¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology is the word used to classify statements like this one. Coined from the two Greek words for “glory” (“doxa”) and “word” (“logos”), it means to speak a word of glory about someone. There is no more worthy subject of such accolades than the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. The apostle Paul breaks into doxology frequently:

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:36).

[T]o the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 16:27).

[T]o whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. (Gal. 1:5).

[T]o Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:21).

Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Phil. 4:20).

That this passage before us today (1 Tim. 1:17) refers to Jesus Christ, we take from the previous verse that speaks of Jesus Christ demonstrating His perfect patience toward Paul. The term “King” aptly fits Jesus Christ, whom Paul later calls “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). Yet the description “invisible” would suggest God the Father, since “He [that is, Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God . . .” (Col. 1:15). As William MacDonald points out, “The fact that we are not able to distinguish which Person of the Godhead is intended might serve as an indication of Their absolute equality.”

This King, then, is described as “eternal.” The book of Hebrews expands on this, in referring to Melchizedek as the type of Christ, that He is “without beginning of days nor end of life” (Heb. 7:3). He is “immortal,” that is, He lives forever. While this doxology until now clearly refers to Jesus Christ, it is God in His essence who is invisible, so we might speak here of God the Father.

Trinitarian theology (God exists in three persons) affirms monotheism: “the only God” (Deut. 5:6–7, 6:4). Although Paul sees himself as the foremost of sinners and worthy of nothing, he sees this great King as worthy of all honor and glory, and since He is eternal, this worthiness continues forever and ever.

Lord, I exalt You, for You alone are worthy of honor and glory.