Biblical Intercession: Definition and Practice in Scripture

Biblical intercession refers to the act of intervening or pleading on behalf of another, particularly in prayer ^{[5, 13]}. It is a core aspect of Christian prayer, which is understood as direct address and converse with God ^[2]. The concept of intercession is deeply rooted in Scripture, exemplified by Christ, the Holy Spirit, and believers.

Christ's intercession is central to Christian theology. As High Priest, Christ offered himself as a sacrifice and now continually intercedes for believers in heaven ^{[1, 6, 15]}. This intercession is based on his perfect sacrifice and ensures the fulfillment of God's promises to his people ^[1]. He appears in God's presence on behalf of believers (Hebrews 9:12, 24), pleading for them ^[1]. Charles Hodge notes that Christ's intercession is a priestly function, and he is the sole mediator between God and humanity ^{[7, 15]}. While some theologians, particularly certain Lutheran theologians, have debated the precise nature of Christ's intercession, it is generally understood as his ongoing agency in the salvation of his people ^[8]. John Calvin emphasizes that all believers are heard through Christ alone, especially after his ascension, and that invoking God must be done in Christ's name ^{[10, 14]}. Christ's intercession is both general, for all humanity, and special, for the elect, as seen in his prayer for his persecutors (Luke 23:34) ^[9].

The Holy Spirit also intercedes for believers, as described in Romans 8:26-27 ^[3]. The Spirit acts as Christ's agent, working in the minds and hearts of believers, enlightening and quickening them, and thus determining their prayers ^[3]. This demonstrates a unified action between Christ and the Spirit, with Christ as the principal and the Spirit as his agent ^[3].

Believers are also called to practice intercessory prayer. This involves praying for others, including kings and those in authority, ministers, the Church, all saints, and all people ^[4]. Examples in Scripture include praying for the sick, persecutors, and even enemies ^[4]. While Christ is the sole intercessor in a priestly sense, believers can intercede for one another, which is not inconsistent with Christ's unique role ^[7]. The Scripture frequently exhorts mutual prayers among believers ^[11]. However, this practice is distinct from the idea of intercession by the dead, which is not supported by Scripture ^{[11, 12]}.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Intercession of Christ — Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2) making continual intercession for us. When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luke 23:34; John 17:20; Heb. 5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:12, 24). His advocacy with the Father for his people rests on the basis of his own all-perfect sacrifice. Thus he pleads for and obtains the fulfilment of all the promises of the everlas”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Intercession of the Spirit — (Rom. 8:26, 27; John 14:26). "Christ is a royal Priest (Zech. 6:13). From the same throne, as King, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as Priest he intercedes for them. The Spirit acts for him, taking only of his things. They both act with one consent, Christ as principal, the Spirit as his agent. Christ intercedes for us, without us, as our advocate in heaven, according to the provisions of the everlasting covenant. The Holy Spirit works upon our minds and hearts, enlightening and quickening, and thus determini”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
STEPBible TBESG “[H6419] H6419 = (H6419) — 1) to intervene, interpose, pray<br>1a) (Piel) to mediate, judge<br>1b)(Hithpael)<br>1b1) to intercede<br>1b2) to pray”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 116: § 1. Christ our Intercessor . Under the old dispensation the High Priest, after having offered sacrifices for sin in the outer court, was directed, on the day of atonement, to take the blood of the victims and a censer with burning incense, and to enter within the veil, and there present the blood before God, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat. In like manner, as we are taught by the Apostle, Christ, having offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, has passed through the heavens, there to appear before God in our behalf. H”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 119: § 4. Intercession of Saints. There is but one Mediator between God and man, and but one High Priest through whom we draw near to God. And as intercession is a priestly function, it follows that Christ is our only intercessor. But as there is a sense in which all believers are kings and priests unto God, which is consistent with Christ’s being our only king and priest; so there is a sense in which one believer may intercede for another, which is not inconsistent with Christ’s being our only intercessor. By intercession in the case of beli”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 117: § 2. Its Nature. As to the nature of Christ’s intercession, little can be said. There is error in pressing the representations of Scripture too far; and there is error in explaining them away. This latter error is chargeable on many of the later theologians, who teach that the Scriptures intend, by the intercession of Christ, nothing more than his continued intervention or agency in the salvation of his people. Many of the Lutheran theologians, on the other extreme, err in insisting that this intercession of our Lord in our behalf in hea”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 118: 594 § 3. Its Objects. As to the objects of Christ’s intercession, the Lutherans make a distinction between his intercession as general and special. He intercedes generally for all men, and specially for the elect. The former is assumed on the authority of Luke xxiii. 34 , where Christ is represented as praying for his murderers, saying, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” It is said to be due to the intercession of Christ that the wicked are not immediately cut off; that they have the Gospel preached to them, and every”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: any respect is rejected by God. This shown by examples. Conclusion, or summary of this section. 17. Through whom God is to be invoked—viz. Jesus Christ. This founded on a consideration of the divine majesty, and the precept and promise of God himself. God therefore to be invoked only in the name of Christ. 18. From the first all believers were heard through him only: yet this specially restricted to the period subsequent to his ascension. The ground of this restriction. 19. The wrath of God lies on those who reject Christ as a Medi”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: have shown that this derogates in no respect from the sole intercession of Christ, because all trust to that intercession in commending themselves as well as others to God. Moreover, we have shown that this is ignorantly transferred to the dead, of whom we nowhere read that they were commanded to pray for us. The Scripture often exhorts us to offer up mutual prayers; but says not one syllable concerning the dead; nay, James tacitly excludes the dead when he combines the two things, to “confess our sins one to another, and to pray o”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: ages, and is still the practice, wherever Popery prevails? To procure the favour of God, human merits are ever and anon obtruded, and very frequently while Christ is passed by, God is supplicated in their name. I ask if this is not to transfer to them that office of sole intercession which we have above claimed for Christ? Then what angel or devil ever announced one syllable to any human being concerning that fancied intercession of theirs? There is not a word on the subject in Scripture. What ground then was there for the fiction?”
Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 9:3: prayer . . . supplications--literally, "intercessions . . . entreaties for mercy." Praying for blessings, and deprecating evils.”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: are confirmed and fulfilled in him. 18. And we must carefully attend to the circumstance of time. Christ enjoins his disciples to have recourse to his intercession after he shall have ascended to heaven: “At that day ye shall ask in my name,” ( John 16:26 ). It is certain, indeed, that from the very first all who ever prayed were heard only for the sake of the Mediator. For this reason God had commanded in the Law, that the priest alone should enter the sanctuary, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on his shoulders, a”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 96: § 3. Definition of Terms . Christ, it is said, executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. Expiation, propitiation, reconciliation, and intercession are the several aspects under which the work of Christ as a priest, is presented in the Word of God. Before attempting to state what the Scriptures teach in reference to these points, it will be well to define the terms which are of constant occurrence in theol”

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