1 Timothy 1:17 – The King of the eons

Now to the King of the eons, the incorruptible, invisible, only, and wise God, be honor and glory for the eons of the eons! Amen!

The previous verse ended with a reference to ‘eonian life’, better known as ‘eternal life’. Unfortunately, current translations systematically create confusion around the concept of ‘eon’. For example, the beginning of the above verse is neatly translated as “the King of ages”, but the end of the sentence is rendered as “for all eternity”. If they had been consistent, they would have translated: “until the ages of ages”. The translation word ‘eternity’ is downright misleading because it suggests that an ‘eon’ has no beginning or end. That is a horrible misconception because it makes the ‘eternal judgment’ and the ‘eternal punishment’ something endless.

Eons are world ages. God is “the King of the eons” because He controls the world ages, from the first to the last. All eons will have their crowning moment in “the eons of the eons”, that is, the future world eras in which Christ will reign with His own (Rev.11:15). That is what is mentioned in verse 16: eonian life. Yes, the one God brings the eons to an absolute climax. For He alone is “the King of the eons”!

Delen: