The Issue of Christ as Mediator

by passwordprotected 32 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • cameo-d
    cameo-d

    Israelite high priests eventually died. But Jesus “has become a high priest according to the manner of Melchizedek forever.”

    Better watch out for the Order of Melchizedek.

    They will try to come into power announcing that they are "The Christ Class".

  • Earnest
    Earnest

    Hmmm...can you mediate something without being a "mediator"? Only if the word "mediator" is used in a very restrictive sense which seems to be the case in scripture. I think it is a silly thing for the WTS to make such a distinction...the English word "mediator" doesn't have such a restrictive sense any more than the verb (to mediate) does. But technically I think the distinction is correct.

  • Chalam
    Chalam

    Hi,

    Advocate, mediator or intercessor, take your pick, the word it not important, it is what Jesus is doing as passwordprotected saying.

    Also, who is described as the word which means the same in greek?

    Strong's Number 3875 (παρ?κλητος: advocate, comforter)

    Yes He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.

    The WT want to keep JWs in the dark about the real Jesus, followed a close second from the Holy Spirit.

    I agree, how can Jesus intercede for us all unless He is God?

    How does His sacrifice pay for the whole of the sins of mankind unless He is God?

    How can His spirit live in those who believe in Him unless Jesus is God?

    How can He know everything (omniscience) unless He is God?

    How can He be everywhere at once (omnipresence) through His spirit, unless He is God?

    How can He be all powerful (omnipotence) unless He is God.

    How can He be the judge unless He knows everything and is God?

    How can His name be "God with us" unless he is God?

    How can His name be the name above every name in heaven and on earth unless He is God?

    How can Jesus use the titles of God the Father unless He is God?

    How can Jesus have created the whole universe and sustain it night and day unless He is God?

    How can Jesus forgive sin unless He is God?

    How can Jesus be Lord unless He is God?

    How can Jesus be raised from the dead through the power of His own spirit unless He is God?

    How can every knee bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord unless He is God?

    How can Jesus be born of a virgin through His own spirit unless He is God?

    How can Jesus be THE way, THE truth and THE life unless He is God?

    All the best,

    Stephen

  • Will Power
    Will Power

    there is another curious side to this. Recently I've "witnessed" a witness say that God is not omnipresent. I wanted him to broaden that idea for me. He said that God could not be more than one place at a time. (I told him it didn't seem very almighty to me - but thats another story).

    can you imagine if they went a few steps further in their thinking? How could a simple man (albeit perfect) take on such a thing as being a mediator for the entire world? even if they just included the christians, even if it was just the really good christians, or just the jws, or even just really deserving jws - phew - if jehovah can't do this sort of thing - how could they give these qualitys to a mere angel?

    Better off given to a group of men in brooklyn.

    wp

  • Chalam
    Chalam

    Better off given to a group of men in brooklyn

    LOL!

    Of course their track record isn't very good :(

    All the best,

    Stephen

  • Will Power
    Will Power

    Chalam - no way, They say their track record is better than anyone else's on the earth.

    Although imperfect there is NOTHING else out there!

  • Satanus
    Satanus

    "Because Christ was fully man and fully God he alone is qualified to represent both parties fully and to mediate for them, creating peace."

    Guess that explains why we pantheists don't need a mediator to god(s). Don't need no religions, iether.

    S

  • Chalam
    Chalam

    Maybe the GB should have a long hard look in the mirror.

    James 1 (New International Version)

    22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

  • yknot
    yknot

    I hate to see this issue end in Athanasius/Arius interpretational squabblings.... (We Xians are not going to agree but let us keep 'unity' in our profession of the Christ as Son, Redeemer, Mediator and King)

    I think it is worth noting that we in an era of transition that hasn't been seen since Rutherford decided to dump much of Russell's opinions. A generation is no longer associated with 1914, 1935's sealing is gone, no end is really in sight since tribulation is a future event not something that happened during the Judge's confinement. The JWs who are largely depended upon for financial support are more information savvy. (lol can you imagine Woodworth quackery passing mustard in the Awake these days?).

    It would be very very easy for the WTS to adjust the mediation light and still retain control via bogus appointment claims.

    With all the changes it apprears the JWs/WTS is being primed for reinvention.

  • blondie
    blondie

    Other bibles and the use of "mediator"

    1. Galatians 3:19
    2. American Standard Version (ASV)
      What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
      Galatians 3:18-20 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
      • King James Version (KJV)
        Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
        Galatians 3:18-20 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
      • New International Version (NIV)
        What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.
        Galatians 3:18-20 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
      • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
        Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
        Galatians 3:18-20 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
      1. Galatians 3:20
      2. American Standard Version (ASV)
        Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.
        Galatians 3:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
        • King James Version (KJV)
          Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
          Galatians 3:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
        • New International Version (NIV)
          A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
          Galatians 3:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
        • Amplified Bible (AMP)
          Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person]. Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both].
          Galatians 3:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
        • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
          Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
          Galatians 3:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 3 (Whole Chapter)
        1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

          • Amplified Bible (AMP)
            Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
            1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter)
        1. 1 Timothy 2:5
        2. American Standard Version (ASV)
          For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,
          1 Timothy 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
          • King James Version (KJV)
            For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
            1 Timothy 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
          • New International Version (NIV)
            For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
            1 Timothy 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
          • Amplified Bible (AMP)
            For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
            1 Timothy 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
          • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
            For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
            1 Timothy 2:4-6 (in Context) 1 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
          1. Hebrews 8:6
          2. American Standard Version (ASV)
            But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.
            Hebrews 8:5-7 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter)
            • King James Version (KJV)
              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.
              Hebrews 8:5-7 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter)
            • New International Version (NIV)
              But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
              Hebrews 8:5-7 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter)
            • Amplified Bible (AMP)
              But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.
              Hebrews 8:5-7 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter)
            • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
              But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
              Hebrews 8:5-7 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter)
            1. Hebrews 9:15
            2. American Standard Version (ASV)
              And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
              Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter)
              • King James Version (KJV)
                And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
                Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter)
              • New International Version (NIV)
                For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
                Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter)
              • Amplified Bible (AMP)
                [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance--since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
                Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter)
              • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
                For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
                Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter)

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