1 Timothy 6:15

King James Version

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Legacy Standard Bible
which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Simplified Cowboy Version
The Boss is already saddled up and ready to come get us. He won't be a minute early or a minute too late. He's going to show up right when God, the Real Boss, High King, the Almighty God tells him to.

Bible in Basic English
Which at the right time he will make clear, who is the eternal and only Ruler, King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Darby Translation
which in its own time the blessed and only Ruler shall shew, the King of those that reign, and Lord of those that exercise lordship;

Christian Standard Bible®
God will bring this about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords,

World English Bible
which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords:

Weymouth's New Testament
For, as its appointed time, this will be brought about by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

King James Version (1611)
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed, and onely Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords:

Literal Translation
who in His own time will reveal the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which appearynge (at his tyme) he shal shewe that is blessed, and mightie onely, the kynge of all kynges, and LORDE of all lordes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
whose advent HE will in his own time display, WHO is perfectly happy, who alone is omnipotent, the king of kings, and the lord of all that bear rule;

Amplified Bible
which He will bring about in His own time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign [the absolute Ruler], the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords,

American Standard Version
which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Revised Standard Version
and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which aperynge (when the tyme ys come) he shall shewe that is blessed and myghty only kynge of kynges and lorde of lordes

Update Bible Version
which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Webster's Bible Translation
Which in his times he will show [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Young's Literal Translation
which in His own times He shall shew -- the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords,

New Century Version
God will make that happen at the right time. He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.

New English Translation
—whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.

Berean Standard Bible
which God will bring about in His own time-He who is blessed and the only Sovereign One, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Contemporary English Version
The glorious God is the only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. At the time that God has already decided, he will send Jesus Christ back again.

Complete Jewish Bible
His appearing will be brought about in its own time by the blessed and sole Sovereign, who is King of kings and Lord of lords,

English Standard Version
which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which in due time hee shall shewe, that is blessed and Prince onely, the King of Kings and Lord of Lordes,

George Lamsa Translation
Who is to be revealed in his due time, blessed and all mighty God, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,

Hebrew Names Version
which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

International Standard Version
At the right time Godhe">[fn] will make him known. He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.1 Timothy 1:11,17; Revelation 17:14; 19:16;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
whom in his time will show Aloha the blessed and only Strong One, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Murdock Translation
15 which God will, in due time make visible; [fn] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords;

New King James Version
which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

New Living Translation
For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

New Life Bible
At the right time, we will be shown that God is the One Who has all power. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

English Revised Version
which in its own times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

New Revised Standard
which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which, in its own fit times, the happy and only Potentate will shew - the King of them that reign, and Lord of them that wield lordship,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the Blessed and only Mighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords:

Lexham English Bible
which he will make known in his own time, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which in his tymes he shall shewe that is blessed and prince only, the kyng of kynges, and Lorde of Lordes,

Easy-to-Read Version
God will make that happen at the right time. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.

New American Standard Bible
which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Good News Translation
His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
whom the blessid and aloone miyti king of kyngis and Lord of lordis schal schewe in his tymes.

Contextual Overview

¹³ I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; ¹⁴ That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁵ Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 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. ¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; ¹⁸ That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; ¹⁹ Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. ²⁰ O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: ²¹ Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

who: 1 Timothy 1:11, 1 Timothy 1:17, Psalms 47:2, Psalms 83:18, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 46:18, Daniel 2:44-47, Daniel 4:34, Matthew 6:13

the King: Ezra 7:12, Proverbs 8:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 29:11 - is the greatness 2 Chronicles 2:5 - great is our God Job 24:1 - seeing Psalms 10:16 - The Lord Psalms 90:2 - even from Psalms 119:12 - Blessed Psalms 136:3 - the Lord Lamentations 5:19 - remainest Daniel 2:47 - a Lord Malachi 1:14 - for Mark 14:61 - the Son John 17:3 - the only Acts 1:7 - It Romans 9:5 - blessed 1 Corinthians 1:7 - coming 1 Corinthians 15:24 - the kingdom 1 Thessalonians 2:19 - in 1 Timothy 2:6 - in 1 Peter 1:5 - ready Revelation 1:5 - and the prince

Cross-References

Genesis 7:20
Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

Deuteronomy 3:11
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which in his times he shall show,.... For though the time of Christ's appearing is unknown, yet the thing itself is certain; God will bring it about, and make it manifest in his own time, in the time that is fixed and appointed by him; and which is only known unto him, and which he keeps in his own power, and has reserved in his own breast:

who is the blessed; the Syriac version reads, "the blessed God"; who is blessed in himself, in his Son and Spirit, in the perfections of his nature; who is God all-sufficient, has enough in himself for himself, and for all his creatures; who is the fountain and the author of all blessedness, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, which any of them are, or shall be possessed of:

and only Potentate; or Governor of the whole world, which can be said of none but himself: he is the Governor among the nations, and over all the nations of the earth; his kingdom rules over all other kingdoms; and he has his power and government from himself, whereas all other potentates have their power from him, as follows:

the King of kings, and Lord of lords; from whom they receive their sceptres, crowns, and kingdoms; by whom they reign, and are continued in their power; for he sets up kings, and removes kings at his pleasure, and to him they must be accountable for all their administrations another day; and at present they are under his influence, and at his control; he has their hearts, and their counsels, as well as kingdoms, in his hands, and under his overruling providence; and causes all to answer his wise and eternal purposes. These titles are used by the Jews, who style him,

אדון כל האדונים מלך על כל המלכים, "Lord of all lords, King over all kings" s. The same name is given to Christ, Revelation 19:16 which shows him to be equal with the Father.

s Zohar in Numb. fol. 100. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which in his times he shall show - Which God will reveal at such times as he shall deem best. It is implied here that the time is unknown to people; see the notes on Acts 1:7.

Who is the blessed and only Potentate - God, who is the ruler over all. The word used here - δυνάστης dunastēs - means one who is “mighty” Luke 1:22, then a prince or ruler; compare Acts 8:27. It is applied here to God as the mighty ruler over the universe.

The King of kings - Who claims dominion over all the kings of the earth. In Revelation 7:14, the same appellation is applied to the Lord Jesus, ascribing to him universal dominion.

Lord of lords - The idea here is, that all the sovereigns of the earth are under his sway; that none of them can prevent the accomplishment of his purposes; and that he can direct the winding up of human affairs when he pleases.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Which in his times he shall show — Jesus will appear in the most proper time; the time which the infinite God in his wisdom has appointed for the second coming of his Son.

The blessed and only Potentate — δυναστης, Potentate, is applied to secular governors; but none of these can be styled ὁ μακαριος και μονος, the happy and only One; ὁ Βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων, the King of kings, or the King over all kings; and Κυριος των κυριευοντων, the Lord over all lords or rulers. These are titles which could not be given to any mortals. This is made more specific by the verse following.

Ver. 15. Ὁ μακαριος και μονος Δυναστης, ὁ Βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων, και Κυριος των κυριευοντων.

The supreme Being is also styled the King of kings, and the Blessed, by AESCHYLUS in his tragedy of the Supplicants:-

Αναξ ανακτων, μακαρων

Μακαρτατε, και τελεων

Τελειοτατον κρατος.

Ver 520. Ed. Porson.

"O King of kings! most Blessed of the blessed! most Perfect of the perfect!"