1 Timothy 2 · Verse 5

1 Timothy 2:5

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

1 Timothy 2:5 in other translations

BSBFor there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
WEBFor there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
ASVFor there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,
YLTfor one is God, one also is mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,
DARBYFor God is one, and the mediator of God and men one, the man Christ Jesus,
BBEFor there is one God and one peacemaker between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
WebsterFor there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

What does 1 Timothy 2:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. For there is one God--God's unity in essence and purpose is a proof of His comprehending all His human children alike (created in His image) in His offer of grace (compare the same argument from His unity, Ro 3:30; Ga 3:20); therefore all are to be prayed for. 1Ti 2:4 is proved from 1Ti 2:5; 1Ti 2:1, from 1Ti 2:4. The one God is common to all (Is 45:22; Ac 17:26). The one Mediator is mediator between God and all men potentially (Ro 3:29; Ep 4:5, 6; He 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). They who have not this one God by one Mediator, have none: literally, a "go-between." The Greek order is not "and one mediator," but "one mediator also between ... While God will have all men to be saved by knowing God and the Mediator, there is a legitimate, holy order in the exercise of that will wherewith men ought to receive it. All mankind constitute, as it were, ONE MAN before God [Bengel]. the man--rather "man," absolutely and genetically: not a mere individual man: the Second Head of humanity, representing and embodying in Himself the whole human race and nature. There is no "the" in the Greek. This epithet is thus the strongest corroboration of his argument, namely, that Christ's mediation affects the whole race, since there is but the one Mediator, designed as the Representative Man for all men alike (compare Ro 5:15; 1Co 8:6; 2Co 5:19; Col 2:14). His being "man" was necessary to His being a Mediator, sympathizing with us through experimental knowledge of our nature (Is 50:4; He 2:14; 4:15). Even in nature, almost all blessings are conveyed to us from God, not immediately, but through the mediation of various agents. The effectual intercession of Moses for Israel (Nu 14:13-19, and De 9:1-29); of Abraham for Abimelech (Ge 20:7); of Job for his friends (Job 42:10), the mediation being PRESCRIBED by God while declaring His purposes of forgiveness: all prefigure the grand mediation for all by the one Mediator. On the other hand, 1Ti 3:16 asserts that He was also God.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. For there is one God. This is a reason for offering prayer for all men, and for the declaration 1Timm 2:4 that God desires that all men should be saved. The reason is founded in the fact that he is the common Father of all the race, and that he must have the same desire for the welfare of all his children. He has made them of one blood, Acts 17:26, and he must have the same interest in the happiness of all. Comp. Eph 4:6; Rom 3:30.

And one Mediator between God and men. Gal 3:19, Gal 3:20; Heb 9:15. This also is given as a reason why prayer should be offered for all, and a proof that God desires their salvation. The argument is, that there is the same Mediator between God and all men. He is not the Mediator between God and a part of the human race, but between "God and men," implying that he desired the salvation of the race. Whatever love there was in giving the Mediator at all, was love for all the race: whatever can be argued from that about the interest which God has in man, is proof of his interest in the race at large. It is proper, therefore, to pray for all. It may be remarked here that there is but one Mediator. There is not one for kings and another for their subjects; one for the rich and another for the poor; one for the master and another for the slave. All are on the same level, and the servant may feel that, in the gift of a Mediator, God regarded him with the same interest that he did his master. It may be added, also, that the doctrine of the Papists, that the saints or the Virgin Mary may act as mediators to procure blessings for us, is false. There is but "one Mediator;" and but one is necessary. Prayer offered to the "saints," or to the "Virgin," is idolatry; and, at the same time, removes the one great Mediator from the office which he alone holds, of making intercession with God.

The man Christ Jesus. Jesus was truly and properly a man, having a perfect human body and soul, and is often called a man in the New Testament. But this does not prove that he was not also divine--any more than his being called God, Jn 1:1, 20:28, Rom 9:5, 1Jn 5:20 Heb 1:8, proves that he was not also a man. The use of the word man here was probably designed to intimate that, though he was divine, it was in his human nature that we are to consider him as discharging the office. Doddridge.

(a) "one God" Rom 3:30 (b) "one mediator" Heb 9:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 There is one God - Who is the maker, governor, and preserver of all men, of every condition, and of every nation, and equally wills the salvation of all. And one mediator - The word μεσιτης, mediator, signifies, literally, a middle person, one whose office it is to reconcile two parties at enmity; and hence Suidas explains it by ειρηνοποιος, a peace-maker. God was offended with the crimes of men; to restore them to his peace, Jesus Christ was incarnated; and being God and man, both God and men met in and were reconciled by him. But this reconciliation required a sacrifice on the part of the peace-maker or mediator; hence what follows.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:1-7

The disciples of Christ must be praying people; all, without distinction of nation, sect, rank, or party. Our duty as Christians, is summed up in two words; godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, good conduct toward all men. These must go together: we are not truly honest, if we are not godly, and do not render to God his due; and we are not truly godly, if not honest. What is…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 2:1-7 →

1 Timothy 2:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἷςHeisOneG1520
γὰρgarforG1063
θεός,theosGod [there is],G2316
εἷςheisoneG1520
καὶkaithenG2532
μεσίτηςmesitēsmediatorG3316
θεοῦtheoubetween GodG2316
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀνθρώπων,anthrōpōnmen,G444
ἄνθρωποςanthrōpos[the] manG444
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 2:5

  • 1 Corinthians 8:6

    But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

  • Galatians 3:20

    Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

  • Hebrews 9:15

    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 7:25

    Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

  • Deuteronomy 6:4

    Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

  • Hebrews 12:24

    And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

  • John 1:14

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • Isaiah 44:6

    Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

  • Philippians 2:6-8

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • Romans 3:29-30

    Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

  • John 17:3

    And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

  • Romans 10:12

    For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
one God.
De 6:4; Isa 44:6; Mr 12:29-33; Joh 17:3; Ro 3:29,30; 10:12; 1Co 8:6
Ga 3:20; Eph 4:6
and.
Job 9:33; Heb 7:25; 8:6; 9:15; 12:24
the man.
Mt 1:23; Lu 2:10,11; Joh 1:14; 1Co 15:45-47; Php 2:6-8; Heb 2:6-13
Re 1:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 2:4

    Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

  • 1 Timothy 2:5

    For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

  • 1 Timothy 2:6

    Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Read all of 1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque hay un Dios, asimismo un mediador entre Dios y los hombres, Jesucristo hombre;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car Dieu est un, et le médiateur entre Dieu et les hommes est un, l’homme Christ Jésus,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn Gott ist einer, und einer Mittler zwischen Gott und Menschen, der Mensch Christus Jesus,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Unus enim Deus, unus et mediator Dei et hominum homo Christus Jesus: