1722] [135]; but [1161] then [5119] face [4383] to [4314] face [4383]: now [737] I know [1097] in [1537] part [3313]; but [1161] then [5119] shall I know [1921] even as [2531] also [2532] I am known [1921].
8 Blessed [3107] are the pure [2513] in heart [2588]: for [3754] they [846] shall see [3700] God [2316].
12 No man [3762] hath seen [2300] God [2316] at any time [4455]. If [1437] we love [25] one another [240], God [2316] dwelleth [3306] in [1722] us [2254], and [2532] his [846] love [26] is [2076] perfected [5048] in [1722] us [2254].
27 By faith [4102] he forsook [2641] Egypt [125], not [3361] fearing [5399] the wrath [2372] of the king [935]: for [1063] he endured [2594], as [5613] seeing [3708] him who is invisible [517].
15 Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:
18 No man [3762] hath seen [3708] God [2316] at any time [4455]; the only begotten [3439] Son [5207], which [3588] is [5607] in [1519] the bosom [2859] of the Father [3962], he [1565] hath declared [1834] him.
20 Behold, I send [07971] an Angel [04397] before [06440] thee, to keep [08104] thee in the way [01870], and to bring [0935] thee into the place [04725] which I have prepared [03559].
5 This [3778] then [2532] is [2076] the message [1860] which [3739] we have heard [191] of [575] him [846], and [2532] declare [312] unto you [5213], that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] light [5457], and [2532] in [1722] him [846] is [2076] no [3756] darkness [4653] at all [3762].
2 Who coverest [05844] thyself with light [0216] as with a garment [08008]: who stretchest out [05186] the heavens [08064] like a curtain [03407]:
4 In [1722] him [846] was [2258] life [2222]; and [2532] the life [2222] was [2258] the light [5457] of men [444].
53 For [1063] this [5124] corruptible [5349] must [1163] put on [1746] incorruption [861], and [2532] this [5124] mortal [2349] must put on [1746] immortality [110].
54 So [1161] when [3752] this [5124] corruptible [5349] shall have put on [1746] incorruption [861], and [2532] this [5124] mortal [2349] shall have put on [1746] immortality [110], then [5119] shall be brought to pass [1096] the saying [3056] that is written [1125], Death [2288] is swallowed up [2666] in [1519] victory [3534].
26 For [1063] as [5618] the Father [3962] hath [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438]; so [2532] [3779] hath he given [1325] to the Son [5207] to have [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438];
36 For [3754] of [1537] him [846], and [2532] through [1223] him [846], and [2532] to [1519] him [846], are all things [3956]: to whom [846] be glory [1391] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].
18 No man [3762] hath seen [3708] God [2316] at any time [4455]; the only begotten [3439] Son [5207], which [3588] is [5607] in [1519] the bosom [2859] of the Father [3962], he [1565] hath declared [1834] him.
3 Who [3739] being [5607] the brightness [541] of his glory [1391], and [2532] the express image [5481] of his [846] person [5287], and [5037] upholding [5342] all things [3956] by the word [4487] of his [846] power [1411], when he had [4160] [2512] by [1223] himself [1438] purged [4160] [2512] our [2257] sins [266], sat down [2523] on [1722] the right hand [1188] of the Majesty [3172] on [1722] high [5308];
4 And I looked [07200], and, behold, a whirlwind [07307] [05591] came [0935] out of the north [06828], a great [01419] cloud [06051], and a fire [0784] infolding [03947] itself, and a brightness [05051] was about [05439] it, and out of the midst [08432] thereof as the colour [05869] of amber [02830], out of the midst [08432] of the fire [0784].
6 And [2532] before [1799] the throne [2362] there was a sea [2281] of glass [5193] like [3664] unto crystal [2930]: and [2532] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the throne [2362], and [2532] round about [2945] the throne [2362], were four [5064] beasts [2226] full [1073] of eyes [3788] before [1715] and [2532] behind [3693].
5 And [2532] there shall be [2071] no [3756] night [3571] there [1563]; and [2532] they need [5532] no [3756] candle [3088] [2192], neither [2532] light [5457] of the sun [2246]; for [3754] the Lord [2962] God [2316] giveth [5461] them [846] light [5461]: and [2532] they shall reign [936] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165].
23 And [2532] the city [4172] had [2192] no [3756] need [5532] of the sun [2246], neither [3761] of the moon [4582], to [2443] shine [5316] in [1722] it [846]: for [1063] the glory [1391] of God [2316] did lighten [5461] it [846], and [2532] the Lamb [721] is the light [3088] thereof [846].
24 And [2532] the nations [1484] of them which are saved [4982] shall walk [4043] in [1722] the light [5457] of it [846]: and [2532] the kings [935] of the earth [1093] do bring [5342] their [846] glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092] into [1519] it [846].
26 For [1063] as [5618] the Father [3962] hath [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438]; so [2532] [3779] hath he given [1325] to the Son [5207] to have [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438];
18 No man [3762] hath seen [3708] God [2316] at any time [4455]; the only begotten [3439] Son [5207], which [3588] is [5607] in [1519] the bosom [2859] of the Father [3962], he [1565] hath declared [1834] him.
17 Every [3956] good [18] gift [1394] and [2532] every [3956] perfect [5046] gift [1434] is [2076] from above [509], and cometh down [2597] from [575] the Father [3962] of lights [5457], with [3844] whom [3739] is [1762] no [3756] variableness [3883], neither [2228] shadow [644] of turning [5157].
7 But [1161] if [1437] we walk [4043] in [1722] the light [5457], as [5613] he [846] is [2076] in [1722] the light [5457], we have [2192] fellowship [2842] one with another [3326] [240], and [2532] the blood [129] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] his [846] Son [5207] cleanseth [2511] us [2248] from [575] all [3956] sin [266].
5 This [3778] then [2532] is [2076] the message [1860] which [3739] we have heard [191] of [575] him [846], and [2532] declare [312] unto you [5213], that [3754] God [2316] is [2076] light [5457], and [2532] in [1722] him [846] is [2076] no [3756] darkness [4653] at all [3762].
2 Bless [01288] the LORD [03068], O my soul [05315], and forget [07911] not all his benefits [01576]:
17 Now [1161] unto the King [935] eternal [165], immortal [862], invisible [517], the only [3441] wise [4680] God [2316], be honour [5092] and [2532] glory [1391] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165]. Amen [281].
8 Henceforth [3063] there is laid up [606] for me [3427] a crown [4735] of righteousness [1343], which [3739] the Lord [2962], the righteous [1342] judge [2923], shall give [591] me [3427] at [1722] that [1565] day [2250]: and [1161] not [3756] to me [1698] only [3440], but [235] unto all them [3956] also [2532] that love [25] his [846] appearing [2015].
16 Who [3588] only [3441] hath [2192] immortality [110], dwelling [3611] in the light [5457] which no man [3762] can approach unto [676]; whom [3739] no man [444] hath seen [1492], nor [3761] can [1410] see [1492]: to whom [3739] be honour [5092] and [2532] power [2904] everlasting [166]. Amen [281].
15 Which [3739] in his [2398] times [2540] he shall shew [1166], who [3588] is the blessed [3107] and [2532] only [3441] Potentate [1413], the King [935] of kings [936], and [2532] Lord [2962] of lords [2961];