Is 1 Timothy 6:16 Poorly Translated?

[HankD]

What a waste, not one of the versions supported the absurdity that "eternal" does not mean "beginning but no end."

Lexicon meaning III without end, never to cease, everlasting

For someone to pick one of three meanings and claim it is the only meaning does not display candor

hmm, are you KJVO?

KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

did God know you before you were born? Actually eternity is timeless.

 

[George Antonios]

I don't know what you guys have and with which you feel you can play around, but I have the words of the living God and they are perfect:

1Timothy 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.

It's wonderful to me that the verse ends with Amen.

 

[George Antonios]

Our "eternal life" or better "everlasting life" only goes forward toward the future. We had and will always have our creation where God formed our Spirit within us. The "both directions" view has no basis in scripture or logic.

I understand what you're saying but what you're not considering is that Jesus Christ is eternal life (John 17:3) and that upon the moment of belief in the gospel, our spirit is baptized into his Spirit (1Co.12:13) so that he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1Co.6:17) and the the Spirit of God is the eternal Spirit (Heb.9:14).
So, while we only (at least for now) experience eternity moving forward, we are in effect plugged into an eternal stream which goes in both directions because we are in Christ the Eternal One.
When you plug into an electric plug, you get plugged in one location physically, but as far as the energy itself you're actually plugged into a current which goes both directions. Spiritually therefore, we are in an eternal stream which stretches forward and back. That stream is our life. So it's properly eternal life, and not just everlasting. For all we know, with our new resurrection bodies, we will be able to "visit" eternity past as well.

 

[George Antonios]

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"

The devil can "demonstrate" immortality for all I know. No thanks. I'll stick with hath.

 

[37818]

(1 Timothy 6:16)
NASB: who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

NKJV: who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

CSB: who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

The next issue for consideration is the choice of "unapproachable" when in fact the "kingdom of light" is approachable. However, it is definitely inaccessible. No one enters by their own volition, only those placed, transferred or "called" into His marvelous light actually gain entry into the kingdom of heaven. Since Matthew 23:13 teaches people were in the process of entering but did not enter, inaccessible better fits the reality being presented.

Well, I understand 1 Timothy 1:16 to refer to God, in His glory. The added word "in" does not belong. ". . . Who only hath immortality, dwelling the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. . . ." Noting John 1:18, John 1:9 and Hebrews 1:3.

 

[Van]

hmm, are you KJVO?

KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

did God know you before you were born? Actually eternity is timeless.

Total shift of subject, trying to avoid the fact "eternity" has more than one meaning, and one of its meanings is having a beginning but no end.

 

[Van]

I understand what you're saying but what you're not considering is that Jesus Christ is eternal life (John 17:3) and that upon the moment of belief in the gospel, our spirit is baptized into his Spirit (1Co.12:13) so that he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1Co.6:17) and the the Spirit of God is the eternal Spirit (Heb.9:14).
So, while we only (at least for now) experience eternity moving forward, we are in effect plugged into an eternal stream which goes in both directions because we are in Christ the Eternal One.
When you plug into an electric plug, you get plugged in one location physically, but as far as the energy itself you're actually plugged into a current which goes both directions. Spiritually therefore, we are in an eternal stream which stretches forward and back. That stream is our life. So it's properly eternal life, and not just everlasting. For all we know, with our new resurrection bodies, we will be able to "visit" eternity past as well.

The idea that because Christ is eternal, and we are "in Christ" that eliminates our beginning has no basis in scripture or logic. Scripture refers to those in Christ as once being children of wrath, therefore referring to our mortal beginning.

1 Corinthians 12:13 refers to the fact we are "in" an eternal being, and we have been sealed within that being with another eternal person, but at the same time refers to our beginning, before we were given eternal life.

1 Corinthians 6:17 says the one being joined to the Lord is one spirit. The idea is we possess the same zeal for godliness, fully committed to being Christ-like. The verse does not suggest we become Christ's Spirit with no beginning.

Hebrews 9:14 simply says Christ's Spirit is eternal, which is not in dispute.

As far as the electrical circuit illustration, if you choose an AC circuit, it illustrates your mistaken view, but if you choose an electrical circuit in a vehicle, a DC circuit, the juice only flows one direction.

 

[Van]

The devil can "demonstrate" immortality for all I know. No thanks. I'll stick with hath.

Fine, you certainly can posses or have a point of view, but you cannot demonstrate or confer immortality. Only one of our graves is empty, the tomb with the stone rolled open. And the "devil's immortality" will be demonstrated with eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:10

 

[Van]

Well, I understand 1 Timothy 1:16 to refer to God, in His glory. The added word "in" does not belong. ". . . Who only hath immortality, dwelling the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. . . ." Noting John 1:18, John 1:9 and Hebrews 1:3.

Note to put too fine a point on it, but the KJV has "dwelling in the light which no man can approach" which "adds" lots of words, if that is your point. A more literal translation might read "making his home in light inaccessible" or "making his home in inaccessible light." While nearly every translation has "in" I did see one that skated the issue with "inhabiting inaccessible light."

 

[HankD]

Total shift of subject, trying to avoid the fact "eternity" has more than one meaning, and one of its meanings is having a beginning but no end.

sorry bro in this case you are so wrong...

 

[Van]

sorry bro in this case you are so wrong...

Please stop with your off topic "taint so" posts. Any dictionary or lexicon supports my view, your view of a single meaning is not to be found. While eternal does mean without beginning or end, it also has the meaning of never ending, i.e. our eternal life where we shall not perish.

 

[37818]

Note to put too fine a point on it, but the KJV has "dwelling in the light which no man can approach" which "adds" lots of words, if that is your point. A more literal translation might read "making his home in light inaccessible" or "making his home in inaccessible light." While nearly every translation has "in" I did see one that skated the issue with "inhabiting inaccessible light."

The word "in" is an added word not in the Greek. . . . φως οικων . . . .

 

[HankD]

Please stop with your off topic "taint so" posts. Any dictionary or lexicon supports my view, your view of a single meaning is not to be found. While eternal does mean without beginning or end, it also has the meaning of never ending, i.e. our eternal life where we shall not perish.

whatever

 

[Van]

The word "in" is an added word not in the Greek. . . . φως οικων . . . .

So the translation into English did not necessitate "in" and nearly every translation added it as a whim? And what about inhabiting inaccessible light?

Folks, the use of "in" is a non-issue. According to Mounce, the Greek word translated dwelling means to dwell in or inhabit, so dwelling in is not actually an addition but just an accurate translation.

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"

 

[37818]

So the translation into English did not necessitate "in" and nearly every translation added it as a whim? And what about inhabiting inaccessible light?

Folks, the use of "in" is a non-issue. According to Mounce, the Greek word translated dwelling means to dwell in or inhabit, so dwelling in is not actually an addition but just an accurate translation.

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"

The Son is the true light even as God is the true God. The Son is not "light from light" but is that light. John 1:9, Hebrews 1:3. The Son is by whom God Himself appeears.

 

[Van]

The Son is the true light even as God is the true God. The Son is not "light from light" but is that light. John 1:9, Hebrews 1:3. The Son is by whom God Himself appears.

Apparently the subject is being changed from the claimed "add" of "in" to the implication the translation choices offered for 1 Timothy 6:16 somehow says Jesus is not the light of the world. Why such deflections are being posted is beyond me.

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

 

[George Antonios]

The idea that because Christ is eternal, and we are "in Christ" that eliminates our beginning

I never said it eliminates our beginning!

 

[George Antonios]

As far as the electrical circuit illustration, if you choose an AC circuit, it illustrates your mistaken view, but if you choose an electrical circuit in a vehicle, a DC circuit, the juice only flows one direction.

It was just an illustration, but you got the point.

 

[George Antonios]

What a vain and wasteful thread. Moving on.

 

[HankD]

The Son is the true light even as God is the true God. The Son is not "light from light" but is that light. John 1:9, Hebrews 1:3. The Son is by whom God Himself appears.

in the metaphor of light from the scriptures, God the Son emanates from the innermost being of the Father (metaphorical language as the sun) as the carrier waves coming forth as eternal sunbeams streaming down upon the earth bringing light warmth and life.