1 Timothy 6 · Verse 15

1 Timothy 6:15

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1 Timothy 6:15, King James Version

1 Timothy 6:15 in other translations

BSBwhich the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
WEBwhich at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
ASVwhich in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
YLTwhich in His own times He shall shew--the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords,
DARBYwhich in its own time the blessed and only Ruler shall shew, the King of those that reign, and Lord of those that exercise lordship;
BBEWhich at the right time he will make clear, who is the eternal and only Ruler, King of kings, and Lord of lords;
WebsterWhich in his times he will show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

What does 1 Timothy 6:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. in his times--Greek, "His own [fitting] times" (Ac 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 (1Ti 2:6; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:3; He 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 Ac 3:20): "He" is the Father (1Ti 6:16). blessed--in Himself: so about to be the source of blessing to His people at Christ appearing, whence flows their "blessed hope" (1Ti 1:11; Tit 2:13). only--(Joh 17:3; Ro 16:27; Re 15:4). King of kings--elsewhere applied also to Jesus (Re 1:5; 17:14; 19:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. 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 men. Acts 1:7.

Who is the blessed and only Potentate. God who is the Ruler over all. The word used here--δυναστης--means one who is mighty, Lk 1:52, then a prince or ruler. Comp. Acts 8:27. It is applied here to God as the mighty ruler over the universe.

The King of kings. Who claims dominion over all the kings of the earth. In Rev 17:14, 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.

(e) "blessed" 1Timm 1:17 (f) "King of Kings" Rev 17:14

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:11-16

It ill becomes any men, but especially men of God, to set their hearts upon the things of this world; men of God should be taken up with the things of God. There must be a conflict with corruption, and temptations, and the powers of darkness. Eternal life is the crown proposed for our encouragement. We are called to lay hold thereon. To the rich must especially be pointed out their dangers and duties, as to the…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 6:11-16 →

1 Timothy 6:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἣνhēnwhichG3739
καιροῖςkairoisin seasonsG2540
ἰδίοιςidiois[their] ownG2398
δείξειdeixeiHe will displayG1166
ὁhotheG3588
μακάριοςmakariosblessedG3107
καὶkaiandG2532
μόνοςmonosaloneG3441
δυνάστης,dunastēsSovereign,G1413
ὁhotheG3588
βασιλεὺςbasileusKingG935
τῶνtōnof thoseG3588
βασιλευόντωνbasileuontōnbeing kingsG936
καὶkaiandG2532
κύριοςkurios[the] LordG2962
τῶνtōnof thoseG3588
κυριευόντων,kurieuontōnbeing lords,G2961

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 6:15

  • Revelation 19:16

    And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

  • Revelation 17:14

    These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

  • 1 Timothy 1:17

    Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 47:2

    For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

  • Jeremiah 10:10

    But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

  • 1 Timothy 1:11

    According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

  • Daniel 2:44-47

    And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

  • Psalms 83:18

    That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.

  • Jeremiah 46:18

    As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

  • Daniel 4:34

    And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

  • Proverbs 8:15

    By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

  • Matthew 6:13

    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
who.
1:11,17; Ps 47:2; 83:18; Jer 10:10; 46:18; Da 2:44-47; 4:34; Mt 6:13
the King.
Ezr 7:12; Pr 8:15; Re 17:14; 19:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 6:14

    That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • 1 Timothy 6:15

    Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

  • 1 Timothy 6:16

    Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Read all of 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La cual á su tiempo mostrará el Bienaventurado y solo Poderoso, Rey de reyes, y Señor de señores;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		laquelle le bienheureux et seul Souverain, le roi de ceux qui règnent et le seigneur de ceux qui dominent, montrera au temps propre,
German
Elberfelder 1871		welche zu seiner Zeit zeigen wird der selige und alleinige Machthaber, der König der Könige und Herr der Herren,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quem suis temporibus ostendet beatus et solus potens, Rex regum, et Dominus dominantium: