Note 12 at 1 Tim. 1:17: Paul now breaks out in praise to God for saving him. This happened often in Paul's writings. Others include:

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."

Romans 11:36 "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Romans 16:27 "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."

Galatians 1:4-5 "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:21 "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Philippians 4:20 "Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

2 Timothy 4:18 "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Note 13 at 1 Tim. 1:17: Paul's praise in this verse describes some of the attributes of God. Entire books have been written on each one of these characteristics. Most are beyond our finite ability to comprehend completely. Here is a very brief mention of each.

King-Supreme in power and authority, Jesus is King of everyone by right of creation and also conquest. Kings levy laws and enforce them. There is a reckoning and punishment for breaking those laws. The glory associated with our King is infinitely greater than the pomp and circumstance of any earthly king, and yet our King came to this earth to serve instead of being served. Jesus said that He was meek and lowly in heart (Mt. 11:29). He is King of Kings (Rev. 17:14, 19:16).

Eternal-We can't totally comprehend this, but we can accept it. Jesus as God had no beginning and will never have an end. He will not only continue to exist, but He will exist without any loss of any of His powers or attributes.

Immortal-This means non-mortal or not subject to death, but it includes much more than just physical death. It refers to everything that accompanies death, i.e. all the consequences of sin. Jesus is not bound by any of the limitations of our mortality.

The Scriptures declare that only God is immortal (1 Tim. 6:16) and has brought the possibility of immortality and life to human beings through the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:10). In the resurrection, believers in Christ will be clothed with immortality (1 Cor. 15:42, 50, 52-54).

Invisible-God can and has been seen, but not in His totality. No man can see God face to face and remain mortal (see ref. c at this verse).

Only wise God-Jesus is God (see ref. e at Col. 1:17, p. 1191 for list of footnotes on deity of Christ). He's the only God. He's the only wise God. "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord" (Pro. 21:30). 1 John 3:20 states that "...God knoweth all things." "...His understanding is infinite" (Ps. 147:5).

God never went to school to learn or to be taught. If He was taught, that would mean that whoever taught Him would be God, because the teacher would have more knowledge than God. Isaiah 40:13-14 states, "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" The answer to that question is: no one taught Him. The God who knows all, needs no teacher.

God knows everything possible and everything actual. He knows what our lives would have been like if we had made other choices. Isaiah 48:18 says, "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." God in speaking to Moses says, "And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand" (Ex. 3:19). This shows the intimate knowledge of God as to what a person will do. So God knows what our lives will be, and what they could have been, if only we had acted and decided differently.

We must agree with the Psalmist when he says, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Ps. 139:6).