the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Mediator
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or 1. 'Mediator' is a word peculiar to the Scriptures, and is used, in an accommodated sense, by many of the ancient Fathers, to denote one who intervenes between two dispensations. Hence it is applied to John the Baptist, because he came, as it were, between the Mosaic and Christian dispensations.
2. Again, it signifies, in its more proper sense, an internuncius, or ambassador, one who stands as the channel of communication between two contracting parties. Some commentators think that the Apostle Paul, in , calls Moses mediator, because he conveyed the expression of God's will to the people, and reported to God their wants, wishes, and determinations. Many ancient and modern divines, however, are of opinion that Christ Himself, and not Moses, is here meant by the inspired Apostle, and this view would seem to be confirmed by comparing with .
3. Christ is called Mediator by virtue of the reconciliation He has effected between a justly offended God and His rebellious creature man. In this sense of the term Moses was, on many occasions, an eminent type of Christ. The latter, however, was not Mediator, merely by reason of his coming between God and His creatures, as certain heretics would affirm; but because he appeased His wrath, and made reconciliation for iniquity.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Mediator'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/m/mediator.html.
