civilwar.
You asked:
QUOTE:
How would one justify (secondary mediation) . . . based on 1 Timothy 2:5
Here is the verse.
1st TIMOTHY 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Short answer (Two reasons. Context and Greek manuscript):
Context
The question you have to ask yourself at this point is HOW does Jesus mediate?
Does He mediate ALL by Himself?
. . . . OR . . . . .
Does He mediate all by Himself AND ALSO mediates in others and through others too?
The answer to this question is found four verses earlier when the Holy Spirit (through St. Paul) is telling us to “make supplications” on behalf of others and how this is “good” and “acceptable”.
Greek:
There is a Greek answer to your question too.
The Greek word for “one” as in “one mediator between God and men” allows for secondary mediation.
Hope this helps.
God bless.
Cathoholic
Longer answer (excerpt below from our local area Men’s Bible Study Group):
There are Greek AND contextual reasons, that make the objection above untenable.
Here’s how to respond to this objection.
The Greek word for “one” as in “one mediator” is transliterated heis (“hay-eese”).
“Heis” allows for secondary mediation.
1st TIMOTHY 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one (heis) mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
The Greek word “monos” could have been used which would be more exclusive.
But “monos” wasn’t used here in 1st Timothy 2:5. “Heis” WAS used.
That’s WHY in the immediate verses earlier; we are NOT told we cannot mediate and pray on behalf of other people.
NOT 1st TIMOTHY 2:1-5 (Phantom Verse) 1 First of all, then, you people cannot make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. 3 Because if you try to do this, you will be trying to mediate between God and men. It is a terrible thing to try to do this mediation between God and men and totally unacceptable in the sight of God. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. **So don’t you dare even think to try mediating in any sense. **
No! That would be non-sense.
The issue isn’t CAN WE “mediate between God and men”.
The issue is HOW does Jesus “mediate between God and men”.
And the answer is Jesus mediated on Calvary all by Himself, yes. . . . . .BUT He ALSO CONTINUES to mediate in us and through us as well.
That’s part of what “grace” is.
That’s also WHY St. Peter can say we are “partakers” of the Divine nature.
That’s WHY St. Paul tells us we have a “participation” or a “koinonia” in Christ.
So the issue is HOW does Jesus mediate between God and men, NOT “can we mediate APART from Jesus Christ” (as we cannot “mediate” apart from Christ in any sense).
That’s WHY several verses earlier you and I ARE told to mediate and pray on behalf of other people. Precisely because Jesus is the “one mediator” within us, we CAN mediate.
1st TIMOTHY 2:1-5 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. 3 This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Some examples of this concept of God working in and through people include Philippians 2:12-13, Philippians 4:13, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 3:20-21, and Hebrews 13:20a, 21. Other verses that at least hint at the same thing include, Romans 8:8-11, 1st Thessalonians 2:13, Philippians 1:6, 1st Corinthians 9:1, 2nd Corinthians 6:1, 2nd Corinthians 9:8, John 9:4, and many others.
The Blessed Virgin Mary our Spiritual Mother is the mediator (female = mediatrix) par excellence in this context.
