Christ as Mediator in Early Christianity

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching

The Evangelists, too, when they declared that the one Father was "the only true God," did not leave out what concerned our Lord, but wrote: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." And concerning the incarnation: "The Word," says the Scripture, "became flesh and lived among us." And again: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." And those same apostles, who said "that there is one God," also said that "there is one Mediator between God and men." Nor were they ashamed of the incarnation and the passion. For what does one say? "The man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself" for the life and salvation of the world.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Direct teaching

...ame Holy Spirit, who is good, sovereign, and true, and the Author of saving knowledge. For there is one God of the Old and New Testament, “one Mediator between God and men,” for the creation of both intelligent and sensitive beings, and to provide beneficial and suitable guidance over them. There is also one Comforter, who showed His power in Moses, and the prophets, and apostles. All the saints, therefore, were saved by Christ, hoping in Him, and waiting for Him; and they obtained salvation through Him, being holy ones, worthy of love and admiration, having testimony given to them by Jesus Christ, in the Gospel of our common hope.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

... unjust, and a retribution. We profess that Christ is not a mere man, but God the Word, and man the Mediator between God and men, the High Priest of the Father. Nor are we circumcised with the Jews, because we know that He has come to whom the inheritance was reserved, Genesis 49:10, and for whose sake the families were kept distinct: the expectation of the Gentiles, Jesus Christ, who sprang from Judah, the Son from the branch, the flower from Jesse, whose government is upon His shoulder.

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching

... of every creature," and God the Word, who also created all things. For the apostle says, "There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things." And again, "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus;" and, "By Him were all things created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

Wherever it may be, it is in safe keeping in God's presence, through that most faithful Mediator between God and man, (the man) Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 2:5 who shall reconcile both God to man, and man to God;

Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ Direct teaching

Daniel 7:13 The Apostle Paul likewise says: The man Christ Jesus is the one Mediator between God and man.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

Thus the Mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus, having the power of every creature subjected to Him by His own Father, inasmuch as He is God;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

For it was incumbent upon the Mediator between God and men, by His relationship to both, to bring both to friendship and concord, and present man to God, while He revealed God to man.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

God is mingled with man. This is our God, this is Christ, who, as the mediator of the two, puts on man that He may lead them to the Father.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

For there is one God of the Old and New Testament, “one Mediator between God and men,” for the creation of both intelligent and sensitive beings, and in order to exercise a beneficial and suitable providence [over them].

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And in another place: But a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

one was buried, and myriads rose again. He is the Mediator between God and man;

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Direct teaching

...ays, "Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," 1 Timothy 2:5. "Now a mediator is not of one man, but two," Galatians 3:20. Therefore, it was necessary that Christ, in becoming the Mediator between God and men, should receive some kind of pledge from both, so that he might appear as the Mediator between two distinct persons.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

.... Being the Holy Spirit, He is clothed with flesh. God is joined with man. This is our God; this is Christ. As the mediator of the two, He puts on man so that He may lead them to the Father. Christ was willing to become what man is, so that man also may be what Christ is.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

Now, in order that He might be shown to have together in Himself at once the nature of God and that of man — as the apostle, too, says: Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

We profess that Christ is not a mere man, but God the Word, and man the Mediator between God and men, the High Priest of the Father;

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And yet the heretic still shrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was it that Christ was not only from the seed of David, but was also the Word made flesh and dwelt among us? For although the first-formed man was not born from seed, yet the first-formed man was not made by the joining together of the Word and flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to be created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is onl

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

And yet the heretic still shrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was Christ not only from the seed of David, but also the Word made flesh who dwelt among us? For although the first man was not born from seed, neither was the first man formed from the union of the Word and the flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to have been created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is only man, how is He present w

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

For this cause, therefore, being God, He took upon Him flesh, that, becoming a mediator between God and man, having overcome death, He might by His guidance lead man to God.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And rightly, as there is in Him something which excels the creature, the agreement of the divinity and the humanity seems to be pledged in Him: for which reason He who is declared as made the Mediator between God and man is revealed to have associated in Himself God and man.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

For this cause, therefore, a mediator came — that is, God in the flesh — that the flesh might be able to follow Him, and that He might rescue man from death, which has dominion over the flesh.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

And rightly, as there is in Him something which excels the creature, the agreement of the divinity and the humanity seems to be pledged in Him: for which reason He who is declared as made the Mediator between God and man is revealed to have associated in Himself God and man.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

And the Mediator executes the Father's will; for the Mediator is the Word, who is common to both — the Son of God, the Saviour of men;

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Supporting witness

In like manner, again, the apostle calls Him the Mediator between God and Men, 1 Timothy 2:5 and so affirmed His participation of both substances.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...tion to yourselves, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," Galatians 6:1-2. Also, while rebuking the proud and breaking down their arrogance, he says in his epistle, "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall"; and in another place he says, "Who are you to judge another man's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall stand, for God is able to make him stand." John also shows that Jesus Christ the Lord is our Advocate and Intercessor for our sins, saying, "My little children, I write these things to you, so that you may not sin. And if any man sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Supporter; and He is the propitiation for our sins." And Paul also, the apostle, has written in his epistle, "If, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, much more, now that we are justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him," Romans 5:8-9.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

We have an advocate and an intercessor for our sins, Jesus Christ the Lord and our God, if only we repent of our sins past, and confess and acknowledge our sins, whereby we now offend the Lord, and for the time to come engage to walk in His ways, and to fear His commandments.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

John also proves that Jesus Christ the Lord is our Advocate and Intercessor for our sins, saying, My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not.

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

...in the Epistle of John, when he says, "If any of us sin, we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins," let us consider whether this term, "Paraclete," has one meaning when applied to the Savior, and another when applied to the Holy Spirit. Now when spoken of the Savior, "Paraclete" seems to mean "intercessor." For in Greek, "Paraclete" has both meanings: that of intercessor and comforter. Therefore, because of the words that follow, when he says, "And He is the propitiation for our sins," the name "Paraclete" seems to be understood, in the case of our Savior, as meaning intercessor. For He is said to intercede with the Father because of our sins. In the case of the Holy Spirit, "Paraclete" must be understood in the sense of comforter, since He gives consolation to the souls to whom He openly reveals the apprehension of spiritual knowledge.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

... dead. Therefore, remembering the many labors and distresses that they have endured for the name of Christ, since they themselves also have repented, and have mourned over what was done by them through their being betrayed by the languor and mortification of the body; and since, besides this, they testify that in their life they have, as it were, been aliens from their city; let us pray together with them and plead for their reconciliation, together with other things that are fitting, through Him who is our Advocate with the Father and makes propitiation for our sins. "And if any man sin," he says, "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 2:1

Clement of Alexandria, Fragments Direct teaching

Chapter 2, section 1. And if anyone sins, he says, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. For in this way the Lord is an advocate with the Father for us. There is also an advocate whom, after His ascension, He was pleased to send. For these original and first-created powers are unchangeable in their substance, and together with lower angels and archangels, whose names they share, they carry out divine works. In this way also Moses refers to the power of the angel Michael by means of an angel who was near him and of the lowest rank. We find the same thing also in the holy prophets. But to Moses, an angel appeared close by and near at hand. Moses heard him and spoke with him clearly, face to face. But on the other prophets, through the work of angels, an impression was made, as on those who were hearing and seeing.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... to make satisfaction to God the Father. We have an advocate and an intercessor for our sins, Jesus Christ the Lord and our God, if only we repent of our past sins, and confess and acknowledge the sins by which we now offend the Lord, and for the future commit ourselves to walk in His ways and to fear His commandments. The Father corrects and protects us, if we still stand firm in the faith in both afflictions and perplexities; that is, if we hold fast to His Christ. As it is written, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35 None of these things can separate believers. Nothing can tear away those who are clinging to His body and blood. Persecution of that kind is a testing and searching of the heart. God wills that we be sifted and proved, just as He has always proved His people; and yet in His trials, help has never at any time been lacking to believers.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...as taught us. It is a loving and fitting prayer to ask God with His own word, and for the prayer of Christ to rise to His ears. Let the Father recognize the words of His Son when we pray. And let Him who dwells within our breast also dwell in our voice. And since we have Him as an Advocate with the Father for our sins, let us, when we sinners make our request for our sins, use the words of our Advocate. For since He says that whatever we ask of the Father in His name, He will give us, John 16:23, how much more effectively do we receive what we ask in Christ's name if we ask for it in His own prayer!

Tertullian, Against All Heresies Supporting witness

in that Christ acts for human beings, being made their Deprecator and Advocate: Melchizedek does so for heavenly angels and Virtues.

Clement of Alexandria, Fragments Supporting witness

Chap. ii. 1. And if any man sin, he says, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Supporter: and He is the propitiation for our sins.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

If any man sin, we read, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...salvation shall go forth, and nations shall trust in My arm?' And by Jeremiah, concerning this same new covenant, He thus speaks: 'Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.' If, therefore, God proclaimed a new covenant that was to be established, and this for a light to the nations, we see and are convinced that people approach God, leaving their idols and other unrighteousness, through the name of Him who was crucified, Jesus Christ, and hold firm to their confession even unto death, and maintain piety. Moreover, by the works and by the accompanying miracles, it is possible for all to understand that He is the new law, and the new covenant, and the hope of those who from every people wait for the good things of God. For the true spiritual Israel, and descendants of Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham (who was approved of and blessed by God on account of his faith, and called the father of many nations, despite being uncircumcised), are we who have been led to God through

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

And those among them who declare that God would establish a new covenant with people, not like the one He made with the ancestors at Mount Horeb, and would give people a new heart and a new spirit; and again, "And do not remember the things of old: behold, I make new things which shall now arise, and you shall know it; and I will make a way in the desert, and rivers in a dry land, to give drink to my chosen people, my people whom I have acquired, that they may show forth my praise,"—clearly announced the freedom which characterizes the new covenant, and the new wine which is put into new bottles, meaning the faith which is in Christ, by which He has proclaimed the way of righteousness that arises in the desert, and the streams of the Holy Spirit in a dry land, to give water to the chosen people of God, whom He has acquired, that they might show forth His praise, but not that they might blaspheme Him who made these things, that is, God.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

... your heart." And in another passage: "Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Jacob, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I arrested their dispensation, in order to bring them out of the land of Egypt." He thus shows that the ancient covenant is only temporary, when He points to its change, and also when He promises that it will be followed by an eternal one. For by Isaiah He says: "Hear me, and you shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you," adding, "the sure mercies of David," Isaiah 55:3, in order to show that that covenant was to run its course in Christ. That He was of the family of David, according to the genealogy of Mary, He declared in a figurative way even by the rod that was to come out of the stem of Jesse, Isaiah 11:1. Since then he said that from the Creator there would come other laws, and other words, and new divine arrangements of covenants, also indicating that the sacrifices themselves were to receive higher offices, and that among all nations, by Malachi when he says: "I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, neither will I

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

... moon is not visible, they do not keep the Sabbath, which is called the first; nor do they keep the new moon, nor the feast of unleavened bread, nor the feast, nor the great day." Then he gives the final answer to the question: "Do that also, learning in a holy and righteous way what we deliver to you. Keep these things, worshiping God in a new way, through Christ. For we find in the Scriptures, as the Lord says: 'Behold, I make with you a new covenant, not as I made with your fathers at Mount Horeb.' Jeremiah 31:31-32; Hebrews 8:8-10" He made a new covenant with us, for what belonged to the Greeks and Jews is old. But we, who worship Him in a new way, in the third form, are Christians. For clearly, I think, he showed that the one and only God was known by the Greeks in a Gentile way, by the Jews in a Jewish way, and by us in a new and spiritual way.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...ce, if the law could enlighten the nations and those who possess it, what need would there be for a new covenant? But because God announced beforehand that He would send a new covenant, and an everlasting law and commandment, we should not interpret this as referring to the old law and its followers, but to Christ and His followers, namely us Gentiles, whom He has illuminated, as He says somewhere: ‘Thus says the Lord, In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You, and I have given You for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, and to inherit the deserted.’ What then is Christ’s inheritance? Is it not the nations? What is the covenant of God? Is it not Christ? As He says in another place: ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession.’"

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

And therefore in the last times the Lord has restored us into friendship through His incarnation, having become “the Mediator between God and men;” propitiating indeed for us the Father against whom we had sinned, and cancelling (consolatus) our disobedience by His own obedience;

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness

Those who have become acquainted with the secondary (i.e., under Christ) constitutions of the apostles, are aware that the Lord instituted a new oblation in the new covenant, according to [the declaration of] Malachi the prophet.

Lactantius, Connection to Hebrews 8:13 Supporting witness

For that which He said above, that He would make a new testament to the house of Judah, shows that the old testament which was given by Moses was not perfect; but that that which was to be given by Christ would be complete.

Hebrews 9:15 Direct teaching

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 12:24 Direct teaching

to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Hebrews 8:6 Direct teaching

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Luke 22:20 Supporting witness

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.