MEDIATOR (Gr. Mecrirns, lace, mediator), is a word peculiar to the Scrip tures (see Beza, Anna. in Gr. Test.), 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. Thus Greg. Nazianzenus (0 rat. xxxix. p.633) calls him 6 raXatas Kai yeas p.ecrirns. Theophylact, commenting on Matt. iii, gives him the same denomination.
I. Signification. Again, it signifies, in its more proper sense, an internuncius or ambas sador, one who stands as the channel of com munication between two contracting parties.
Some commentators think that the Apostle Paul, in Gal. iii:19, calls Nloses mediator, because he conveyed the expression of God's will to the peo ple, and reported to God their wants, wishes, and determinations. In reference to this passage of Scripture, Basil (De Spiritu Saneto, ch. xiv) says, '.illosen figuram retresentosce, quando inter Deum et fiofiulum intermedius extiterit.' Many ancient and modern divines, however, are of opin ion that Christ himself, and not Moses, is here meant by the inspired Apostle, and this view would seem to be confirmed by comparing Deut. xxxiii:2 with Acts vii:38-52. Christ it was who, surrounded by angelic spirits, communicated with Moses on Mount Sinai. On this point, the words of the learned and pious Chrysostom, on Gal. iii arc very express: 'Here,' says he, 'Paul calls Christ Xlediator, declaring thereby that he ex isted before the law, and that by him the law was revealed.' This application of the passage will be the more evident if we consider the scope of the Apostle's argument, which evidently is, to point out the dignity of the law. How could he present a clearer demonstration of this than by showing that it was the second person of the ever-blessed Trinity who stood forth on the mount to communicate between God the Father and his creature man! Moreover, to contradis tinguish Christ's mediation from that of Moses, the former is emphatically styled Aegirns KpfiTTOVOI Sect0,,,,ots (Heb. viii:6).
2. Applied to The Christ. Christ is called Mediator by virtue of the reconciliation he has effected between a justly offended God and his rebellious creature man (see Grotius. De Sails factione Christi, ch. viii ). In this sense of the term Moses was, on many occasions, an eminent type of Christ. The latter, however, was not Alediator merely by reason of his coming be tween God and his creatures, as certain heretics would affirm (see Cyril Alex. Dial. de Sancta Trinitate, p. 4to) ; but because he appeased God's wrath, and made reconciliation for iniquity. 'Christ is the Mediator.' observes Theophylact, commenting on Gal. iii, 'of two, i. e., of God and man. He exercises this office between both by making peace, and putting a stop to that spiritual war which man wages against God. To accom plish this Ile assumed our nature, joining in a marvelous manner the human, by reason of sin unfriendly, to the Divine nature."Hence Ile adds, 'he made reconciliation.' Oecumenius ex presses similar sentiments on the same passage of Scripture. Again, Cyril, in his work before quoted, remarks: 'He is esteemed Mediator because, the Divine and human nature being disjointed by sin, he has shown them united in his own per son; and in this manner Ile reunites us to God the Father.' (1) Prophet. If, in addition to the above gen eral remarks. confirmed by many of the most an cient and orthodox Fathers of the church, we consider the three great offices which holy Scrip ture assigns to Christ as Savior of the world, viz., those of prophet, priest, and king. a furthor and more ample illustration will be afforded of his Mediatorship.
One of the first and most palpable predictions which we have of the prophetic character of Christ. is that of Moses (Deut. xviii :15) : Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto hitn ye shall hearken.' That this refers to Christ we are as,aired by the inspired Apostle Peter (Acts iii :22).