John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 1:17

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." — 1 Timothy 1:17 (ASV)

Now to the King eternal—his amazing vehemence finally breaks out into this exclamation because he could not find words to express his gratitude. Such sudden outbursts occur mainly when we are compelled to break off our discussion, being overpowered by the vastness of the subject. And is there anything more astonishing than Paul’s conversion? Yet, at the same time, by his example he reminds us all that we should never think of the grace manifested in God’s calling without being moved to lofty admiration.

Eternal, invisible, only wise—this sublime praise of the grace God had bestowed on him swallows up the remembrance of his former life. For how great a depth is the glory of God! Those attributes he ascribes to God, though they always belong to Him, are admirably suited to the present occasion. The Apostle calls Him the King eternal, not liable to any change; Invisible, because (1 Timothy 6:16) He dwells in light that is inaccessible; and, lastly, the Only Wise, because He makes foolish, and condemns as vanity, all human wisdom. The whole agrees with the conclusion at which he arrives:

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His designs! How unsearchable His ways! (Romans 11:33).

He means that we should behold the infinite and incomprehensible wisdom of God with such reverence that, if His works surpass our senses, we may still be restrained by admiration.

Yet, regarding the last epithet, Only, it is doubtful whether he means to claim all glory for God alone, or calls Him the only wise, or says that He alone is God. The second of these meanings is the one I prefer, for it was in perfect harmony with his present subject to say that human understanding, whatever it may be, must yield to the secret purpose of God. And yet I do not deny that he affirms that God alone is worthy of all glory; for while God scatters the sparks of His glory on His creatures in every direction, still all glory truly and perfectly belongs to Him alone. But either of these meanings implies that there is no glory except that which belongs to God.