1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
Paul is teaching Timothy about public prayer, urging intercession for all people because God desires the salvation of all, which leads him to declare the basis of that universal hope.
What Does 1 Timothy 2:5 Mean?
This verse names the single bridge between heaven and earth: there is one God, and one mediator who joins God and humanity together, the man Christ Jesus.
Paul has just urged that prayers be made for all people because God desires all to be saved, and this verse gives the reason. A mediator is one who stands between two parties to reconcile them, and Paul stresses that this mediator is genuinely "the man Christ Jesus" -- one who shares our humanity and can truly represent us. That He is fully human is essential: He meets us where we are. That He alone holds this office gives every person the same direct access; no one is shut out for lack of standing, wealth, or ancestry. The emphasis on "one" runs through the verse twice, underscoring that the way to God is open and unified. This grounds the call to pray for everyone, including kings and rulers, since the same Lord stands ready to receive all who come. The verse offers deep assurance -- our approach to God does not rest on our own worthiness but on the one who came to bridge the distance.
In the Original Language
The key word is mesitēs, "mediator," one who intervenes between two parties to make peace, paired with the deliberate repetition of heis, meaning "one."
Cross References
“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament.”
- Hebrews 9:15
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
- John 14:6
“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.”
- Hebrews 7:25
Application
Come to God with confidence, knowing that access does not depend on your credentials but on the one mediator who shares your humanity.
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