1 Timothy 6:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

NIV: which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

NASB: which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

CSB: God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords,

NLT: For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

KJV: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

NKJV: which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

The "appearing" of Jesus which Paul mentioned in the previous verse is something Jesus will "display at the proper time." Paul's use of "proper time" occurs elsewhere in his writing (1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 1:3) and may also allude to Old Testament verses such as Ecclesiastes 8:5 and 10:17.

Paul then begins a second doxology—a short poetic praise of God. The first of these, in 1 Timothy 1:17, shows a similar pattern:

1 Timothy 1:17	1 Timothy 6:15–16
"To the King of the ages,	"the King of kings and Lord of lords,
immortal,	who alone has immortality,
invisible,	who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.
the only God, be honor and glory	To him be honor
forever and ever.	and eternal dominion.
Amen."	Amen."

Each doxology is also in a chiastic—meaning "X-shaped"—structure. A chiastic structure includes parallel ideas with the central idea in the middle. The ideas of the chiastic structure are arranged as ABCBA, and so forth.

In this verse, Jesus is called the "blessed and only Sovereign." The term sovereign is not frequently used in the New Testament, but was mentioned of God in Acts 4:24 and Revelation 6:10. This title shows Christ's equality with God the Father.

First Timothy 6:11–21 provides a contrast to the errors and temptations exhibited by false teachers. Paul delivers a strong, unmistakable mandate to Timothy: maintain your testimony, maintain your faith, fight for what is true and right. As a church leader, Timothy's primary weapons against false doctrine and sin are keeping himself on God's path and refusing to waver in his instruction of fellow church members. At the same time, Paul warns Timothy not to be distracted by the pseudo-intellectual debates in which some false teachers engage.

This chapter completes Paul's highly practical instructions to his friend and student, Timothy. The major focus of this passage is proper Christian conduct, and the avoidance of evil. Paul gives several character flaws common in those who teach false doctrine. He also provides a stark warning about the dangers of greed and materialism. Those who become obsessed with wealth open themselves to virtually any other sin one can imagine. Timothy is given a clear mandate to uphold his faith and testimony, along with Paul's blessings and encouragement.

The book of 1 Timothy is full of very practical advice, from Timothy's mentor, the apostle Paul. Chapter 6 rounds out the instructions given in the first five chapters. Building on the ideas laid down earlier in the letter, Paul reminds Timothy of the importance of godly living and avoiding the snares of evil and temptation. This chapter provides a strong encouragement for Timothy to apply the wisdom of this letter, both in his personal life and in the churches he is leading.

First Timothy is one of Paul's three ''Pastoral Epistles.'' Paul's other letters, such as Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, are meant for a broader audience. First Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are written to specific people whom Paul is advising on how to best lead their local churches. These three letters present a close look at the form and function of church leadership. First Timothy, like 2 Timothy and Titus, is less formal and systematic, and more personal. This gives great insight into the way pastors, deacons, and elders ought to prioritize their time and energy.