- “Why do you need an intermediary in the person of a priest to communicate with God, especially since some of them do not always behave exemplary?”

A mediator is a person without whose participation communication is impossible. But every person has every opportunity to personally communicate with God in prayer and repentance. Moreover, Orthodoxy teaches that God cannot save a person without the will himself a person, and not some intermediary. Therefore, according to Orthodox teaching, a priest is not a mediator; his purpose is completely different. It is Catholicism that teaches about the priesthood as mediation between God and man, but this is wrong, just as much else is wrong with it.

In Orthodoxy, a priest is, firstly, the primate (that is, standing first) of believers before God, but in no way the one through whom the believer gains access to God. The priest, secondly, must be an assistant to believers in their spiritual life. But if he lives unworthily, then he loses the grace of the priesthood and it is already difficult to receive spiritual help from him. Thirdly, even being unworthy, he, as long as he is not prohibited from the priesthood, retains the right to perform divine services and sacraments, and all of them are valid. For grace in the sacraments is given by the Lord, and not by the priest. But even here he is not a mediator at all, for the effectiveness of the sacrament for the believer depends not on the priest, but on how much the believer himself prepares for the sacrament through repentance and prayer.

Here we examine the reason why Christ is called the Mediator between God and man, under which title there are two points: 1) whether it is inherent in Christ to be the Mediator between God and man; 2) whether this is characteristic of Him due to His human nature.

Section 1 Is it proper for Christ to be the Mediator between God and man?

With the first [position], the situation is as follows.

Objection 1. It seems that it is not proper for Christ to be the Mediator between God and man. Indeed, the mediators between God and man seem to be priests and prophets, according to what is said [in Scripture]: “And I was a mediator and stood between God and you at that time” (Deut. 5:5). But it is not proper for Christ to be a priest and a prophet. Therefore, it is not inherent in Him to be a Mediator.

Objection 2. Further, that which befits angels, both good and evil, cannot be considered as proper to Christ. But to be mediators between God and man, according to Damascene, is befitting of good angels. This also befits evil angels, that is, demons, since, as is clear from what Augustine said, they have something in common with God, namely “immortality,” and something in common with people, namely “souls subject to passions,” that is, “misfortune.” ". Therefore, it is not proper for Christ to be the Mediator between God and man.

Objection 3. Further, the ministry of a mediator is to intercede with some on behalf of others, mediating between whom he is. But the Holy Spirit, as it is said, “intercedes” before God “for us with unspeakable groanings” (). Thus, the Mediator between God and man is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this is not characteristic of Christ.

This contradicts what is said [in Scripture]: “There is one and Mediator between God and men - Man, Christ, Jesus” ().

I answer: in the strict sense of the word, the ministry of a mediator is the reunification and unification of those between whom he is a mediator - after all, what connects the limits is the average. But the perfect union of people with God is characteristic of Christ, through Whom people are reconciled with God, according to what is said [in Scripture]: “God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself” (). Consequently, only Christ is the perfect Mediator between God and people, since He reconciled humanity with God by Himself. Therefore, the apostle, having said: “The mediator between God and men is Man, Christ, Jesus,” further adds: “He who gave himself for the ransom of all” ().

However, nothing prevents others from being called mediators between God and man in one way or another, since they contribute to the union of people with God through favor or service.

Reply to objection 1. The prophets and priests of the Old Law were called mediators between God and man by reason of favor and service, for they foretold and foretold the true and perfect Mediator between God and men. As for the priests of the New Law, they can be called mediators between God and people, as servants of the true Mediator, delivering the sacraments of salvation to people in His earthly allotment.

Reply to objection 2. Good angels, according to Augustine, cannot justly be called mediators between God and people. “For if they share bliss and immortality with God, and nothing of the kind with mortals and unfortunate people, then wouldn’t they rather move away from people and draw closer to God than remain in between those and Him?” . However, Dionysius says that they occupy a middle place, since in the order of nature they are placed below God and above man. In addition, they perform the function of a mediator, although not primarily and completely, but by disposition and service, in connection with which we read that “the angels came and served Him” (), that is, Christ. If we talk about demons, then the truth is that their immortality is common to them with God, and their misfortune is common to them with people. Therefore, “the immortal and ill-fated mediator is a mediator in order to block access to blissful immortality” and tempt the ill-fated to immortality, for which reason he is called “an evil intermediary dividing friends.”

But Christ shared bliss with God and mortality with people. Therefore, “the mortal and blessed Mediator offered Himself for this purpose, so that, having divided death, He would make immortals from the dead (which He showed by His resurrection) and blessed ones from the unfortunate (for He never ceased to be blessed),” for which reason He is called “good A mediator who reconciles enemies."

Reply to an objection 3. Since the Holy Spirit is equal to God in everything, then the Mediator between God and people is not called Him, but Christ alone, Who, being equal to the Father in Divinity, is nevertheless less than the Father in terms of His human nature, as has already been said (20 , 1). Therefore, the gloss on the words [of Scripture]: “Christ is the Mediator” (Pal. 3:20), says: “And not the Father and not the Holy Spirit.” It is said of the Holy Spirit that He “intercedes for us,” insofar as He encourages us to intercede [for ourselves].

Section 2 Is Christ the Mediator between God and men as a man?

The situation with the second [position] is as follows.

Objection 1. It seems that Christ is not the Mediator between God and people as a man. Thus, Augustine says: “The person of Christ is one, otherwise there would not be one Christ, not one substance, and in that case the ministry of the Mediator would be abolished, Who would be called either the Son of God alone, or simply the son of man.” But He is the Son of God and Man, not as a man, but as at the same time a man. Therefore, we should not say that He is the Mediator between God and people as a man.

Objection 2. Further, Christ as shares Nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and in the same way He, as man, shares nature with people. But He is not a Mediator as God precisely because as God He shares nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit; Thus, the gloss on the words [of Scripture]: “Mediator between God and men” (), says: “He is not a Mediator as the Word, since He is equal to God and as God “with God,” and as at the same time the one God.” Consequently, He is not a Mediator even as a man insofar as [as a man] he shares nature with people.

Objection 3. Further, Christ is called the Mediator because He reconciled us to God, and He did this by eliminating the sin that separated us from God. But the removal of sin belongs to Christ, not as man, but as God. Therefore, Christ is our Mediator, not as a man, but as God.

This is contradicted the following words of Augustine: “He is the Mediator, not because He is the Word, for the immortal and blessed Word is infinitely removed from unfortunate mortals, but because He is a man.”

I answer: two things can be seen in the mediator: firstly, that he is in the middle; secondly, that it connects others. Then, what is in the middle must by nature be removed from each of the limits, but it connects insofar as it communicates to one what belongs to the other. But both can relate to Christ not as God, but only as a man. Indeed, just as He does not differ from the Father and the Holy Spirit either in nature or in the power of dominion, since the Father and the Holy Spirit do not possess anything that the Son does not also have. Therefore, He cannot communicate to others what belongs to the Father or the Holy Spirit, as belonging to them, but not to Him. However, both may relate to Him as a person. After all, as a man, He is distant both from God from the side of nature, and from man from the side of the greatness of grace and glory. In addition, it is inherent in Him as a person to connect people with God through communicating commandments and gifts to people and offering atonement and prayers for people to God. Therefore, He is truly a Mediator as a man.

Reply to objection 1. If the divine Nature in Christ is abolished, then along with it His exclusive fullness of grace will also be abolished, which, as it is said [in Scripture], belongs to Him as the only begotten of the Father (). But it is precisely thanks to this fullness that He is placed above all people and is closest to God.

Reply to objection 2. Christ is equal to the Father in everything and in [His] human nature He is superior to all people. Therefore, He can be a Mediator as a man, but not as God.

Reply to objection 3. Although the removal of sin is subject to Christ as God, yet the atonement for the sin of mankind belongs to Him as man. And it is in this sense that He is called the Mediator between God and people.

What is the BIBLE

CAN SAY

ORTHODOX

And you will know the truth

and the truth will make you

free.

Ev. John 8:32

Bulyshov Igor Evgenievich

What the Bible has to say to the Orthodox

Release date 06/01/98

Who can you worship?

For you must not worship any god other than the Lord. (Ex.34:14)

Then Jesus says to him: Get behind Me, Satan; for it is written: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4:10)

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and bowed, falling at his feet his. Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise; I'm also a human being. (Acts 10:25-26)

But when everyone prophesies, and someone who doesn’t believe or doesn’t know comes in, he is convicted by everyone, judged by everyone, and thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and he will fall on his face, worship God and say: “Truly God is with you.” (1 Cor. 14:24-25)

I fell at his feet to worship him; but he said to me: see that you do not do this; I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus; Worship God. (Rev.19:10)

I John saw and heard this. When I heard and saw, I fell at the feet of the Angel showing me this to worship to him. But he said to me: see, don’t do this; For I am a fellow servant with you, and with your brothers the prophets and with them who keep the words of this book; Worship God. (Rev.22:8-9)

Is there a mediator between God and people?

Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will share the spoils with the strong, because He gave His soul to death and was counted among the evildoers, while He bore the sin of many and became an intercessor for the criminals. (Isa.53:12)

So again Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” All, no matter how many of them came before Me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door: whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:7-9)

Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

For there is no other name under heaven, given to people by which we should be saved. (Acts 4:12)

My children! I write this to you so that you will not sin; and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. (1 John 2:1)

Likewise, the Spirit strengthens (us) in our weaknesses; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed. But He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to will God's. (Rom.8:26-27)

Who will accuse God's elect? God justifies their. Who is judging? Christ (Jesus) died, but also rose again: He is also at the right hand of God, and He intercedes for us. (Rom.8:33-34)

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

Therefore He can always save those who come to God through Him, being always alive to intercede for them. (Heb.7:25)

Because He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that through His death, which was for redemption from the crimes committed in the first covenant, those who are called to an eternal inheritance may receive the promise. (Hebrews 9:15)

Since the first centuries of Christianity, the memory of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, has been highly revered. Although at that time even the thought of worshiping her as the “fourth hypostasis” was not allowed, and no one turned to her with prayers. And only in the 4th century did some communities begin to call the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, attributing to her Divine attributes and treating her as seated on the left side of God the Father.

However, such views contradict the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The Virgin Mary was called by God to give His only begotten Son human flesh, since Christ, being God, was one with the Father and the Spirit from eternity.

“Jesus” is an earthly name, translated into Russian it means “Savior”.

"Christ" is the name of God, meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah."

The Virgin Mary became the mother of Jesus, His humanity.

But she, being a human, could not become the mother of Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.

In 431, the Council of Ephesus approved the naming of Mary Mother of God. As a result, the worship of the Virgin Mary began to spread unhindered throughout all the churches of the West and East. Prayers began to be addressed to the Virgin Mary as a “mediator,” “intercessor,” “intercessor” of the human race before Christ and the Heavenly Father.

Oddly enough, the slightest deviation from such a view is considered “heretical” and even “blasphemous” in our time in Orthodoxy and Catholicism. But is it? What does Holy Scripture say about this?

It says that only living people, not dead ones, could always be intermediaries between God and people. IN Old Testament we meet many intermediaries: Moses, Aaron, priests, prophets, etc. But they remained intermediaries while they were alive. No one even thought of turning to the dead intermediary for anything.

With the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have only One Mediator and Mediator of the New Testament. Christ acquired this place at a great price: His suffering on the cross and death.

So there is only "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men - the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all"(1 Timothy 2:5-6).

We have no right to choose or supply other mediators other than the One.

The Virgin Mary, saints and saints did not redeem us sinners with their deaths and cannot claim New Testament mediation. Being only human, they themselves were saved by the atoning blood of Christ and needed the mediation of Christ.

All other mediators became unnecessary from the moment Christ ascended and sat down at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.

Therefore, every believer now has the opportunity and right to turn to Christ personally, always and in every place. The Apostle Paul writes:“This (Jesus Christ), since He abides forever, has an eternal priesthood, and therefore is able to always save those who come to God through Him, being always alive to make intercession for them.”(Hebrews 7:24-25).

Addressing prayers to dead saints, including the Virgin Mary, is devoid of any reasonable basis. Only the Creator is omnipresent, only He can hear and answer prayers rushing to Him from all corners of the earth and sky. Moreover, Scripture strictly forbids the giving of divine honors to anyone other than God:

“Then Jesus saith unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever, amen.” Romans 1:25

“I John saw and heard this. When I saw and heard, I fell at the feet of the angel showing me this to worship him; but he said to me: See that you do not do this; for I am a fellow servant with you, and with your brothers the prophets and the keepers. words of this book; worship God." Revelation 22:8-9

From Pavel Rogozin's book "Where did all this come from?"

Vladimir asks
Answered by Viktor Belousov, 01/05/2010

Vladimir asks:“Hello! Please explain the contradiction - the Bible says that there is no need for intermediaries between man and God, but all the churches of the world claim that they are intermediaries between God and man. It’s a paradox! How can I explain this?”

Peace to you, Vladimir!

The underlying question is: is it possible and in what form? direct communication between God and an ordinary person ? This is not about what a person “seems” to be talking to God, but about the facts of communication as they are described in the Bible.

A few examples - this is how 1) the prophet Isaiah describes communication with the Lord, 2) the people of Israel during the exodus from Egypt, and 3) the conditions for performing divine services in the Tabernacle (portable Temple):

5 And I said: Woe is me! I'm dead! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people also of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then one of the Seraphim flew to me, and in his hand he had a burning coal, which he took with tongs from the altar,
7 And he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your mouth, and your iniquity is taken away from you, and your sin is purged.
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19 And they said to Moses, Speak to us, and we will listen, but let not God speak to us, lest we die.
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19 And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it;
20 When they must enter into the tabernacle of meeting, they shall be washed with water, lest they die; or when they must approach the altar to serve, to offer sacrifices to the Lord,
21 Let them wash their hands and their feet in water, lest they die; and it shall be an everlasting statute for them, for him and for his descendants throughout their generations.
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What these texts have in common is that nothing unclean (sinful) can come before God and not die for this sin. This can be compared to touching a conventional electrical appliance under voltage. The electrical appliance itself is a benefit to humans, but if the insulating equipment of the device or the person is broken or removed, then there is a risk of electric shock. Current can be beneficial (ensure the operation of mechanisms, lighting and heating), but it can also kill lives if used ineptly.

Man was originally created righteous and had direct communication with God. God also warned that there are actions that can separate a person from God and lead to human death - this is sin. Sin cannot coexist with the righteousness of God (these are polarities), sin is destroyed and disappears as less powerful. If a person is attached to sin (one with sin), then with the destruction of sin the person himself perishes.

“For the wages of sin is death...” (literal translation from Greek)

What does God do to save a person?

“But God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners” ()

God comes to this world in the body of a man, born from Mary, goes through earthly life without sinning, takes upon himself the sins of all people and dies for these sins on Calvary - giving the possibility of salvation to all people.

"...let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him he has been set before you in health. He is the stone that was neglected by you builders, but has become the head of the corner , and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" ()

For this reason, it is impossible to come to the Father bypassing the Son and remain alive, because a sinner cannot be one with God. Only the Son removes sin from a person, making it possible to draw closer to the Father and be one with Him.

"Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" ()

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” ()

This is the first side of the question, now the second - what is the role of the Church (not churches - in the plural) in this communication:

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of one body, although many, are one body, so is Christ.
13 For everything we are baptized by one Spirit into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all are filled with one Spirit.
14 But the body is not made of one member, but of many.
...
27 And you are the body of Christ, and individually members.
28 And God hath appointed others in the church, firstly apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; further, [to others he gave] powers [miraculous], also gifts of healing, help, government, different languages.
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4 For just as we have many members in one body, but not all members have the same business,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and separately one for another members.
6 And since, according to the grace given to us, we have diversified gifts, [if you] have prophecy, [prophesy] according to the measure of faith;
7 [if you have] ministry, [continue] in ministry; whether a teacher, - in teaching;
8 If you warn, exhort; whether you are a distributor, [distribute] in simplicity; Whether you are a boss, [lead] with zeal; whether you are a benefactor, [do charity] with cordiality.
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"I am the true vine and My Father is a vinedresser... I am the vine, and you are the branches; who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing"
()

"[The Father] put all things in subjection under His [Christ's] feet, and placed Him above all, the head of the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. ()"

The Church is the body of Christ, a part of Christ. A person cannot communicate with the Father through Christ and not be His part, His Body on this earth. In fact, the Church is not a mediator, it is the representative of Christ on this planet.

“You [the Church] show by yourself that you are a letter of Christ, through our ministry written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh of the heart.” ()

The question is why? modern man wants to immediately communicate with God, and not become part of His Body (Church)? There are several main reasons for this:

1) There is a “traditional” opinion that you can perceive God the way you want, for example: “So what if the Bible gives some principles, commandments... but I believe that God is not very burdened by a sinful life and He is simply wants to make me happier and give me everything I ask like Santa Claus, but I’ll give Him a couple of rubles as a donation - and we’re even."

This view is the result of two sins - ignorance and pride.

2) “There is not one church, but there are a lot of them. Each one teaches that the truth belongs only to it and they behave completely differently from what they teach - sometimes even worse than unbelieving people. Where is God? Probably He simply isn’t there. And when are such people They also teach that no one can know God correctly except them, it looks simply ridiculous.”

This view is supported by many people who would like to know God, but do not want to become “sectarians,” “mantises,” “fanatics,” etc. Of course, within the framework of one answer it is not possible to describe why and how so many different churches arose, although there should be one Church of Christ - which not only preaches the Gospel, but also lives this Gospel. There are many answers about this in the section. The same situation happened during the time of Jesus Christ, and then Jesus gave the following answer, which may be the answer to your question:

1 Then Jesus began to speak to the people and his disciples
2 And he said, The scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat;
3 So whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do; do not act according to their deeds, for they say and do not:
4 they bind heavy and unbearable burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves do not want to move them with a finger;
5 Yet they do their works so that people can see them: they enlarge their storehouses and increase the cost of their garments;
6 They also love to sit at banquets and preside over synagogues.
7 and greetings in people's assemblies, and so that people call them: teacher! teacher!
8 But you are not called teachers, for you have one Teacher - Christ, yet you are brothers;
9 And call no one on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven;
10 And do not be called instructors, for you have only one instructor—Christ.
11 The greatest of you shall be your servant:
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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Blessings,
Victor

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