Who alone has immortality?

In 1 Timothy 6:16, Paul writes about…

… the happy and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone has immortality and is dwelling in unapproachable light, Whom not one of mankind perceived, nor can be perceiving…

Typically, interpreters assume that Paul is referring here to God. The reasoning is that God alone is the source of immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. Both points are true in themselves, but I believe they are not decisive for answering the question posed in the title above. Below are three reasons why I believe that the subject of the above verse is not God, but the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords

In Revelation 17:14, we read:

… the Lambkin shall be conquering them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings…

2. Only Jesus Christ currently has immortality 

In 1 Corinthians 15, starting from verse 22, Paul teaches that just as in Adam all are dying, so also in Christ shall all be vivified. Yet each in his own class: Christ the Firstfruit, thereafter those who are Christ’s in His presence. Since the latter, namely His presence, is still future, it means that at this moment only Christ has been vivified. He is dying no longer (Romans 6:9) and is thus immortal. We never read that God is immortal; rather, He is described as incorruptible (Romans 1:23; 1 Timothy 1:17). Immortality (Greek: athanasia) means that death has been swallowed up in victory—abolished. As 1 Corinthians 15:54 states:

Now, whenever this mortal should be putting on immortality (Gr. athanasia), then shall come to pass the word which is written, “Swallowed up was Death by Victory.”

3. Jesus Christ currently dwells in unapproachable light, which no human can perceive.

Paul was an eyewitness to this fact. Christ Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus from heavenly glory. He saw Christ, but the light he saw was unapproachable and “brighter than the sun” (Acts 26:13). Paul was blinded by this light for three days (Acts 22:11; 9:9).

Conclusion

The incorruptible God has vivified Christ as the Firstfruit in immortality. Until the parousia in the near future, Christ is the only one who has immortality.

Delen: