1 Timothy 6:15 - Exposition

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 corresponds to the πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου , "the fullness of time," in Galatians 4:4 . The two ideas are combined in Luke 1:20 ( πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν ) and Luke 21:24 (comp. Ephesians 1:10 ). Shall show ( δείξει ). δεικνύειν ἐπιφανείαν , "to show an appearing," is a somewhat unusual phrase, and is more classical than scriptural. The verb and the object are not of cognate sense (as "to display a display," or "to manifest a manifestation"), but the invisible God, God the Father, will, it is said, display the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The wonder displayed and manifested to the world is the appearing of Christ in his glory. The Author of that manifestation is God. The blessed ; ὁ μακάριος , is only here and in 1 Timothy 1:11 (where see note) applied to God in Scripture. The blessed and only Potentate. The phrase is a remarkable one. δυνάστης (Potentate), which is only found elsewhere in the New Testament in Luke 1:52 and Acts 8:27 , is applied to God here only. It is, however, so applied in 2Ma Acts 3:24 ; Acts 12:15 ; Acts 15:23 , where we have πάσης ἐξουσιας δυνάστης γόν μέγαν τοῦ κόσμου δυνάστην , and δυνάστα τῶν οὐρανῶν ; in all which places, as here, the phrase is used to signify, by way of contrast, the superiority of the power of God over all earthly power. In the first of the above-cited passages the language is singularly like that here used by St. Paul. For it is said that ὁ πάσης ἐξουσίας δυνάστης , "the Prince (or Potentate) of all power made a great apparition," or "appearing" ( ἐπιφονείαν μεγάλην ἐποίησεν ), for the overthrow of the blasphemer and persecutor Heliodorus. St. Paul must have had this in his mind, and compared the effect of "the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ," in overthrowing the Neros of the earth with the overthrow of Heliodorus. King of kings, and Lord of lords , etc. (compare the slightly different phrase in Roy. Acts 17:14 and Acts 19:16 , applied to the Son). So in Psalms 136:2 , Psalms 136:3 , God is spoken of as "God of gods, and Lord of lords."