This verse continues the thought of verse 15 and mentions other attributes of God: he is the only one who is immortal, he dwells in light, he is invisible, he deserves to be honored and to reign. The word for immortality appears only here and 1 Cor 15.53-54in the whole New Testament. However, the adjective “immortal” is found in 1.17, and although a different word is used there, these two terms are closely related in terms of meaning. To be immortal is to be beyond the power of death, to live on forever and never experience death.
The word unapproachable appears only here in the whole New Testament. The idea of God revealing himself by means of an intense and dazzling light that no human eye can stand is found in many places in the Old Testament, particularly during the time of the Exodus (see, for example, Exo 24.15-17). The purpose of the light is to make people unable to see the very face of God. Unapproachable light may then be alternatively expressed as “the light that prevents people from seeing God.”
The last attribute mentioned is that of being invisible (see 1.17) and once again reflects a theme that is prevalent in the Old Testament: God is so holy that no human being can see God and live (see, for example, Exo 33.20 “I will not let you see my face, because no one can see me and stay alive” [TEV]). An alternative translation for the first part of this verse is “He alone lives forever. He lives in light which prevents people from seeing him. In fact no one has ever seen him, nor will anyone ever see him.”
The conclusion of the hymn is an appropriate expression of praise, ascribing to God honor and eternal dominion. For honor see 1.17. The usual word used to form a pair with honor is “glory,” and so it is in 1.17 and other parts of the New Testament. Here, however, “glory” has been substituted by dominion (Good News Translation “power”), perhaps to connect this expression of praise with the theme of God’s sovereign power that is prevalent in the whole hymn. The word for dominion is sometimes translated “strength” or “power” in other parts of the New Testament; it includes the elements of rule and sovereignty.
For eternal see 1.16. The idea of God ruling forever is also a prevalent Old Testament theme (see, for example, Exo 15.18; Psa 146.10; Lam 5.19). In the New Testament eternal rule is ascribed to Jesus Christ (see, for example, Luke 1.33; Rev 11.15). For Amen see 1.17. An alternative translation model for the final sentence is “May people praise God and may he rule powerfully forever.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .