Cannot lie (893) (apseudes from a = without + pseudes = untrue, deceit, false, liar) describes one free from all deceit or falsehood and so truthful or trustworthy and is used only in this verse in the NT and only of God.
The Greek literally reads "the non-lying God" or the "without deceit God". This is a comforting truth we probably too often take for granted but it is good to be reminded that
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Nu 23:19)
The prophet Samuel reminded disobedient King Saul that God
“the Glory of Israel, will not lie” (1Sa 15:29).
God is the essence of Truth. Jesus is "the Truth" Jn 14:6 and is "Faithful and True" Rev 19:11-note and the Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father" (Jn 15:26). It follows that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18-note). In marked contrast “whenever [the devil] speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), but whenever God speaks, He speaks from His own nature which is truth, because He is the Father of truth. God's character backs up His promise of eternal life making a believer's certain "hope" radically different from the world's "hope so".
Solomon reminded Israel that "not one word has failed of all His good promise" (1Ki8:56) which should cause all God's children to seek to live as more than conquerors in this present evil age as we fix our hope completely on the faithfulness of "the non lying God."
PROMISED LONG AGES AGO: en epeggeilato (3SAMI) pro chronon aionion: (2Ti 1:1; 1:9 Rev 17:8) (Pr 8:23-31; Mt 25:34; Jn 17:24; Acts 15:18; Ro 16:25; 1Pe 1:20, 21, 22, 23; Rev 13:8) (Torrey's Topic "Promises of God")
Promised (1861) (epaggello) means that even in eternity past God announced and pledged with solemnity and certainty the transaction that He was going to perform in regard to sinners.
In the present context the promise which "He Himself made to us" is "eternal life." (1Jn 2:25)
Keathley comments that
"Paul goes on to show that this eternal life promised was not a last-minute decision that God scrambled to come up with after man’s fall into sin as recorded in Genesis 3. This promise stretches back into eternity past. This means it has the seal and certainty of the eternal wisdom of God." And as the patriarch Abraham experienced, what God promises, He is "able also to perform." (Ro 4:21-note, cf 1Th 5:24-note, Heb 10:23-note)
Webster defines a "promise" as a "legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act."
A promise is a word that goes forth into unfilled time. It reaches ahead of its speaker and its recipient, to mark an appointment between them in the future.
A promise may be an assurance of continuing or future action on behalf of someone, a solemn agreement of lasting relationship as in the concept of covenant or finally a promise may be simply the announcement of a future event.
Unger divides Biblical promises into four categories...
(1) those relating to the Messiah; (2) those relating to the church; (3) those relating to the Gentiles; and (4) those relating to Israel as a nation, now nationally set aside but yet to be restored. (Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press)
God has made a solemn binding (covenant) pledge to grant eternal life to sinners. We often lose sight of the fact that God did not have to promise anything to sinful people. As Paul wrote earlier "all the promises of God in (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him Amen" (2Cor 1:20, cf Christ confirms or makes sure "the promises given to the fathers" -- Ro 15:8-note) for Jesus "is the Mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Heb 9:15-note) And so we can be secure in our salvation because it was promised by God. Nothing is as sure as the word of God, Who cannot lie, Who cannot be deceived, and Who will not deceive. There is no risk in believing what He says. In fact nothing is more reasonable than for the creature to believe his Creator. As Joshua (Josh 23:14) reminded the "children of promise" in the OT
not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.
He is "the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Heb 13:8-note) If by chance dear reader you have never accepted God's glorious promise of eternal life, take note of the warning from the writer of Hebrews
Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest. (Heb 4:1, 2-note, He 4:3a-note)
Long ages ago -- The Greek reads literally "before eternal times" or before the times of the ages, that is, before time began to be reckoned by aeons. Eternal life is a hope from God promised before time began and then in time "promised (through the gospel) beforehand through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures" (Ro 1:2-note). The original promise was made and ratified in eternity past. Our gracious God “called us with a holy calling…in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2Ti 1:9-note), having chosen "us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4-note) and having "predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (Eph 1:5-note) His eternal will was manifested in His “eternal covenant [through] Jesus our Lord” (Heb 13:20-note).
The amazing truth herein is that God's plan of redemption for sinners did not come after men fell but before man was even created! Before God provided the marvelous promise of forgiveness and heaven to sinful mankind, He had given a promise to His beloved Son. What wondrous love is this?
What Wondrous Love is This
(Play)
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)