Immortal. Inaccessible. Invisible. Invaluable. Inexhaustible.

“who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (1Tim 6:16).

Who’s the greatest? Sports fans continually debate the best team of all-time. The ’72 Dolphins or ’85 Bears. Who’s basketball’s G.O.A.T.? Who you got, Kareem or Michael? Marvel and DC fans fill the interweb with rants about the most powerful superheroes. 

According to the Apostle Paul there’s one Person so phenomenal, so staggering, so astonishing that there is zero doubt He’s the most breathtaking Being that’s ever existed in the universe. Check out His awesome qualities. Totally eternal and completely unkillable. Absolutely unapproachable. An appearance so dazzling you can never really see Him. Fame and reputation exceeded by no one. Unlimited and never-ending power. 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Paul is talking about God. Specifically God the Father. In a letter to his spiritual son Timothy, the apostle reminds him of Whose team he’s on. Our Heavenly Dad “who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (v16). 

Paul wants us to remember exactly Who’s got out back when the chips are down. 

Think of the Father this way. The First Person of the Trinity possesses such mind-bending qualities that we can best describe Him by what he’s not. Immortal. Inaccessible. Invisible. Invaluable. Inexhaustible.

As with anything in the Bible, context is critical for this passage. Flip back the pages of history to the first century. Specifically, around 62 to 64 A.D. The scene is a church in a large port city of Ephesus on the west coast of what we know as Turkey. Paul planted this church on one of his legendary Mediterranean tours. A few years later, Tim is in the process of putting out a blazing doctrinal dumpster fire. 

After the apostle left town to tell others about Jesus, false teachers distracted folks in the Ephesian church from following Christ with a toxic stew of religious urban legends, limitless family histories, conspiracy theories, outright lies, and downright demonic doctrine (1Tim 1:4; 4:1-2). Paul began straightening out the mess but had a divine assignment over in Macedonia and put young Pastor Tim in charge (1Tim 1:3). 

This entire letter contains the apostle’s instructions and encouragement to his protege in Ephesus. What a great reminder that what we read in the Bible aren’t a bunch of fairy tales or mythical stories invented to inspire. The book we call 1st Timothy is a real letter to a real person in a real place facing real problems. Here in this verse, Paul wants Pastor Tim to get his eyes off the earthly problem and up on Great Big God. (Hint, hint. We should do the same.)

First of all, God “alone” (v16) is the only One who possesses these qualities. He’s unique. One of a kind. He slams the door on any other pretenders or contenders in the book of Isaiah, “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God” (Is 45:5). All of the qualities that follow are unique to God and God only. Think of it this way. He holds the exclusive divine copyright and trademark on all of them.

First of all, only God “has immortality” (v16). The Greek word here is athanasia, which literally means the “undeath.” It describes something or someone who has endless existence, everlasting, or undying. God is the one who never dies. He is the only one who always exists. Back when Moses stumbled on a supernatural brush fire, God tells the Big Mo that His name is in fact “the Great I Am” (Gen 3:14). The One who always was and always will be. He’s the Undeath.

He’s totally immortal.

Not only can you not kill Him, you can’t get anywhere near Him. He “dwells in unapproachable light” (v16). The word in the original language here (Gr. aproristos) simply means inaccessible. You’ve heard folks say, “Don’t go there!” (usually accompanied by a wagging finger and shaking head). Well, when it comes to God, it’s “Can’t go there!” 

God’s light is so incredibly intense that we can never get anywhere near Him. An expensive pair of Oakleys or Ray-Bans won’t help. Welders goggles aren’t enough. Or in the words of Smashmouth, you might as well be walking on the sun! You simply can’t get near Him. 

He’s absolutely inaccessible.

God’s blinding light is just one reason why “no one has ever seen or can see” (v16) Him. Paul uses a word (Gr. horao) that means so much more than laying your eyes on our Heavenly Father. He’s talking about not just observing but perceiving, understanding, and experiencing the physical presence of God. You can literally translate this phrase “no one has the power to experience Him.” 

Jesus tells a Samaritan divorcee how His Dad is “spirit” (Jn 4:24). Flip back to Exodus for the time Moses asks God for just a peak at His glory (Ex 33:18-23). Can’t do that, says Almighty God. Wouldn’t end well for any mortal man. Without some sort of supernatural protection, God’s holy presence is 100% fatal. You’re not seeing or experiencing God. The Father is so blindingly brilliant that you’re never catching a glimpse of Him. 

He’s completely invisible.

Paul says that as we stand in jaw-dropping awe of our Heavenly Father’s immortality, inaccessibility, and invisibility, “to Him be honor and eternal dominion” (v16). “Honor,” or the Greek word time’, means worth or value given someone or something. It’s the idea of reverence, respect, fame, or great price. Remember when Jesus Himself got the Rodney Dangerfield treatment back in Nazareth? “A prophet has no honor (Gr. time’) in his own hometown” (Jn 4:44). 

God’s value is completely off the charts. Jesus gives a two powerful illustrations comparing knowing God with buried treasure in a field and the most expensive pearl on the planet. He is priceless. He is precious. There’s nothing that comes close to His worth. 

He’s positively invaluable.

Ultimately, God the Father also has “eternal dominion” over the entire universe (v16). There are no term limits in heave. He’s always and forever in charge. And He’s no weak or wimpy ruler. He has what Paul likes to call kratos or “dominion.” This is incredible force, power, strength, or might. God has complete control and absolute authority.

The crazy thing is that He uses His supernatural power for those who place their trust in His Son. A few years back, the apostle told his Ephesian friends about “the immeasurable greatness of His power (Gr. kratos) toward us who believe” (Eph 1:19). Our Heavenly Dad has unlimited capacity. He’s the ultimate source of renewable energy.

He’s utterly inexhaustible.

So we’ve just described God who never dies, we can’t go near, who can’t be seen, who’s richer than Bill Gates and makes a nuclear reactor look like a AA battery. That’s all pretty awesome but, on the surface, doesn’t seem to do much for you and me. That’s exactly where Christ comes in.

Jesus made the immortal mortal so that I could live. The Son of God willingly gave up His life and tasted death so I don’t have to (Is 53:4-6; 2Cor 5:21).

Jesus made the inaccessible accessible so that I could come near. Because He faced temptation but never sinned, Jesus allows me to approach God’s unapproachable throne (Heb 4:15-16).

Jesus made the invisible visible so that I could see God. The Rabbi/Carpenter is “the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15). When the disciples asked Christ to show them His Dad, He says one look at the Son is exactly the same as looking at the Father (Jn 14:7). 

Jesus paid the invaluable price for my sin that cost Him everything. He willingly emptied His wallet to cover the expense of my rebellion with His precious blood that’s more valuable than any precious metal (1Pet 1:18-19). 

Jesus gives me the inexhaustible power of His grace that will never run out. His overwhelming strength is tailor-made for my underwhelming weakness (2Cor 12:9-10). His grace never runs out. Never. Ever.

It’s only through the Son that we can have a relationship with the Father. A Heavenly Dad who is immortal, invisible, inaccessible, invaluable, and inexhaustible. Because of that we can know, love, and worship the Greatest Being in the entire universe.

A Human Torch of Worship

“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1Tim 1:17).

Sometimes it just hits you and you never saw it coming. You can’t contain yourself and you can’t stop. Something you didn’t expect happens on the field or the court and sends the crowd into craziness. An unexpected rally in the bottom of the ninth. A frenetic fourth quarter comeback. A half court heave at the buzzer. You and the rest of the fans jump from your seats in unrestrained enthusiasm! Sometimes all want to do is celebrate!

That’s exactly what’s happening here in Paul’s first letter to Timothy in chapter one. The apostle has very specific and important instructions for the pastor of the Ephesian megachurch. First and foremost, stuff a sock in the team of false teachers who are selling a snake oil gospel that’s really no Gospel at all (1Tim 1:3-7). Paul takes a moment to recall just how crazy good God has been to him despite his rap sheet as a killer and torturer of Jesus’ followers (1Tim 1:12-14). Despite being the first of the worst of sinners, our Savior came to his rescue (1Tim 1:15). God uses His incredibly Good News through Paul’s bad example to spread His message of eternal life (1Tim 1:16). 

Suddenly the apostle can’t hold back. He explodes in worship to the One who has done so much for him and through him. “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (v17). I have to say that I’m a little disappointed in our good friends translating the ESV in their lack of exclamation points here. In case you didn’t know, the original Greek text of the New Testament didn’t contain any chapter breaks, verse numbers, or punctuation. Given all of his excitement over what he’s just written, I just don’t see Paul quietly dropping a period here. Exclamation points!! Lots of them!!!!! ALL CAPS!!!!!! Is it too crazy to see him putting down his quill and running around the room in celebration at this point?!?!? I think not! Sometimes all you want to do is celebrate!

Theologians have a fancy schmancy word for these passages in the Bible. They call them doxologies. Ooo, looks like somebody has been using their Word-a-Day calendar! This is a $10 term that simply means “glory words.” You’ll find them all throughout the pages of Scripture like volcanos unexpectedly erupting in praise to God (1Chr 29:10-13; Is 6:3; Mt 6:13; Heb 13:21; 1Pet 5:11; 2Pet 3:18; Jude 25). It probably comes a no shock that a lot of them are song lyrics (Ex 15:18; Ps 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:40; 146:10; 150:1; Lk 2:14; Rev 4:8; 5:13; 7:12). Paul is particularly prone to these sudden explosions of God’s glory (Rom 16:25-27; Gal 1:5; Eph 3:20-21; Phil 4:20). In fact, he cuts loose again a little later in this letter (1Tim 6:16)! He’s a Human Torch of spontaneous worship combustion!

Near the end of this very same letter, Paul busts loose in unbridled worship of God one more time. “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion” (1Tim 6:15-16). Sometimes all the apostle can do is celebrate…not once, but twice!

After talking about God’s gift of eternal life to those who trust in Jesus in the previous verse (1Tim 1:16), it’s probably no surprise Paul immediately applauds “to the King of the ages” (v17). Make no mistake about who’s in charge. It’s not me. It’s not you. It’s not even Donald Trump. God is King. He’s in total control of the universe. Every bit of it. This has a couple of implications. One, relax. God’s got this. Two, He’s the Boss. The apostle wants us to now that God’s reign will never end. Don’t worry your pretty little head about divine term limits. 

The idea of God as King Eternal is all over the place, biblically speaking. The prophet Isaiah talked about a Baby who would come one day to rule forever. “For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Is 9:6-7). To put it in the words of Ricky Bobby, eight pound six ounce Baby Jesus is also King Jesus, King of the ages. 

But wait, there’s more! We see God as a nonstop ruling Machine all throughout the Bible (Ex 15:18; Ps 10:16; 29:10; Jer 10:18; Lam 5:19; Rev 11:15). And check this out. Two different pagan kings were in such awe of Yahweh that they even gave Him His props. Babylonian dictator Nebuchadnezzar may have been the baddest man on the planet at the time, but he was blown away by God’s eternal kingdom (Dan 4:3, 34). One of his successors was a dude named Darius. He might have ruled the world’s top superpower at the time, but he knew he was a short-timer compared to heaven’s eternal King (Dan 6:26). 

One reason that God is the perfect King eternal is because He’s also “immortal” (v17). Paul uses a Greek word here (Gr. aphthartos) that means imperishable, not subject to death or decay. The apostle writes how rebels against God’s kingdom “exchanged the glory of the immortal (Gr. aphthartos) God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” (Rom 1:23). Earthly athletic champs win “a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (Gr. aphthartos)” (1Cor 9:25). Our God is immortal, imperishable, and indestructible. 

Another interesting aspect of the term is how it describes something or someone unpolluted or incorruptible in an ethical sense. In other words, we can always trust in the goodness and purity of God’s rule. He’s not subject to bribes. He’s not on the take. He won’t be influenced by lobbyists or special interests. Kind of different from that bunch we’ve sent to Washington, don’t you think? He will He never die. He’ll never become corrupt. He’s immortal.

The cool thing is that God can’t wait to share His immortality with us. That happens when we trust in who Jesus is and what He has done for us! For instance when the heavenly horn section blows its final solo then “the dead will be raised imperishable (Gr. aphthartos), and we shall be changed” (1Cor 15:52). God also promises us “an inheritance that is imperishable (Gr. aphthartos), undefiled, and unfading” (1Pet 1:4). God brings us to eternal life when we are born again, “not of perishable seed but of imperishable (Gr. aphthartos), through the living and abiding Word of God” (1Pet 1:23). Can you start to see why Paul is peeked? I thought so!

Speaking of seeing, Paul makes the point that we can’t see God. He’s “invisible” (v17). You may have an image of God the Father as this wise old grandpa with a long white beard. Well, you would be wrong. Moses put in a request to see God but was denied (Ex 33:20). But when the Big Mo hit the road out of Egypt, he wasn’t afraid of pharaoh who he could see. He had a glorious vision of God, “seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). Job knew that catching a glimpse Yahweh wasn’t happening for him (Job 9:11; 23:8). 

The writers of the New Testament continue this theme. “No one has ever seen God; the only God” (Jn 1:16). Jesus tells a Samaritan woman that His Heavenly Dad is Spirit (Jn 4:24). The Apostle John makes the blanket statement that “no one has ever seen God as any time” (1Jn 4:12). Just because you can’t see God, doesn’t mean He’s not in control. You can’t SEE gravity but you’re not flying off the planet into space. You can’t SEE oxygen but you’re still breathing. You ARE breathing, aren’t you? (If not, stop reading right now tell somebody RIGHT NOW!) 

You can see how this whole invisibility deal could be a bit of a problem. But it should come as no shock that God has this all taken care of. That’s where the our Savior comes in as the Second Member of the Trinity. The Son of God make it clear that His Dad sent Him as His visible rep to a lost and dying world (Jn 5:37). Paul confirms that Jesus “is the image of the invisible (Gr. aoratos) God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible (Gr. aoratos)” (Col 1:15-16). As a matter of fact, the author of Hebrews tells us to never take our eyes off “Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2). So if you want to see God, take a look at His Son.

Don’t get the idea that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three different deities. God is “the only God” (v17). I admit it. The Trinity makes my head hurt. The best way I can figure out how to describe this mystery is One What and Three Whos. How does it work? I have no idea. What Paul wants us to know is that our God is the one and only God. The rest of the contenders are just pretenders. Moses didn’t want the Israelites to be confused. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Dt 6:4). Paul had the same message for Corinthian believers. “There is one God” (1Cor 8:6). And that’s a big reason why the apostle so giddy.

Just in case you had any doubt what to do with these glory words, the man from Tarsus tells Tim that there should “be honor and glory forever and ever” (v17). God is so good, so awesome, so wonderful, so gracious that the applause never stops. The worship never ends. The spotlight never fades. God is the ONLY who deserves this kind of adulation and attention. Not Kim and Kanye. Not The Donald. Not the biggest stars. Not the greatest athletes. God and God alone. A big part of being a follower of Jesus is to make God famous. Tell folks how amazing He is. Tell them how much He’s done for you. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Start making Him famous and don’t stop. He’s really that awesome. Because of that sometimes all you can do is celebrate.

That’s when we come to Paul’s big finish with a simple and emphatic word “Amen” (v17). If you’re like me, you probably were under the mistaken impression that this was just a way of saying “over and out” at the end of prayer. Not so much. It’s powerful word that’s the equivalent of a first century mic drop. It’s like shouting, “Truth!” In other words, truer words have never been spoken. The apostle can’t say it any better than that!

Doxologies like this one don’t just give God the glory, they are also very good for us. They get my eyes off myself as well as my issues and worries. When I set my mind on my VERY big God, suddenly my big hairy problems don’t seem so…well, big and hairy. So when you’re up against it, when you’re between a rock and a hard place, when life smacks you up the side of the head, make God famous. Try some of these glory words. You never know what will happen. You may even spontaneously combust like the Human Torch of worship. Because sometimes all you can do is celebrate. Flame on!