Intercession of Angels

[Guardian]

If Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man, then why can Catholics pray to an angel for intercession? An angel is neither God nor human (man). How’s that work?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Reepicheep]

If Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, why can I ask my friends to pray for me? Am I making my friends Mediators in the place of Jesus?
Or is it only that “intercession” is not the same thing as the “mediation” of Christ?
But if I may ask another man to pray/intercede for me, then why not ask an angel?

 

[JaneFrances]

First, you need to think about what Jesus is the Mediator of.

 

[Victorious]

If Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man, then why can Catholics pray to an angel for intercession? An angel is neither God nor human (man). How’s that work?

Thanks in advance.

Because, like any good boss, God delegates.

Scriptures are full of examples of God sending angels to carry messages to humans (e.g., Moses and the burning bush, Gabriel announcing to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God), so why shouldn’t it work the other way around? As a matter of fact it does, as evidenced by the Book of Tobit, which I believe was expunged from the Bible by Martin Luther or one of his followers, thereby doing irreparable damage to the already deeply flawed theory of sola scriptura. And isn’t it in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says that our angels see the face of God in heaven? What is the point of us having angels to guard us if they aren’t also praying for us to God?

To the extent we or any other creature can intercede for us to God, it is entirely due to the mediatorship of Jesus and subsidiary to it. It does not – indeed, cannot – supplant it.

 

[Jeanette_L]

Christ’s sacrifice Mediates between us and God’s Justice, or eternal punishment for sin.

Intercessory prayer is a request for help. We ask others to intercede for us all the time, at least I know I do. We are told in the Scriptures to intercede for others, in prayer and in deed, it’s part of our job description as Christians, servants of the Most High God. This is what angels are also, servants of the Most High God, and their mission, or service, includes carrying messages back and forth, and helping us, at least that’s what the Bible conveys. Asking an angel for intercession or help is asking him to do his job.

This argument is old and not thought through very well, but is very common outside of Catholicism. Once I understood the difference between Christ’s Mediation and all of our intercessions, I felt like a fool for having fallen for it for sooooo many years, what a waste of time for me!

 

[Guardian]

I don’t have a problem with humans (on earth or in heaven) being intercessors because they are still human (man), and the verse says between God and man.

I also don’t disagree with angels being intercessors, for that is Biblical. What I don’t understand is how 1 Timothy 2:5 aligns with the rest of Scripture.

What I’m asking is, what is the deep meaning context of 1 Timothy 2:5?? Why did God put 1 Timothy 2:5 in the Bible, and why did He phrase it as such and put ONE mediator? If angels and humans can mediate as well, then what was the point of stating “one” next to mediator? Why doesn’t it get more specific and explain it better?

If one could expound on that a bit in theological terms, I would appreciate it.

Jeannette L: Would you please explain your very first sentence in your reply, please?

 

[Jeanette_L]

Jeannette L: Would you please explain your very first sentence in your reply, please?

My understanding is that Christ is the only Mediator as the One Perfect Sacrifice, He Mediates between us, as sinners, and God’s Justice, which requires payment or punishment for sin, a perfect blood sacrifice. It is only Christ and His Sacrifice that stands between us and God’s Wrath. We are not capable of such a sacrifice, thus Christ is the One Mediator.

Our mediation is only as intercessors and servants, and is only possible because of His Perfect Sacrifice, which is THE Mediation (capital M). It is only **through **Him, as part of His Body, that we can offer intercessions. Does this make sense?

And of course, angels are not humans, they are spirits who have been given the task of helping us on our journey. They were there for Christ when he was being tempted in the desert. They were there for him in the Garden when he was undergoing his agony. We don’t understand everything, but we do know that they have a ministry toward us. Why is it so hard to comprehend that we can ask them for their help in strengthening us as they did Christ? Or conveying a message for us as they are often portrayed in Scriptures? Or helping us in a spiritual battle, which is also their ministry? In doing so, we are not asking them to stand in the gap as the sacrifice, but to come to our aid as helpers and fellow warriors and servants, which is their role.

 

[levi86]

If Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man, then why can Catholics pray to an angel for intercession? An angel is neither God nor human (man). How’s that work?

Thanks in advance.

2 Timothy 2
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Revelation 5
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 3
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 2
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Does our “reigning” with Christ take away from his supreme authority? Of course not! The same goes for mediation.

There is only ONE mediator between God and man, but by the grace of God we are now part of that one mediator, Jesus. We are now mystically joined to Jesus as part of the body of Christ.

 

[Michael_G]

If Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man, then why can Catholics pray to an angel for intercession? An angel is neither God nor human (man). How’s that work?

Thanks in advance.

We are called to intercede for on another through Christ.
1Ti 2:1 I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men:
2Co 5:18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

The Bible Angels & Saints
Angels and Saints See and Hear us
1 Cor 4:9
We are made spectacle to world, to** angels**
Luk 20:36
For they shall be equal unto angels
Mat 22:30,
Saints in heaven shall be like Angelic Spirits
Luke 15:10
There will be joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents
**
Angels to Guard and Protect Us**
Mat 18:10 (guardian)
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Gen 48:16 (guardian) *
Jacob refers to the angel who protected him from evil
Acts 12:15
….They said, "It was his Angel"
Judith 13:20 (guardian)
The office of the angels is to keep us
guardian angels also see
Psalm 91:11 ,Exodus 23:20, Acts 12:11, Heb 1:14, Acts 5:19,Acts 12:5,7,8, Ps 34:7-8,
Gen 24:7
**
People Pray to Angels for Favor or Blessings*
Gen 48:16
Jacob prays for a blessing from an angel of God
See also *
Ps. 148:1-2, Deut 32:43, Ps 103:20
**
Angels and Saints Pray for Us and Intercede for Us*
Zech 1:12
angel intercedes for Jerusalem
2Pet 1:15
I will endeavor that even after my death you may often have occasion to call these things to mind
See also *
Mat 18:10, Rev 8:5, Rev 5:8,
**
God Instructs His People to Make Statues and Pictures of Angels*
Ex 25:18, Num. 21:8, & 2 chronicles 3:7-13 1Kgs:6:26, 27-29, 1Kgs 7:36
Golden Cherubim-angels placed on top of the Ark and in the temple
*Exodus 26:1 *
linen for the tent dwelling embroidered Cherubim
Exodus 26:31
veil embroidered Cherubim-angel
3KINGS6:23-35
CHERUBIM AND OTHER SCULPTURES IN THE TEMPLE

1 Cor 3:9 We are God’s Co-workers In essence all those on earth in union with Christ, and His entire heavenly court are God’s Coworkers