Who is the mediator in Galatians 3 and why???

[Carl Emerson]

19 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.

20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.

21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

 

[com7fy8]

In verse 19, Carl, I would say the "mediator" was Moses who acted as mediator to deliver the Law of Moses from God to God's people. Why, in this case is because God wanted to use a human to deliver the Law to the people, I would say because He wanted to relate at their level by using the human Moses to deliver His Law.

And in verse 20, it says "a" mediator > "a" makes this a general statement about mediators . . . not some one particular mediator. Why in general would anyone use a mediator? It seems because a mediator can help each side to relate better than if they took one another on directly.

 

[pasifika]

19 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.

20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.

21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

verse 19 is referred to the old covenant law given through angels to a 'mediator" (this is more than one mediator here as first part of verse 20 explains ie mediator are Moses and Joshua), whereas the new covenant only one "mediator" is God himself. See second part of verse 20.

also see Hebrews 8;5,6

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

19 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.

Here's a little "insight" from Stephen via the HS:

Acts 7:
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

It should be common knowledge that it was the Spirit of Christ that spoke through the prophets also, 1 Pet. 1:10-11

Yes, Jesus Is The Word. Rock Solid. Always light years ahead of the game

 

[Carl Emerson]

OK... so far we have Moses, Jesus, Moses and Joshua, and no mention so far of an angelic entity like Michael or Gabriel.

Any other thoughts?

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

OK... so far we have Moses, Jesus, Moses and Joshua, and no mention so far of an angelic entity like Michael or Gabriel.

Any other thoughts?

There is no question that angelic hosts were involved, but the oversight/mediator role places the crown on Jesus for that role:

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

[Carl Emerson]

There is no question that angelic hosts were involved, but the oversight/mediator role places the crown on Jesus for that role:

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Yet verse 19 says... "by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
It seems that the seed being Christ was yet to come.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Yet verse 19 says... "by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
It seems that the seed being Christ was yet to come.

There was an actual flesh/human body prepared for Jesus in the fullness of time

Christophanies, the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the O.T. is (commonly accepted) shown in many places, Jesus, the Word, speaking through the prophets for example as previously noted in 1 Peter 1:10-11 or even appearing and eating with the elders of Israel in the Exodus

There is only one mediator. That narrows the field considerably, to One

 

[Carl Emerson]

There was an actual flesh/human body prepared for Jesus in the fullness of time

Christophanies, the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the O.T. is (commonly accepted) shown in many places, Jesus, the Word, speaking through the prophets for example as previously noted in 1 Peter 1:10-11 or even appearing and eating with the elders of Israel in the Exodus

There is only one mediator. That narrows the field considerably, to One

Which raises the question - as to when the word 'messenger' and 'mediator' is used in translation...

Mediator implies more than delivering information - rather it is the authority to access the Author.

The angels who visited Lot at Sodom had a message and enormous power - were they mediators ? They were much more than messengers yes ?

 

[pasifika]

OK... so far we have Moses, Jesus, Moses and Joshua, and no mention so far of an angelic entity like Michael or Gabriel.

Any other thoughts?

A mediator was established when a "covenant" is instituted between God and His people. eg the old covenant mediator(s) are Moses & Joshua. The New covenant is Jesus (God Himself in flesh).

no angel was given that role.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Which raises the question - as to when the word 'messenger' and 'mediator' is used in translation...

Mediator implies more than delivering information - rather it is the authority to access the Author.

The angels who visited Lot at Sodom had a message and enormous power - were they mediators ? They were much more than messengers yes ?

Messengers is usually the term, angel.

And there are good angels and wicked angels. Seemingly assigned to specifically executed tasks, which would not be mediation that I can tell

Are you trying to go someplace more specific with the line of questioning?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Messengers is usually the term, angel.

And there are good angels and wicked angels. Seemingly assigned to specifically executed tasks, which would not be mediation that I can tell

Are you trying to go someplace more specific with the line of questioning?

The Law was ordained through angels - this sounds like they functioned at a different level than simply being a messenger.

There are various theories around this and I am canvassing opinion.

 

[Rose_bud]

This is a interesting question Carl. I understand that the mediator between Israel and God was Moses and later Joshua, but the M/messenger/s of God had a role in ordaining the Law.

Moses did not see His face, this was sought after the Law was given. Who was present if Moses could not even see Him?. In a sense Moses the mediator also required a mediator. We know now that mediator is Jesus. He always is, for no human has seen God, besides Jesus (John 1:18). It may be that Jesus and the angels were present.

Deuteronomy 33:2 NIV
He said: “The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.

The question is, was Jesus as Lord in "angelic" form pre-incarnate????

The theophanies with Abraham is telling. You mentioned two angels going to destroy Sofom and Gomorrah, but prior to them leaving for Sodom. They were three, the third "angel" had negotiations with Abraham. He appears distinct and is regarded as Lord, as you say with much more authority.

 

[Carl Emerson]

The question is, was Jesus as Lord in "angelic" form pre-incarnate????

The answer is no... because angels are created beings but the Spirit of Jesus is timeless with no beginning or end. God is a Spirit not an angel. The angel of the Lord is an angel and not the Lord Himself.

 

[Carl Emerson]

OK to add fuel to the fire...

In early church times some believed that the mediators in this Mosaic covenant were angels.

When Jude speaks of Moses remains and the dispute in the following passage they believed that Michael and Satan were the two angels who mediated Mosaic covenant.

Jude
9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Then Jesus refers to the gathering of the Jews in His day to be the synagog of Satan.

So it seems they believed that Satan had a hand in making the Laws that God intended for good into a legalistic and oppressive system.

 

[Rose_bud]

The answer is no... because angels are created beings but the Spirit of Jesus is timeless with no beginning or end. God is a Spirit not an angel. The angel of the Lord is an angel and not the Lord Himself.

Agree, Jesus is distinct or as Hebrews says superior to the angels. Yet, as pointed out in the response. In the OT there are theophanies, where the Angel of the Lord is regarded as one receiving worship or has God's name in Him. Which we know is only reserved for God.

The theophany passages are difficult. The example with Abraham is such.

Three "men/vistors" approach Abraham, one known as Malak Yahweh remains, although this is not in the text. Chapter 18 never mentions the word angels rather the conversation with Abraham has Abraham alternating between Yahweh and Adonai. Chapter 19 reveals that only two angels/messengers go on to Sodom. God clearly intended us to understand that He always has a mediator to intervene and intercede between us and Him. Abraham is the mediator for Lot and the righteous if there were any. Yet there is also a mediator for him - Adonai/Yahweh. Abraham parallels Moses in this regard, a mediator yet needing a mediator.

As much as Hebrews let's us know that He is greater than humanity. He is also greater than angels. As much as he is distinct from man, he is distinct from an angel/celestial man. So in my understanding there is room for both. He being in the form of an angel yet greater. Him being in the form of humanity but greater. He is able to transcend form without losing divinity.