An intermediary, in biblical terms, refers to a person or entity that acts as a mediator or go-between, facilitating communication or reconciliation between two parties. In the context of Scripture, intermediaries often serve as agents of divine will, bridging the gap between God and humanity.

Old Testament Intermediaries

In the Old Testament, intermediaries are frequently seen in the form of prophets, priests, and angels. Prophets like Moses served as intermediaries between God and the Israelites. Moses is a quintessential example, as he communicated God's laws and commandments to the people. In Exodus 19:19, it is written, "And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice."

Priests also acted as intermediaries, particularly in the sacrificial system. They offered sacrifices on behalf of the people to atone for sins and maintain a covenant relationship with God. The high priest, in particular, had the unique role of entering the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16).

Angels, as messengers of God, served as intermediaries by delivering divine messages and guidance. For instance, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon to commission him as a judge and deliverer of Israel (Judges 6:11-24).

New Testament Intermediaries

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the ultimate intermediary. He is described as the one mediator between God and mankind. 1 Timothy 2:5 states, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus reconciled humanity to God, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe.

The role of Jesus as an intermediary is further emphasized in the book of Hebrews, where He is depicted as the great high priest who intercedes on behalf of believers. Hebrews 4:14-16 highlights this role: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

The Holy Spirit also functions as an intermediary by dwelling within believers and guiding them in truth. The Spirit intercedes for believers in prayer, as noted in Romans 8:26-27: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Intermediary in Christian Theology

In Christian theology, the concept of an intermediary underscores the necessity of divine mediation for salvation and communion with God. The fall of humanity introduced a separation from God due to sin, necessitating a mediator to restore the broken relationship. Jesus Christ, as the God-man, uniquely fulfills this role, being both fully divine and fully human.

The role of intermediaries in the Bible highlights God's desire to communicate with and redeem His creation. Through various means and figures, God has consistently provided ways for humanity to know Him and receive His grace.1. (a.) Lying, coming, or done, between; intermediate; as, an intermediary project.

2. (n.) One who, or that which, is intermediate; an interagent; a go-between.

3316. mesites -- an arbitrator, a mediator
... Masculine Transliteration: mesites Phonetic Spelling: (mes-ee'-tace) Short Definition:
a mediator, go-between Definition: (a) a mediator, intermediary, (b) a go ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3316.htm - 7k

Of Three Kinds of Most Inward Practices
... of love. And here he meets God without intermediary. And from ... And here he
meets God through an intermediary. This intermediary is the ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter lxv of three kinds.htm

Showing the Three Ways by which one Enters into the God-Seeing ...
... For to comprehend and to under stand God above all similitudes, such as He is in
Himself, is to be God with God, without intermediary, and without any ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter i showing the three.htm

Of the Great Difference Between the Brightness of the Saints and ...
... But the state of the saints is transparent and shining, and therefore they receive
the brightness without intermediary: but our state is still mortal and gross ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xi of the great.htm

The Incarnation.
... with things and persons not Himself. Vague indeed was the conception formed
even of this intermediary Being. But of this term "the ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/i the incarnation.htm

Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final ...
... 2. Intermediary Beings. ... If the Logos separates between God and the world, it
is rather as intermediary; He separates, but He also unites. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv philo of alexandria.htm

How a Religious Man Should Commit Himself to God in all ...
... good will, and conformed to him. Besides, nothing will then be intermediary
between you and God. This is obvious, since nothing ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 8 how a religious.htm

The Papal Power in the Church
... that his name is unique in the world, that he ought to be judged by none; and it
ascribes to him, without the intervention of any intermediary, the supreme and ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter x the papal power.htm

Effects Require Causes
... She brings related things together; sets causes at work; these causes bring
about the result. She is not a creator, but an intermediary. ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/effects require causes.htm

How God's Providence Includes Everything
... For so far as the nature of the order of things is concerned, God provides for
everything without intermediary right down to the last detail. ...
/.../albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 16 how gods providence.htm

An Anonymous Sermon, Commonly Called Clement's Second Letter to ...
... tinged with Gnostic speculation (chs.12; 14), but they are nonetheless aimed against
basic Gnostic tenets which saw in Christ a being intermediary between God ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/an anonymous sermon commonly called.htm

Intermediary (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lying, coming, or done, between; intermediate;
as, an intermediary project. ...Intermediary (2 Occurrences). ...
/i/intermediary.htm - 7k

Intermediate

/i/intermediate.htm - 6k

Intermeddleth (2 Occurrences)

/i/intermeddleth.htm - 6k

Deal (170 Occurrences)
... 11. (vi) To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage;
to make arrangements; -- followed by between or with. 12. ...
/d/deal.htm - 40k

Blastus (1 Occurrence)
... blas'-tus (Blastos, "shoot"): The chamberlain of Herod Agrippa I, whose services
as an intermediary between them and the king were gained by the people of Tyre ...
/b/blastus.htm - 7k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... Araunah at "a price." Such cases, however, are in a sense exceptional; trade in
general at that time was by barter and exchange, without intermediary or market ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Philosophy (1 Occurrence)
... wisdom, goodness and beauty. It communicated itself as intermediary archerypal
ideas to produce all individual things. So that the ...
/p/philosophy.htm - 27k

Epistle (13 Occurrences)
... false teaching. Its teachers look to intermediary spirits, angels whom
they worship; and insist on a very strict asceticism. To ...
/e/epistle.htm - 101k

Colossians (1 Occurrence)
... false teaching. Its teachers look to intermediary spirits, angels whom
they worship; and insist on a very strict asceticism. To ...
/c/colossians.htm - 23k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 5:11; 1 Kings 9:11, however, indicate that Hiram was the intermediary for
most of this gold traffic, so that at the final settlement of accounts ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

What is shamanism? | GotQuestions.org

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Is the Catholic Church a separate religion or a division of Christianity? | GotQuestions.org

Intermediary: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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