1 Timothy 6:16

16 qui solus habet inmortalitatem lucem habitans inaccessibilem quem vidit nullus hominum sed nec videre potest cui honor et imperium sempiternum amen

1 Timothy 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 6:16

Who only hath immortality
Angels are immortal, and so are the souls of men, and so will be the bodies of men after the resurrection; but then neither of these have immortality of themselves, they have it from God; who only has it, of himself, originally, essentially, and inderivatively.

Dwelling in that light which no man can approach unto;
in this present, frail, and mortal state; yea, angels themselves cannot bear the lustre of it, but cover their faces with their wings; for God is light itself, as well as clothes himself with light, as with a garment; and is the Father and fountain of lights to all his creatures.

Whom no man hath seen, nor can see:
nowhere but in Christ, at least spiritually and savingly; and that but very imperfectly in the present state: the sin, frailty, and mortality of human nature must be taken away, in order to inherit the kingdom of God, and enjoy the beatific vision of him; which saints in heaven have, who see him as he is, and in such sort as no man now does, or can see him:

to whom [be] honour and power everlasting, Amen.
Which may be considered either as a wish, that such honour, power, and glory might be ascribed unto him, as we supply it; or as an assertion that it is given to him, as it is by the angels, and by the saints in heaven and in earth.

1 Timothy 6:16 In-Context

14 ut serves mandatum sine macula inreprehensibile usque in adventum Domini nostri Iesu Christi
15 quem suis temporibus ostendet beatus et solus potens rex regum et Dominus dominantium
16 qui solus habet inmortalitatem lucem habitans inaccessibilem quem vidit nullus hominum sed nec videre potest cui honor et imperium sempiternum amen
17 divitibus huius saeculi praecipe non sublime sapere neque sperare in incerto divitiarum sed in Deo qui praestat nobis omnia abunde ad fruendum
18 bene agere divites fieri in operibus bonis facile tribuere communicare
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.