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.
Frequent doxologies occur in the pastoral letters; the apostle now, in advancing years, realizing more and more God's presence, and instinctively gliding often into language of adoration.
Who only hath immortality - in His essence: not derived, or at the will of another, as all other immortal beings (Justin Martyr, 'Quest. ad Orthod.' 61). As He hath immortality, so will He give it to us who believe: to be out of Him is death. It is pagan philosophy that attributes to the soul indestructibility in itself: this is solely of God's gift. As He hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself (John 5:26). [Athanatos] Immortal does not occur in the New Testament, but [aphthartos] "incorruptible." "Immortality" is found in 1 Corinthians 15:53-54.
Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto. After life comes light, as Daniel 2:22; John 1:4. That light is unapproachable to creatures, except so far as they are admitted by Him, and He goes forth to them (Bengel). If one cannot gaze stedfastly at the sun, but a small part of creation, by reason of its exceeding heat and power, how much less can mortal gaze at God's inexpressible glory! (Theophylact, 'Ad Autolycum:' Ps and power, how much less can mortal gaze at God's inexpressible glory! (Theophylact, 'Ad Autolycum:' Psalms 104:2; 1 John 1:5.)
No man hath seen - with the bodily eye, nor shall hereafter; with the spiritual eye, though only in part now, the believer shall fully hereafter (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 11:27; 1 John 4:12). Still, the saints shall, in some sense, have the blessedness of seeing Him face to face in Christ, which is denied to mere man (Matthew 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Hebrews 12:14; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4).