Mediation – Disputes with Protestants

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III addresses a theological dispute between the Orthodox Church and the Protestants (and their affiliates like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Sabbatarians) regarding the concept of mediation between God and people. The talk focuses on specific places in Scripture relied upon by opponents, then explains the full spirit of the texts and the Church.

Mediation in Atonement and Expiation:
He explains that the redemptive and expiatory mediation is limited and truly performed only by Jesus Christ: “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all” — therefore one must acknowledge that there is no other mediator in the act of redemption and atonement.

Mediation in the Rest of Salvation’s Work:
Yet, His Holiness affirms that there is real mediation in other matters: the coming of faith, teaching, baptism, bestowal of the Holy Spirit, the ordination of servants, and spiritual reconciliation (repentance and restoration). These mediations are effected through means and mediators chosen by God (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, the Church) to convey God’s grace to people.

Biblical and Procedural Examples:
He cites verses: how faith came through proclamation and preaching (Romans 10:13–17), the laying on of hands so the Holy Spirit would come (Acts), the role of apostles and shepherds in building the body of Christ (Ephesians), and the need for lawful channels for choosing ministers (Acts 13).

Distinction between Mediator of Atonement and Mediators of Ministry:
He clearly distinguishes between the mediatorship of atonement—which belongs uniquely to Christ—and the mediations of ministry, teaching, reconciliation, and intercession performed by the Church or the saints on behalf of people, such as mutual prayer, intercession, reconciliation, and the laying on of hands.

Practical Wisdom of Application:
His Holiness warns that mediation does not mean a rival or intermediary who takes God’s place, but channels that present God’s grace with wisdom and obedience to lawful channels, affirming that although God can give directly, He chose to work through mediators to serve salvation and spiritual rebirth for people.

Spiritual Conclusion:
The Church is not contradictory to the sufficiency of Christ in redemption, yet it affirms the necessity of clerical and ecclesial mediation as instruments God appointed to transmit faith, teaching, the sacraments, and the Holy Spirit to people for the edification of the saints and the growth of the spiritual body of Christ.

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