2:5 one mediator. To the pagan Greeks with their pantheon of gods and goddesses, it was vital for Timothy to insist on worship of the one true God who created all things. This emphasis is urgently needed today as well. Furthermore, in contrast to all those ancient religions with their priests and priestesses—and modern ones as well—it was vital to stress that only one who was both God and man, the man Christ Jesus, could mediate between men and our Creator God. He is the only way to God (John 14:6), and our only true Advocate with the Father (I John 2:1,2).

2:6 ransom. In order to pay the price of our redemption, so that He might indeed bring us to God, Christ Himself had to be the ransom (see also Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45).