In last week’s passage, Paul give a very personal charge to Timothy, although it was given in the context of the false teachers. In our passage for this week, Paul expands on that charge, and makes it very solemn.

You can see it in 1 Timothy 6:13-16:

This is a bit of a bigger passage than we normally take a look at. But since it’s all one continuous thought, it doesn’t make sense to break it up over a couple of weeks. So let’s look at it in its entirety, verse by verse.

Verse 13

God is described as the God who gives life to everything. The verb used here conveys the idea that God gives or preserves life. This brings the image to mind that God holds all things together and keeps the universe in motion (Colossians 1:17).

Paul goes on to state that just as Jesus made the good confession before Pilate, and in this he encourages Timothy to stand fast and hold to the good confession he made when becoming a follower of Christ. While the specifics of what Paul intended aren’t clear, this much is easily inferable.

Verse 14

Paul calls Timothy to “keep this commandment.” There is some debate as to what this refers to, and there are several possibilities. (1) It may refer to the charge just given in verses 11-12; (2) a charge he received when he was baptized; (3) a charge he may have received at his ordination; (4) all of Christianity, in whole; or (5) the commandment for Timothy to persevere in his own faith and ministry, which we saw in 1 Timothy 4:16. In my examination of different commentaries, there seems to be equal support for each of these, especially the second and last ideas. Regardless, Timothy is to keep this command until Christ returns.

Verse 15

God’s second coming, which he just mentioned, will occur when he is ready, in his own time. And at this point, Paul seems to break into a spontaneous doxology, or at least a bit of worship in his writing, as he describes the Christ who is to come. He is the “blessed and only Ruler,” implying a princely dignity. He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This phrase occurs in the book of Revelation (17:14 and 19:16), and have some parallels in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:17, Psalm 86:3, and Daniel 4:34).

Verse 16

Paul declares God to be “immortal,” just as he did in 1 Timothy 1:17, although he used a different word there. And he declares God to be light. This image of God as light is found throughout the Old Testament (Exodus 24:15-17 and 34:29-35, for example), and is a key descriptive word used throughout John’s gospel and letters.

Paul wraps up his doxology with a common phrase, “to him be honor and might forever. Amen.” God’s role as Ruler and King and Lord places him above all others, and all honor and might are his. Forever. Coming right on the heels of his comments of Christ, Paul is stating that this God, in the person of Christ, is the Creator and Ruler of all things. In the face of whatever the false teachers were presenting, this is the ultimate authority.

This whole passage seems to be a spontaneous moment of worship in Paul’s letter. While that may be, he also used it to make a point and a charge to Timothy. We would do well to listen and respond as well.

Do you ever have spontaneous moments of worship? What brings these on in your life? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.