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is always seen in relation to the creation, the kingdom, the church, the believer or the unbeliever. The nearest
approach to the absolute being of God is a series of negatives - what God is not, rather than what He is.
It is in connection with the gradual unfolding of His purposes in the pages of Scripture that God manifests to us
the different attributes of His being and nature, each unfolding being related to the purpose in view at the time. To
Moses He revealed some of His glories, to John others. Throughout the Scriptures there is not to be found any
attempt to define or analyze the being and nature of God; always its approach to this inscrutable theme is relative: as
to His being, its standpoint is that he that comes to God must believe that `God is', and that, as Moral Governor, He
is the `Rewarder of all them that diligently seek Him'.
Of necessity God Himself is infinitely beyond the sum total of all His attributes as revealed in Scripture. In the
revelation given to Paul, God is said to be:
INVISIBLE (1 Tim. 1:17; Col. 1:15).
IMMORTAL (1 Tim. 6:16).
Essential
*
INCORRUPTIBLE (Rom. 1:23; 1 Tim. 1:17).
Negations
IMMUTABLE, AS TO COUNSEL (Heb. 6:17).
INCAPABLE OF LYING (Heb. 6:18).
Functional
INCAPABLE OF DENYING HIMSELF (2 Tim. 2:13).
Negations
From these negative statements we move into the realm of redeeming activity, and there we meet with the
following positive titles, with which our list must be headed.
The living and true God (1 Thess. 1:9).- This title is used in blessed contrast with the idols of the heathen.
The living God (1 Tim. 4:10; 6:17).- This title is used of the God of Salvation, especially in connection with
`trusting' Him, and trusting Him, rather than in uncertain riches or in bodily exercise, a form of `idolatry' (which is
the worship of something in the place of God) into which it is easy for a believer to fall.
The only (wise) God (Rom. 16:27; 1 Tim. 1:17).- If we follow the R.V. we shall omit the word `wise' from
1 Timothy 1:17 and read `The only God'. We note, that in the corresponding passage, 1 Timothy 6:15,16, the words
`only potentate' and `only hath immortality' are retained by the R.V.. Comment upon the doctrinal significance of
these passages will be given when we are considering Paul's testimony to the Person of Christ. Accordingly we add
the R.V. text and give the further title THE ONLY GOD (1 Tim. 1:17).
The Blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11), and The blessed and only Potentate (1 Tim. 6:15).- There are two words
translated `blessed' that are used of God. Here in these references in 1 Timothy the word is makarion, which some
derive from me keri, `not subject to fate', applying it to the gods as immortals. This happiness is from within. The
other word, eulogeo, `to bless', literally means `to speak well of', referring rather to repute. God is both blessed in
His own intrinsic worth, and blessed by reason of all the manifestations of His love. In 1 Timothy 1:11 the gospel is
associated with the blessed God, and, in 1 Timothy 6:15, future dominion.
As we have seen, not only does the apostle say what God is, but he names two attributes, saying that He is
faithful (1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13) and that He is true (2 Cor. 1:18). These plain statements can be supplemented by such
passages as 1 Thessalonian 5:24, `Faithful is He that calleth you'; 2 Timothy 2:13, `He abideth faithful: He cannot
deny Himself'; and Hebrews 10:23, `He is faithful that promised'.
*
The word translated IMMORTAL in 1 Timothy 1:17 in the A.V., is the same one as translated UNCORRUPTIBLE in
Romans 1:23. It is a different word from that translated IMMORTALITY in 1 Timothy 1:16. See pages 41 and 42 for
further detail.