christology, greco-roman religious piety 233
also, the monotheistic affirmation “there is one god, the father... and
one lord, Jesus Christ” is found in 1 Cor 8:6 (cf. eph 4:5–6 “there is one
lord... one god and father of all”).
how the typical and atypical Pauline features of 1 tim 2:5–6 can be
reconciled is a matter of debate. however, to treat the pericope as a mere
creedal tangent or a pseudo-authenticating device is to overlook its con-
nection with the polemical thrust of the broader context. the opening γὰρ
ties vv. 5–6 to the preceding claim in v. 4 that god wants all people to be
saved (ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι). salvation for all is intimately
tied to the one mediator who can reconcile god and humanity—“Christ
Jesus, himself human” (2:5–6).
Christology is once again tied to the incarnation. the key term ἄνθρωπος
is repeated three times in 1 tim 2:5–6: god desires that all ἀνθρώπους
be saved, which is accomplished through ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς, who
serves as εἷς καὶ μεσίτης θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων. the thrust of ἄνθρωπος is at
issue. some think ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς refers to the one person-two
natures of Christ.61 yet, the lack of an article with the noun ἄνθρωπος
places the stress not on a definite person (“the man”) but on the human-
ity of Christ—“himself human.” others see in ἀνθρώπος a “son of man”
self-designation and his representative function on behalf of all human
beings.62 it is as ἄνθρωπος, however, that Christ fully identifies with all
people; it is through a shared versus representative humanity that god
seeks to save all people. still others see in the term ἄνθρωπος a repre-
sentational role parallel to Paul’s adam Christology. Christ as the second
ἄνθρωπος adam inaugurated a new, redeemed humanity.63 nevertheless,
the emphasis of vv. 5–6 is on Christ’s mediatorial versus representational
work. Christ is μεσίτης between god and human beings and not inaugu-
rator of a new humanity. more, the backdrop of μεσίτης is not adamic
but greco-roman. a μεσίτης was someone who brought about a mutually
accepted agreement between two or more business parties and provided
the surety or guarantee of an agreement or arrangement.64
61 see, for example, mounce, Pastoral Epistles, 88.
62 see Jeremias, Timotheus und Titus, 226–29; Quinn and Wacker, Letters to Timothy,
184.
63 for instance, Kelly, Pastoral Epistles, 63; fee, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, 65; towner, Let-
ters to Timothy and Titus, 181.
64 see, for example, Polybius 28.17.8; diodorus 4.54.7; cf. Philo, Dreams, 1.143–145; Jose-
phus, Ant. 4.132–133; Plutarch, Isis and Osiris 398e. for discussion, see J. h. moulton and
g. milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament Illustrated from the Papyri and Other
Non-Literary Sources (london: hodder & stoughton, 1914–1929), 399 s.v. mεσίτης.