which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Parallel Translations
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which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
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which aperynge (when the tyme ys come) he shall shewe that is blessed and myghty only kynge of kynges and lorde of lordes
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Which in due time hee shall shewe, that is blessed and Prince onely, the King of Kings and Lord of Lordes,
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (14)
Passages linked to 1 Timothy 6:15 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Revelation 19:16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
- Revelation 17:14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.”
- 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Psalms 47:2 For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.
- Jeremiah 10:10 But Yahweh is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath, the earth trembles. The nations aren’t able to withstand his indignation.
- 1 Timothy 1:11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
- Psalms 83:18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
- Jeremiah 46:18 “As I live,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come.
- Daniel 2:44-47 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”
- Daniel 4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
- Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
- Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now
- Matthew 6:13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
- 1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times,
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 15 Which in his seasons he will show We…
15 Which in his seasons he will show We are commonly hasty in our wishes, and not far from prescribing a day and hour to God, as if we should say, that he must not delay to perform anything that he has promised; and for that reason the Apostle takes an early opportunity of restraining excessive haste, by expecting the coming of Christ. For that is the meaning of the words, “which in his seasons he will show.” When men know that the proper time for anything is not fully come, they wait for it more patiently. How comes it that we are so patient in bearing with the order of nature, but because we are restrained by this consideration, that we shall act unreasonably, if we struggle against it with our desires? Thus we know, that the revelation of Christ has its appointed time, for which we must wait patiently.
The blessed and only Prince Those splendid titles are here employed in exalting the princely authority of God, in order that the brilliancy of the princes of this world may not dazzle our eyes. And such instruction was, at that time, especially necessary; for by how much all kingdoms were then great and powerful, by so much were the majesty and glory of God thrown into the shade. For all that governed the kingdoms of the world not only were deadly enemies of the kingdom of God, but proudly mocked at God, and trampled his sacred name under their feet; and the greater the haughtiness with which they despised true religion, the more happy did they imagine themselves to be. From such an aspect of things who would not have concluded that God was miserably vanquished and oppressed? We see to what a pitch of insolence Cicero rises against the Jews on account of their humbled condition, in his oration for Flaccus.
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When good men see that the wicked are puffed up with prosperity, they are sometimes cast down; and therefore Paul, for the purpose of withdrawing the eyes of the godly from that transitory splendor, ascribes to God alone “blessedness, principality, and kingly power.” When he calls God the only prince, he does not overthrow civil government, as if there ought to be no magistrates or kings in the world, but means that it is He alone who reigns from himself and from his own power. This is evident from what follows, which he adds by way of exposition, —
King of kings, and Lord of lords The sum of it is, that all the governments of the world are subject to his dominion, depend upon him, and stand or fall at his bidding, but that the authority of God is beyond all comparison, because all the rest are nothing as compared with his glory, and while they fade and quickly perish, his authority will endure for ever.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He heapeth many words together, to one purpose: whereby…
He heapeth many words together, to one purpose: whereby he voucheth the power of God, which if we stick fast unto, we shall not be moved out of our standings.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who…
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Ver. 15. Which in his times he shall show] Let no man therefore ask, Where is the promise of his coming? Though he be slow, yet he is sure; and his time is the best time: wait, Jas 5:7.
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The blessed and only potentate] A lively and lofty description of God, whom yet none can possibly describe. One being asked, what God was, answered, Si scirem, Deus essem.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Which in his times he shall show; on Which…
Which in his times he shall show; on Which Christ coming the second time, God in his time, his proper seasons, (so it is in the Greek), will show. Or: Which appearing of our Lord Jesus God in his time will show; for some Greek copies read the article in the feminine termination, to distinguish the order of the Trinity’s working; as the first coming of Christ is made to be from the Father’s sending, so is also the second coming.
Who is the blessed and only Potentate: God is said to be the only Potentate, because he only hath power in and from himself, by him kings reign; and he is called the blessed Potentate, because he is the fountain of all felicity and happiness.
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The King of kings, and Lord of lords; that is, the most mighty King and Lord, to whom all other princes are subjects, all other lords are vassals, Rev 17:14; 19:16. These terms seem here to be applied to the Father, though they agree also to the Son and the Spirit. They are applied to Christ, Rev 17:14; 19:16.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Which in his times he shall show,.... For though…
Which in his times he shall show,.... For though the time of Christ's appearing is unknown, yet the thing itself is certain; God will bring it about, and make it manifest in his own time, in the time that is fixed and appointed by him; and which is only known unto him, and which he keeps in his own power, and has reserved in his own breast:
who is the blessed; the Syriac version reads, "the blessed God"; who is blessed in himself, in his Son and Spirit, in the perfections of his nature; who is God all-sufficient, has enough in himself for himself, and for all his creatures; who is the fountain and the author of all blessedness, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, which any of them are, or shall be possessed of:
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and only Potentate; or Governor of the whole world, which can be said of none but himself: he is the Governor among the nations, and over all the nations of the earth; his kingdom rules over all other kingdoms; and he has his power and government from himself, whereas all other potentates have their power from him, as follows:
the King of kings, and Lord of lords; from whom they receive their sceptres, crowns, and kingdoms; by whom they reign, and are continued in their power; for he sets up kings, and removes kings at his pleasure, and to him they must be accountable for all their administrations another day; and at present they are under his influence, and at his control; he has their hearts, and their counsels, as well as kingdoms, in his hands, and under his overruling providence; and causes all to answer his wise and eternal purposes. These titles are used by the Jews, who style him, , "Lord of all lords, King over all kings" (s). The same name is given to Christ, Rev 19:16 which shows him to be equal with the Father.
(s) Zohar in Numb. fol. 100. 2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Which - Appearing. In his own times - The…
Which - Appearing. In his own times - The power, the knowledge, and the Revelation of which, remain in his eternal mind.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 15. Which in his times he shall show]…
Verse 15. Which in his times he shall show] Jesus will appear in the most proper time; the time which the infinite God in his wisdom has appointed for the second coming of his Son.
The blessed and only Potentate] δυναστης, Potentate, is applied to secular governors; but none of these can be styled ὁ μακαριος και μονος, the happy and only One; ὁ Βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων, the King of kings, or the King over all kings; and Κυριος των κυριευοντων, the Lord over all lords or rulers. These are titles which could not be given to any mortals. This is made more specific by the verse following.
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Ver. 15. Ὁ μακαριος και μονος Δυναστης, ὁ Βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων, και Κυριος των κυριευοντων.
The supreme Being is also styled the King of kings, and the Blessed, by AESCHYLUS in his tragedy of the Supplicants:-
Αναξ ανακτων, μακαρων
Μακαρτατε, και τελεων
Τελειοτατον κρατος.
Ver 520. Ed. Porson.
"O King of kings! most Blessed of the blessed! most Perfect of the perfect!"
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Which in his times he shall show - Which…
Which in his times he shall show - Which God will reveal at such times as he shall deem best. It is implied here that the time is unknown to people; see the notes on Act 1:7.
Who is the blessed and only Potentate - God, who is the ruler over all. The word used here - δυνάστης dunastēs - means one who is “mighty” Luk 1:22, then a prince or ruler; compare Act 8:27. It is applied here to God as the mighty ruler over the universe.
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The King of kings - Who claims dominion over all the kings of the earth. In Rev 7:14, the same appellation is applied to the Lord Jesus, ascribing to him universal dominion.
Lord of lords - The idea here is, that all the sovereigns of the earth are under his sway; that none of them can prevent the accomplishment of his purposes; and that he can direct the winding up of human affairs when he pleases.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain in his times--Greek, "His own [fitting] times" (Act 1:7).…
in his times--Greek, "His own [fitting] times" (Act 1:7). The plural implies successive stages in the manifestation of the kingdom of God, each having its own appropriate time, the regulating principle and knowledge of which rests with the Father (Ti1 2:6; Ti2 1:9; Tit 1:3; Heb 1:1).
he shall show--"display": an expression appropriate in reference to His "APPEARING," which is stronger than His "coming," and implies its visibility; "manifest": make visible (compare Act 3:20): "He" is the Father (Ti1 6:16).
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blessed--in Himself: so about to be the source of blessing to His people at Christ appearing, whence flows their "blessed hope" (Ti1 1:11; Tit 2:13).
only-- (Joh 17:3; Rom 16:27; Rev 15:4).
King of kings--elsewhere applied also to Jesus (Rev 1:5; Rev 17:14; Rev 19:16).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 15. In his own times—An obvious allusion to Act_1:7,…
15. In his own times—An obvious allusion to Act_1:7, (where see notes,) and clearly indicating that St. Paul fully recognised that the judgment advent is to be at an unknown time.
Shall show—Shall exhibit the sublime spectacle of Christ’s epiphany. And now we are told, in St. Paul’s most vivid style, who is this He that shall show the final forthcoming of Christ.
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Only Potentate—The sole dynast; for what earthly sovereign can be named as real potentate in the comparison?
King of kings—A sublime title, given by St. John to Christ himself, Rev_19:16. Philo has the phrase King of kings and God of gods. We trace the phrase back to David, Psa_136:3, and even to Moses, Deu_10:17.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 15. in his times] R.V. in its own times,…
15. in his times] R.V. in its own times, apparently because sometimes it must be so, e.g. 1Ti_2:6; and this would point to a set meaning and quasi-adverbial use. But in Tit_1:2 inconsistently ‘his own seasons.’
the blessed and only Potentate] The ‘only,’ without being polemical, states the grand truth positively, which is the antidote to the questionings of the heretical negations. See note on 1Ti_6:13.
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King of kings, and Lord of lords] A title given to our Lord, Rev_17:14, as the Lamb; clearly here to God the Father—an addition to the many similar proofs of the Unity of the Godhead. Cf. Pearson, On the Creed, Art. 1.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (15) Which in his times he shall shew.—More accurately…
(15) Which in his times he shall shew.—More accurately rendered, which in his own seasons. Here the language of fervid expectation is qualified by words which imply that in St. Paul’s mind then there was no certainty about the period of the “coming of the Lord.” It depended on the unknown and mysterious counsels of the Most High. The impression left upon our minds by the words of this and the preceding verse is that St. Paul had given up all hope of living himself to see the dawn of that awful day, but he deemed it more than probable that his son in the faith would live to witness it. Hence his words to him: “Keep the commandment without spot until the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Who is the blessed and only Potentate.—The stately and rhythmical doxology with which the solemn charge to Timothy is closed was not improbably taken from a hymn loved by the Ephesian Christians, and often sung in their churches; the words, then, were, likely enough, familiar to Timothy and his people, though now receiving a new and deeper meaning than before. Well might Timothy, as example to the flock of Ephesus, keep “the commandment without spot, unrebukeable”—fearlessly, even though danger and death were presented before him as the sure reward of his faithfulness—for He who in His own times should reveal (show) the Lord Jesus returning to earth in glory, was inconceivably greater and grander than any earthly potentate, king, or lord, before whose little throne Timothy might have to stand and be judged for his faithfulness to the “only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
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Of the first of these sublime titles, God is termed “the blessed,” or the happy, because He is the source of all blessedness and happiness; and the “only Potentate,” in solemn assertion that the Christian’s God was One, and that to none save to Him could this appellation “only Potentate” be applied. Possibly already in Ephesus the teachers of Gnosticism had begun their unhappy work—with their fables of the mighty æons, and their strange Eastern conception of one God the source of good, and another the source of evil.
The King of kings, and Lord of lords.—God is king over those men style kings, and lord over all men call lords here.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Its own for his, A.V This correction seems to…
Its own for his, A.V This correction seems to be manifestly right. The same phrase is rendered in 1Ti_2:6 and Tit_1:3 "in due time," in the A.V; but in the R.V 2:6 is "its own times," and in Tit_1:3 "his own seasons. Inrw Gal_6:9 kai ijdiw is also rendered "in due season," in both the A.V and the R.V Such a phrase as ejn kairoiv ijdioiv must be taken everywhere in the same sense. It clearly means at the fitting or proper time, and corresponds to the plhrwma tou cronou, "the fullness of time," in Gal_4:4. The two ideas are combined insontai Luk_1:20 (plhrwqh eijv ton kairon aujtwn) and 21:24 (comp. Eph_1:10) Shall show (deixei). Deiknuein ejpifaneian, "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; oJ makariov (not eujloghtov, as in, Mar_14:61) is only here and in 1Ti_1:11 (where see note) applied to God in Scripture. The blessed and only Potentate. The phrase is a remarkable one. Dunasthv (Potentate), which is only found elsewhere in the New Testament in Luk_1:52 and Act_8:27, is applied to God here only. It is, however, so applied in RAPC 2Ma 3:24 12:15 15:23, where we have Pashv ejxousiav dunasthv Gon megan tou kosmou dunasthn, and Dunasta twn oujranwn; 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 oJ pashv ejxousiav dunasthv, "the Prince (or Potentate) of all power made a great apparition," or "appearing" (ejpifoneian megalhn ejpoihsen), 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. (comp. 1Th_1:7-10) King of kings, and Lord of lords, etc. (compare the slightly different phrase in Rom 17:14 and 19:16, applied to the Son). So in Psa_136:2, Psa_136:3, God is spoken of as "God of gods, and Lord of lords."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 15. Which in his time he shall show. In…
15. Which in his time he shall show. In his own times. Man knows not the day or hour. The Blessed and only potentate. All power in heaven and earth had been placed in Jesus Christ's hands (Matt. 28:18; Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 God will reveal Christ's appearing
God will reveal Christ's appearing
It is implied that God will reveal Jesus. AT: "God will reveal Jesus" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
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at the right time
"at the proper time"
the blessed and only Sovereign
"the One worthy of praise who rules over the world"
Only he has immortality
"Only he has the power to live forever"
dwells in inapproachable light
"dwells in a light so bright that no one can approach him"
translationWords
bless
power
king
reign
lord
rule
honor
eternity
amen
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 6:15-16 At just the right time (cp. 2:6), God…
6:15-16 At just the right time (cp. 2:6), God will complete the salvation promised to us before the world began (2 Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2), which Christ enacted in his first appearance (1 Tim 2:6; Titus 1:3). The saving work of Christ is positioned within God’s sovereign and eternal purposes. This thought leads naturally into worship of God our Savior (cp. 1 Tim 1:17). • This material might be quoted from a baptismal confession (see study note on 6:12).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.