---
title: 1 Timothy 6:16
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-timothy-6-16/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-timothy-6-16.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: 1 Timothy 6:16
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# 1 Timothy 6:16

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

## JW Usage

JWs cite 1 Timothy 6:16 — "who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see" — to argue that Jesus cannot be God because people saw Jesus. The verse is read as describing Jehovah exclusively, confirming that God is invisible and that Jesus, as a visible created being, cannot share the divine nature.

## Protestant Usage

First Timothy 6:15-16 describes the one who is "King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light." This title — "King of kings and Lord of lords" — is applied to Jehovah in Deuteronomy 10:17 and to Jesus in Revelation 19:16. If the same title belongs to both, and the one who bears it "dwells in unapproachable light," then either Jesus shares the divine nature or Revelation 19:16 is a blasphemous usurpation. The christophany argument resolves the visibility question: the Father dwells in unapproachable light and has never been seen (John 6:46); the Son is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) who made the Father known (John 1:18). The incarnation is God entering the visible realm, not a creature receiving a title beyond its nature.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Who Appeared to Abraham?](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ot-christophany.md) — If no one has seen the Father, the OT appearances were Christ [Deity of Christ]
- [King of Kings and Lord of Lords](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/king-of-kings.md) — Revelation 19:16 — A title shared with Jehovah [Deity of Christ]