The Biblical Principle of Agency
I want to show you that we are not only called to be Jesus’s “agents” but that Jesus also spoke of himself as God’s agent to us.
In fact, I have found that one of the biggest roadblocks to understanding who Jesus truly is, is a lack of knowledge and understanding of this biblical concept of “agency.” This concept is made clear to us through the Jewish word and principle of “shaliah.” It goes like this:
“AGENT (Heb. shaliah): The main point of the Jewish law of agency is expressed in the dictum, “a person’s agent is regarded as the person himself” (Ned. 72b; Kidd. 41b). Therefore any act committed by a duly appointed agent is regarded as having been committed by the principle, who therefore bears full responsibility for it with consequent complete absence of liability on the part of the agent… The agent is regarded as acting in his principle’s interest and not to his detriment…” (R. J. Zwi Werblowsky and G. Wigoder, editors, The Encyclopedia of the Jewish Religion (New York: Adama Books, 1986), 15.)
Let’s see if we can identify the concept of “agency” in the following passage:
“6I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me… 16They are not of the world even as I am not of the world…18As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:6, 16, 18
Jesus said this regarding his apostles. With that verse in mind, let’s consider the definition of “apostle” in the following:
“apostéllō [G649] is a strengthening compound of stéllō [G4724] and is common in Greek for ‘to send forth,’ differing from pémpō [G3992], which stresses the fact of sending, by its relating of sender and sent and its consequent implication of a commission, especially in Hellenistic Greek. It thus carries the further thought of authorization, e.g., in the case of official envoys, but also divinely sent teachers.” Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (67–68). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
In the LXX (Septuagint), the translation conveys, “the sending of a special messenger with emphasis on the sender (cf. Is. 6:8), so that the messenger is a kind of plenipotentiary. The message and the one sent are of interest only as they embody the sender, no matter who the sender or the sent may be. Even those who are sent realize that the stress is on the sender (cf. Gen. 24:1ff.).”[ibid.]
“The LXX pursues this thought consistently, even using apostéllō for šlḥ [shaliah] contrary to the literal sense in order to bring out the authoritative element in the action and the position of the one who acts.”[ibid.]
So, the apostles and the disciples were all acting as agents (shaliah) of Jesus!
The idea of shaliah/agency also explains Jesus’ response to Saul in the following:
“3As he [Saul] traveled… suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 9:3-5
Notice how Jesus describes himself to Saul. He says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” But Saul had not been persecuting Jesus directly—he had been persecuting his disciples. Yet Jesus identified himself so closely with his disciples that he spoke of them in the first person, as if they were literally him.
Was Jesus lying or exaggerating? No, not at all. This is a prime example of the idiomatic speech of agency (shaliah). It should be easy to understand that the saints Saul persecuted were not the literal “person” of Jesus Christ. However, Jesus spoke of them that way because believers make up the one body of Christ—without negating their individual personalities. The people Saul was persecuting were literally doing the work of Christ in the world. Therefore, Jesus was correct to take full responsibility both for their actions and for Saul’s actions against them by identifying them with himself. This also explains why Saul (later called Paul) later wrote so adamantly: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” 1 Corinthians 12:27.
Most Christians readily accept that Jesus spoke of his disciples—acting as his agents—as himself. Unfortunately, however, they are not always consistent in applying the concept of agency without assigning the literal identity of the principal to the agent. I am referring, of course, to Jesus Christ’s own relationship to the Father, in which he serves as God’s agent while the Father remains the principal.
Before addressing that, there are many other scriptures that help disciples of Christ understand agency by showing how this same language applies to our position in Christ as his agents, with Jesus himself being our principal. The purpose here is to appeal to your own understanding of agency in relation to Jesus Christ. Most of us, using normal reasoning, recognize that when Jesus says we represent him, that does not mean we literally become him. And yet, it would be just as absurd to claim that because Jesus acts as an agent for the Father, this must mean he is the Father—or that he is likewise God himself.
For example:
“Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 (WEB)
“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.” Matthew 10:40
“If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26
Here is a particularly descriptive case:
“34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:34-40
This is the doctrine of agency (shaliah) being clearly spelled out by Jesus himself (even though he doesn’t put a “name” on the doctrine). A doctrine simply does not get any more biblical than that!
If we can understand this when Christ speaks this way in the context of his relationship with us, then we should also be able to understand it when he explains himself in the same way in relation to God his Father.
Before we get there, let’s examine one of the major examples of agency (shaliah) at work in the Old Testament. Before reading this, remember the first principle of agency: “a person’s agent is regarded as the person himself”. Now let’s look at the angel that appeared to Moses…
“1Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb. 2The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3Moses said, “I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” 4When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5He said, “Don’t come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.” Exodus 3:1-6
Now, try to understand this passage in light of Saul’s experience with Jesus. Recall that Jesus said Saul had been persecuting “me.” Here, we have the angel, who was God’s agent, speaking in the first person as if he were Yahweh himself. But this is simply the language of agency at work. How can we know for sure? Because the Bible explicitly interprets this scene for us, making it clear that it was the angel who appeared to Moses:
30“When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, 32‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’… 35“This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.” Acts 7:30-35
This is further confirmed by the scriptures, which adamantly state, “No one has seen God at any time” (1 John 4:12; John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:16; Exodus 33:20; Colossians 1:15).
According to God-breathed and inspired scripture, Moses literally saw “the angel who appeared to him,” not God himself. As God’s agent, the angel was fully authorized to speak on God’s behalf in the first person, as if he were God, because the words he spoke came directly from God.
This is precisely what is meant in defining shaliah/agency: “a person’s agent [i.e. the angel] is regarded as the person himself [i.e. God]”.
With that concept in mind—one that the Jews were fully aware of—consider this prophecy from Scripture:
“In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.” Zechariah 12:8
The “house of David will be like God”, that is Jesus. Furthermore, “the house of David will be…like the angel of Yahweh”—that refers to Jesus. Furthermore, “the house of David will be… like the angel of Yahweh.” And there you have it. This is why people confuse Jesus with Yahweh, just as they confuse the angel who appeared to Moses with being literally God. It all comes down to agency. The agent has full authority to speak as the principal, or in other words, “A person’s agent [i.e., the house of David] is regarded as the person himself [i.e., God].”
The question remains: Did Jesus speak in the idiom of being God’s agent or as being God by identity?
The fact is, Jesus explicitly, consistently, and even constantly explained himself in terms of agency. Again, “a person’s agent is regarded as the person himself (Ned. 72b; Kidd. 41b). Therefore any act committed by a duly appointed agent is regarded as having been committed by the principle.” But that does not mean the agent has actually or literally been elevated to being the identity of the principal.
This functions much like a power of attorney in our culture today. My wife bought us a house while I was on business because she had my full power of attorney. She was authorized to sign my name, and I was fully accountable.
Here is a good sample of the ways in which Jesus fully, clearly, and unambiguously explained himself in terms of agency [as God’s agent to us], while at the same time directly opposing the idea that he is the actual identity of God Himself:
“For I spoke not from myself, but the Father…he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak… The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.” John 12:49-50
“The words… I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me.” John 14:10
“The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” John 14:24
“He who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say…” John 8:26
“…I do nothing of myself; but as my Father taught me, I speak these things” John 8:28.
“19Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” John 5:19-20
“Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” John 6:29
“16Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” John 7:16-18
“34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:34-35
“I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4
“24The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.” John 10:24-25
“37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” John 10:37-38
“22Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”… 40Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” 41So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:22-23, 40-42
“Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.” John 13:20
“9Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” John 15:15
“23He who hates me, hates my Father also. 24If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father.” John 15:23-24
“All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.” John 16:15
“even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” John 17:2
“3This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. 5Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:3-5
“6I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 7Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you, 8for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me.” John 17:6-8
“I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.” John 17:11
“14I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14-16
“As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:18
“that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.” John 17:21
“The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one” John 17:22
“I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me” John 17:23
“25Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. 26I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26
“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,” Acts 2:22
“You [God] made known to me [Messiah] the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Acts 2:28
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:36
“22For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23It will be, that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’” Acts 3:22-33
“God, having raised up his servant, Jesus, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness.” Acts 3:26
“This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’” Acts 7:37
All of these scriptures clearly, consistently, and constantly state the doctrine of Jesus’ agency from the Father (the principal). Yet nowhere—let alone with anything resembling this kind of consistency or clarity—did Jesus or the apostles ever, even once, describe Jesus and the Father as “a Trinity of three coequal persons in one substance” or “God the Father incarnate in the flesh as the Son” (as in Modalism/Oneness).
Jesus himself, our lord, said:
7“‘If you had known me, you would have known my Father also…9He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I SPEAK NOT FROM MYSELF; but the Father who lives in me does His works.’” John 14:7–10
Why do so many people simply refuse to hear Jesus’ words right there, where he explicitly and clearly stated:
“The words that I tell you, I SPEAK NOT FROM MYSELF.”
Folks, this is Jesus flat-out stating that he is not the “Word incarnate” but that he speaks for God as God’s agent. These are completely contradictory ideas, and the one that Jesus explains—consistently—is the concept of agency rather than identity.
Jesus was explaining something about himself and the Father in a way that even a child could understand—but not someone whose doctrine has been spoiled by the pagan notion of incarnation.
“11When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12They called Barnabas “Jupiter,” and Paul “Mercury,” because he was the chief speaker.” Acts 14:11-15
If I said, “If you have seen me, you have seen my brother,” would that mean I was trying to tell you that I am my brother?
If I explicitly said, “The words that I speak to you, I don’t speak from myself, but what my brother told me to speak,” would you claim that I was actually speaking from my human nature and that I was really trying to claim that I am my brother?
If I told you, “None of you have seen my brother at any time, but I have revealed him,” would you still assume that I am my brother?
On the other hand, if I told you the words I spoke were the words of my brother, would you deny that you had heard his words and instead claim that I must be my brother? That is exactly what some theologians are assuming and claiming—that only if Jesus were literally “The God” could he speak as God’s anointed mouthpiece.
So the truth of the matter boils down to this: By misreading Jesus as “a god come down to us in the form of a man” (Acts 14:11), as the pagans did, Christianity has been duped into adopting a pagan view of God rather than accepting Jesus’ own explanation of himself.
This is why I claim that the doctrine of agency is the most blatantly obvious—yet most overlooked—biblical doctrine that there ever was.
But I’m sure there will still be people accusing me of not understanding their revelation—one that contradicts Jesus’ own explanation of himself! But the word of God is true, and it clearly states that God had not spoken to His people through His Son until these last days, beginning, of course, with Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem!
“1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2
“Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37
Would you like to read what others are saying about shaliah/agency? Here are some links to articles from other writers on the topic:
Raymond Essoe, Shaliah: http://www.christianmonotheism.com/media/text/Raymond%20Essoe%20–%20Shaliah.pdf
The Principle of Agency in the Old Testament: https://onegodworship.com/the-principle-of-agency-in-the-old-testament/
The Principle of Agency in the New Testament: https://onegodworship.com/the-principle-of-agency-in-the-new-testament/
Skip Moen, Shaliah: https://skipmoen.com/2018/01/shaliah/#_ftnref1
Jesus, God’s Greatest Agent: https://www.21stcr.org/jesus-the-messiah-article/jesus-gods-greatest-agent/
