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Jesus Christ as the Mediator between God and Humanity

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the unique mediator between God and humanity [1, 2]. A mediator is defined as one who intervenes between two parties at variance to reconcile them [3]. This concept is not found in the Old Testament, though the idea is present in the role of a "daysman" or "umpire" in Job 9:33 [3].

The apostle Paul explicitly states this in 1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus" [1, 2]. This mediation is essential because humanity is at a distance from God due to sin [8, 10]. Christ's role as mediator is rooted in his atonement, through which he reconciles God and humanity [4, 9]. His sacrificial death and ongoing intercession are central to this mediation [9].

Moses served as a type of mediator in the Old Covenant, standing between God and the Israelites to convey God's word and laws [3, 4, 10, 12]. However, Christ is the mediator of a "better covenant" [10], specifically the gospel covenant [4, 6]. This new covenant is confirmed and ratified by Christ's blood [6].

Christ's mediatorial office encompasses three distinct functions: prophet, priest, and king [5]. These are not separate offices but different aspects of his single mediatorial role [5]. As king, he is the sovereign head over his Church and over all things for the benefit of his Church [5]. As mediator, Christ is also understood to be the "substance" and "messenger" of the covenant [6, 7].

The necessity of a mediator arises from the existence of two parties, God and humanity, who are separated [8]. John Gill notes that where there is only one party, there is no need for a mediator [8]. Christ's mediation is not limited to those who lived after his earthly ministry; he is considered the mediator for all who died before his coming as well, from the foundation of the world [11]. His divine nature as God and his human nature as "the man Christ Jesus" enable him to bridge the gap between the divine and the human [1, 2, 13].

Sources

  1. I Timothy “I Timothy 2:5 (LEB) — For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus,”
  2. King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mediator — One who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. This word is not found in the Old Testament; but the idea it expresses is found in Job 9:33, in the word "daysman" (q.v.), marg., "umpire." This word is used in the New Testament to denote simply an internuncius, an ambassador, one who acts as a medium of communication between two contracting parties. In this sense Moses is called a mediator in Gal. 3:19. Christ is the one and only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). He makes reconciliat”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Mediator — In virtue of his atonement -- Eph 2:13-18; Heb 9:15; 12:24. The only one between God and man -- 1Ti 2:5. Of the gospel covenant -- Heb 8:6; 12:24. Typified Moses. -- De 5:5; Ga 3:19. Aaron. -- Nu 16:48.”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Covenant, The — Christ, the substance of -- Isa 42:6; 49:8. Christ, the Mediator of -- Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. Christ, the Messenger of -- Mal 3:1. Made with Abraham. -- Ge 15:7-18; 17:2-14; Lu 1:72-75; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 17:19,21; 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:13,14; 1Ch 16:16,17. Israel. -- Ex 6:4; Ac 3:25. David. -- 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:3,4. Renewed under the gospel -- Jer 31:31-33; Ro 11:27; Heb 8:8-10,13. Fulfilled in Christ -- Lu 1:68-79. Confirmed in Christ -- Ga 3:17. Ratified by the blood of Christ -- Heb 9:11-14,16-23. Is a covenant of peace -- Isa 54:9,10; ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ is God — As Jehovah -- Isa 40:3; Mt 3:3. As Jehovah of glory -- Ps 24:7,10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. As Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:5,6; 1Co 1:30. As Jehovah, above all -- Ps 97:9; Joh 3:31. As Jehovah, the First and the Last -- Isa 44:6; Re 1:17; Isa 48:12-16; Re 22:13. As Jehovah's Fellow and Equal -- Zec 13:7; Php 2:6. As Jehovah of Hosts -- Isa 6:1-3; Joh 12:41; Isa 8:13,14; 1Pe 2:8. As Jehovah, the Shepherd -- Isa 40:11; Heb 13:20. As Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created -- Pr 16:4; Col 1:16. As Jehovah, the Messenger of the covenant -- Mal ”
  8. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 3:20: Now a mediator is not a mediator of one,.... A mediator supposes two parties he stands between, and these at a distance from, or disagreeing with each other; where there is but one party, there can be no need of, nor any reason for, a mediator; so Christ is the Mediator between God and men, the daysman, Job 9:33, that lays his hands upon them both; and Moses, he was the mediator between God and the Israelites: but God is one; not in person, for there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one, in nature and”
  9. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 9:15: 9:15 the one who mediates: This term refers to an arbiter in a difficult legal dispute or political disagreement. In the old covenant, Moses and the angels were understood as mediators between God and the people (Gal 3:19-20). In the new covenant, Christ mediates the relationship between God and people by his sacrificial death (Heb 8:6; 12:24; Rom 6:23; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 Pet 3:18) and ongoing intercession (Heb 7:25).”
  10. Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 5:5: I stood between the Lord and you at that time--as the messenger and interpreter of thy heavenly King, bringing near two objects formerly removed from each other at a vast distance, namely, God and the people (Gal 3:19). In this character Moses was a type of Christ, who is the only mediator between God and men (Ti1 2:5), the Mediator of a better covenant (Heb 8:6; Heb 9:15; Heb 12:24). to show you the word of the Lord--not the ten commandments--for they were proclaimed directly by the Divine Speaker Himself, but the statutes and judgments which ar”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 10.2: of man, so there is but one Mediator for men. As God is the God of all that died before Christ came, as well as of those that died after; so Christ is the Mediator of all that died before his coming, as well as of those that saw his day. They had Christ for their Mediator, or some other; some other they could not have, because there is but one. They might as well have had another Creator besides God, as another Mediator besides the man Christ Jesus. In regard of the antiquity of his mediation, from the foundation of the world, h”
  12. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 20:18: 20:18-26 This interlude is about access to God. The first part (20:18-21) deals with the need for a mediator between the people and God. In 20:22-26, we find the appropriate form for an altar in the interval before God revealed his plans for a more permanent sanctuary (see 25:1–30:28). 20:18-21 The people were very conscious of their sinfulness before a holy God and begged Moses to stand between them and God. Moses pointed out that God’s goal was neither to overawe them nor to destroy them. Rather, he wanted their awe of him to keep them from sinning (20:20). Jes”
  13. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:2: Grace be to you, and peace from God,.... See Gill on Rom 1:7. . Ephesians 1:3 eph 1:3 eph 1:3 eph 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,.... God, the first person in the Trinity, is the God of Christ, as Christ is man and Mediator; he chose and appointed him to be the Mediator, and made a covenant with him as such; he formed and prepared an human nature for him, and anointed it with the Holy Ghost above measure, and supported it under all his trials and sufferings, and at last glorified it: and Christ, as man, prayed to him as his God, believe”
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