Featured Is 1 Timothy 6:16 Poorly Translated?

Tell me what you did say because I understood you said our eternal life went both ways, i.e. no beginning.

 

Did you?

 

Improvement suggestions for translation would be seen as vain and wasteful only by people who think either their translation cannot be improved or that only "special people" can provide suggestions for improvement. I disagree with both premises.

 

I disagree with your premise, but it would be vain and wasteful to expend effort to change your view.

 

In summary, 1 Timothy 6:16 translation choices could be improved as follows:

"the One demonstrating immortality, dwelling in inaccessible light, whom no human has seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen"

Choosing "demonstrating" over "having" or"possessing" immortality points both to the Father as an eternal being, and to the fact God conveys immortality to others.

Choosing "inaccessible" over "unapproachable" avoids the misconception that God's realm is unapproachable when in fact scripture teaches we are to seek the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33

Choosing "human" over "man" or "one" allows that angels see the Father, Matthew 18:10

Choosing "dominion" over "power" heightens our glorification of our sovereign Lord.

As we study scripture and evaluate the intended message, considering alternate and perhaps better translation choices helps us in our effort to rightly divide the word of truth.

 

I almost always have difficulty determining what is your point! Are you trying to deny those born anew have, present tense, eternal life? Do we have spiritual eternal life, being made alive together with Christ? Yes. All those who believe into Christ have eternal life. John 3:16 does not say we will perish, but shall not perish, and the inescapable result is we will never die. Got it.

Note Romans 8:23 refers to our "bodily redemption" because we have been (if born anew) spiritually redeemed. Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 1:18

 

1) I addressed the range of meanings in the OP, with meaning #3 as being in the ascribed condition. Therefore I have already shown "having immortality" can be accurately translated also as "is immortal" which means God is manifesting" immortality, thus "demonstrating" immortality. Here is the lexicon quote "3 - to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition

2) Thus the CSB is quite correct with "is immortal" because God is in such a condition.

3) As I indicated, the translators chose "dominion" to emphasize His "ruling power."

4) The claim I substituted words outside the semantic range is utterly false.

5) Using human is more narrow than "man or one" in that Jesus is man and yet has seen the Father (John 6:45) and angels have seen the Father Matthew 18:10. This choice avoids suggesting Jesus is not a man or has not seen the Father. Perhaps another choice would be even better. Got any ideas?

 

Why is it folks are quite willing to find fault with my efforts to improve the translation, but seem unwilling to suggest alternate improvements. Was it Tozer who taught Christians should not spend all their time walking in another man's furrow?

 

With "demonstrating immortality" in mind, what passages come to mind? How about "before Abraham was, I Am. Or how about old faithful, the empty tomb? And just how many physically dead people did Jesus and His Apostles bring back to life? Does 1 Timothy 6:12-13 come to mind?

 

Several posters expressed the idea "demonstrating" goes too far afield from the core meanings of the Greek "echo." They preferred "having immortality" or "possessing immortality" although both choices fall short of addressing that God conveys immortality. While contextually (verses 12-13) have that characteristic in view, does literalness point back to "having" or possessing?" Can "having" or "possessing" be understood to not only refer to the core characteristic of God's immortality, but also to His having or possessing for distribution immortality?

 

1) The hope in Titus 3:7 is for our future bodily redemption, because being justified, we have been spiritually placed in Christ, thus having received eternal life.
2) 1 Corinthians 5:5 refers to the future spiritual salvation of a tare.
3) Romans 8:24-25 refers to our hope for our future eternal life, but note it says we are saved already!
4) 1 Corinthians 15:50 simply says our mortal, corruptible flesh and blood body will be changed in the twinkling of an eye at our bodily redemption. None germane to the bogus claim of those born anew not yet having spiritual eternal life. John 3:16 says we shall never perish.
5) Scripture tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are of the faith. Therefore we can "see" meaning "comprehend" we are of the faith, a sibling of Christ, and a child of God.

 

Just because you seem unable to consider studying the word meanings, given in English in the Lexicons, and choose among the differing English translations, does not preclude that nearly all bible students are able.

 

In summary, 1 Timothy 6:16 translation choices could be improved as follows:

"the One exhibiting immortality, dwelling in inaccessible light, whom no human has seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen"

1. Chose "one" over "only one" because if the best choice is possessing, all those born anew possess spiritual immortality.
2. Chose "inaccessible" over unapproachable because the kingdom is approachable as indicated by Matthew 23:13.

3. Chose "human" over man or one because Jesus and angels have seen the Father.

4. Chose "dominion" over power to emphasize our acceptance of God's sovereignty.

5. Settled on "exhibiting" over having, possessing, manifesting or demonstrating to emphasize the obvious nature of His characteristic. This choice is consistent with sick folks exhibiting illness, and healthy folks exhibiting wellness thus in such and such a condition.