Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The verse is a doxology giving honour and glory for ever and ever to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. It belongs to Paul's charge to Timothy at Ephesus to command some to teach no other doctrine and not give heed to fables and endless genealogies that minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, since the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned from which some swerve into vain jangling while desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding what they say or affirm. That praise stands amid warnings against false teaching and a charge to hold faith and a good conscience. The praise follows the truth that Christ came to save sinners and that believers may receive life everlasting through him. Immortality belongs to God alone, and no one has seen or can see him.
The titles describe Jesus Christ as well as God: he is the eternal, invisible and unseen, immortal and undying King, the Son of the Eternal God, the King of Ages, and the verse's praise is applied to the Saviour. As the eternal, immortal, invisible King and Ruler above all earthly rulers, he is contrasted with rulers who die and glories that fade, for his glory lasts forever. He observes his subjects more keenly than any earthly ruler observes his own and is jealous for his law with a care beyond any earthly king's care for his subjects. In Gethsemane, when the destiny of a lost world hung on whether he would stand as man's surety or leave the human race to bear the consequences of its own guilt while he stood innocent before God, he longed for his disciples to understand that terrible temptation and to give him sympathy and prayer.
His character as the eternal God worthy of honour and glory is shown through faithfulness as Creator and abundant mercy, grace, compassion, love, tender care and concern for those who trust in him, with readiness to forgive and heal them. His authority forbids sin and requires practical obedience. In him dwells all the fulness of God, and in him every divinely implanted human longing is made full, so he is rightly called the Desire of All Ages. Believers counted among his royal family are honored as his sons and daughters, and awareness of their unworthiness makes that honor humbling rather than a cause for boasting. His people, made righteous in him, are contrasted with mortal people who sin and perish: they will be immortal forever. The redeemed will see the Saviour and will sing his glory in heaven. The verse leads into the charge to war a good warfare by holding faith and a good conscience, which some put away and concerning faith make shipwreck; faithful stewards who search deep into the word of God and heed this charge stand more and still more firmly in Bible truth instead of yielding it up for criticism, disaffection, and a spurious sanctification that accords with false theories.
The verse is a doxology giving honour and glory for ever and ever to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. It belongs to Paul's charge to Timothy at Ephesus to command some to teach no other doctrine and not give heed to fables and endless genealogies that minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, since the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned from which some swerve into vain jangling while desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding what they say or affirm. That praise stands amid warnings against false teaching and a charge to hold faith and a good conscience. The praise follows the truth that Christ came to save sinners and that believers may receive life everlasting through him. Immortality belongs to God alone, and no one has seen or can see him.
The titles describe Jesus Christ as well as God: he is the eternal, invisible and unseen, immortal and undying King, the Son of the Eternal God, the King of Ages, and the verse's praise is applied to the Saviour. As the eternal, immortal, invisible King and Ruler above all earthly rulers, he is contrasted with rulers who die and glories that fade, for his glory lasts forever. He observes his subjects more keenly than any earthly ruler observes his own and is jealous for his law with a care beyond any earthly king's care for his subjects. In Gethsemane, when the destiny of a lost world hung on whether he would stand as man's surety or leave the human race to bear the consequences of its own guilt while he stood innocent before God, he longed for his disciples to understand that terrible temptation and to give him sympathy and prayer.
His character as the eternal God worthy of honour and glory is shown through faithfulness as Creator and abundant mercy, grace, compassion, love, tender care and concern for those who trust in him, with readiness to forgive and heal them. His authority forbids sin and requires practical obedience. In him dwells all the fulness of God, and in him every divinely implanted human longing is made full, so he is rightly called the Desire of All Ages. Believers counted among his royal family are honored as his sons and daughters, and awareness of their unworthiness makes that honor humbling rather than a cause for boasting. His people, made righteous in him, are contrasted with mortal people who sin and perish: they will be immortal forever. The redeemed will see the Saviour and will sing his glory in heaven. The verse leads into the charge to war a good warfare by holding faith and a good conscience, which some put away and concerning faith make shipwreck; faithful stewards who search deep into the word of God and heed this charge stand more and still more firmly in Bible truth instead of yielding it up for criticism, disaffection, and a spurious sanctification that accords with false theories.