1 Timothy 1:17b – Immortal

Now to the King … immortal …

Summary: Immortal is one of those interesting words that sounds like it should be the same as eternal, but isn’t.   

As we continue our deep dive into Paul’s praise of God, let’s look at the word “immortal” and consider how that is different than “eternal.”

Perhaps the best way to begin is with a trip to the grocery store. 

Speaking in very general terms, there are two kinds of products in a grocery; perishable and imperishable. Fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, fresh fish and meats, and dairy are all considered “perishable.” Canned goods and frozen food are what we might call “imperishable.” (Yes, I know that they eventually go bad, but work with me here…)

Our bodies are perishable. 

“The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-16)

But there is this weird thing we have called a “spirit” or “soul.” The spirit, like God, is eternal. Jesus, instructing his disciples, explains: 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

Whether our spirit or soul lives or dies is not a matter of whether or not it exists, but where it exists. In a sense, even though our spirits are eternal, they are not imperishable. 

Perhaps the clearest illustration of what Paul is talking about is the story of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31). In the story we see both the rich man and Lazarus “alive” in this world, and then they die. The story shows us what happens after they die — Lazarus is in heaven, and the rich man is dog paddling in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).

In the grocery store we check for freshness because we know things go bad. People go bad, too. In fact, thanks to Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3), we were born that way morally and spiritually. That is why Jesus became a man and let us humans kill him. He became the perfect sacrifice for our sin — our rebellion against God. 

So let’s put this all together. 

Paul’s sentence, so far, says, “Now to the King eternal, immortal…”

What he is saying is two different things. “Now to the King eternal…” refers to the fact that God’s kingdom is without beginning or end. You might say that the existence of God’s kingdom cannot be measured in terms of time. When Paul says the King is “immortal,” he is referring to the truth that God is not subject to decay. When the milk goes bad you know it. God never goes bad! (James 1:17)

As humans, we are a bit of both. Our body has a relatively short shelf life. Our spirit, on the other hand, continues. Whether or not we live in eternity depends on knowing Jesus Christ. 

“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10)

Application: Strive for spiritual freshness.  

Food for Thought: How does understanding the difference between “eternal” and “immortal” help you appreciate God?