15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
The time of Christ’s coming is known only by God; the timing remains His prerogative.
15 which He will manifest in His own time [season],
The timing of Christ’s coming rests solely on God’s determination. “Time” here is not the chronology of time but the kind of time, the season Paul is about to describe.
He who is the blessed and only Potentate [Sovereign],
Beginning with this phrase, Paul gave seven statements of majestic praise to God. This series of praise statements begins one of the greatest doxologies in the New Testament.
God is “blessed,” meaning He lacks nothing. Paul described Christ as having perfect bliss (1 Tim 1:11), and as the sole Potentate, He has absolute sovereignty over everything. Everything in the universe is subordinate to Him.
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
These titles of Christ indicate His absolute power over all creation, especially human authorities. Revelation 17:14; 19:16 also attribute these titles to Jesus Christ.
PRINCIPLE:
The more we understand who and what God is, the greater trust and courage we have for ministry.
APPLICATION:
The delineation of God’s character imparts courage to those who understand who He truly is. Fear of man brings a “snare,” as in Proverbs 29:25, but awe of God brings courage. Fear produces anxiety and the desire to yield to false doctrine. A snare traps Christians from becoming what God designed for them. Overcoming fear is especially important for those who teach the Bible. Fear will steal their ministry from them.
