1 Timothy 6:15

‘Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,’

Once again, as in 1 Timothy 1:18, we are faced with the question as to whether this is spoken of God or of the Lord. It appears that Paul is deliberately merging the two ideas. Where the Lord is, God is not far away. ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). And certainly these titles are applied to Jesus Christ in Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16. Compare also Revelation 1:5. For their application to God see Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalms 136:3; Daniel 4:34 LXX). Thus here ‘our Lord, Jesus Christ’ is merging into the Godhead, having received again the glory that had been His before the world was (John 17:5).

And it is this glorious vision that Timothy must keep in mind as he goes forward with his sword drawn in his hand (1 Timothy 6:12). It is no coincidence that both charge and warfare are linked with the eternal King both at the beginning and end of the letter (compare 1 Timothy 1:17-19) and here in reverse order. The letter to Timothy contains the charge of the eternal King.

‘Potentate.’ The mighty One of great authority. Compare its use in Luke 1:52; Acts 8:27.