1 Timothy 6:13-16 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:16

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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:13

Verse 13 13I charge thee The great vehemence of solemn appeal, which Paul employs, is a proof how rare and hard a virtue it is, to persevere in the ministry, in a proper manner, till the end; for, although he exhorts others, in the person of Timothy, yet he addresses him also. Before God, who quickeneth all things What he affirms concerning Christ and concerning God, has an immediate relation to the present subject; for, when he ascribes this to God, that he quickeneth all things, he wishes to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:14

Verse 14 14That thou, keep the commandment. By the word commandment he means all that he hath hitherto said about the office of Timothy, the sum of which was, that he should show himself to be a faithful minister to Christ and to the Church. What is the use of extending this to the whole law? But perhaps it will be thought preferable to view it as denoting the office which he had received by divine authority; for we are appointed to be ministers of the Church on no other condition than this,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:15

Verse 15 15Which in his seasons he will show We are commonly hasty in our wishes, and not far from prescribing a day and hour to God, as if we should say, that he must not delay to perform anything that he has promised; and for that reason the Apostle takes an early opportunity of restraining excessive haste, by expecting the coming of Christ. For that is the meaning of the words, “which in his seasons he will show.” When men know that the proper time for anything is not fully come, they wait... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:16

Verse 16 16Who alone hath immortality Paul labors to demonstrate that there is no happiness, no dignity or excellence, no life, out of God. Accordingly, he now says that God alone is immortal, in order to inform us, that we and all the creatures do not, strictly speaking, live, but only borrow life from Him. Hence it follows that, when we look up to God as the fountain of immortal life, we should reckon this present life as of no value. But it is objected, that the human soul and angels have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:6-21

The contrast . There is no more effectual way of bringing out the peculiar beauties and excellences of any system or character than by contrasting with it the opposite system or character. Let us do this in regard to the two characters which are here brought before us, and the uses of money by them respectively. I. THE MONEY - LOVER . The love of money sits at the helm of his inner man. It is the spring of all his thoughts, desires, and actions. Observe what is his ruling... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:13

I charge thee for I give thee charge , A.V.; of for before (in italics), A.V.; the for a , A.V. I charge thee . It has been well observed that the apostle's language increases in solemnity as he approaches the end of the Epistle. This word παραγγέλλω is of frequent use in St. Paul's Epistles ( 1 Corinthians 7:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 : 2 Thessalonians 3:4 , 2 Thessalonians 3:6 , 2 Thessalonians 3:10 , 2 Thessalonians 3:12 ; and above, 1 Timothy 3:1-16 ; 1... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:14

The for this , A.V. without reproach for unrebukable , A.V. The commandment ( τὴν ἐντολὴν ). The phrase is peculiar, and must have some special meaning. Perhaps, as Bishop Wordsworth expounds it, "the commandment" is that law of faith and duty to which Timothy vowed obedience at his baptism, and is parallel to "the good confession." Some think that the command given in 1 Timothy 6:11 , 1 Timothy 6:12 is referred to; and this is the meaning of the A.V. "this." Without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:15

Its own for his , A.V. This correction seems to be manifestly right. The same phrase is rendered in 1 Timothy 2:6 and Titus 1:3 "in due time," in the A.V.; but in the R. Titus 2:6 is "its own times," and in Titus 1:3 "his own seasons. In Galatians 6:9 καίρῳ ἰδίῳ is also rendered "in due season," in both the A.V. and the R.V. Such a phrase as ἐν καιροῖς ἰδίοις must be taken everywhere in the same sense. It clearly means at the fitting or proper time, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:16

Light unapproachable for the light which no man can approach unto , A.V. ; eternal for everlasting , A.V. Unapproachable ( ἀπρόσιτον ); only here in the New Testament, but found occasionally in. the later classics, corresponding to the more common ἄβατος . Whom no man hath seen, nor can see and Exodus 33:20-23 ). The appearance of the "God of Israel" to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, related in Exodus 34:9-11 , was that of... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:6-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:13

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:15

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:16

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