Simon Greenleaf, Testimony of the Evangelists:
“The credit due to the testimony of witnesses
depends upon, firstly, their honesty;
secondly, their ability; thirdly, their
number and the consistency of their testimony;
fourthly, the conformity of their testimony with
experience; and fifthly, the
coincidence of their testimony with collateral circumstances.
Let
the evangelists be tried by these tests.
And first, as to their honesty. Here they are entitled
to the benefit of the general
course of human experience, that men ordinarily speak the truth, when
they have
no prevailing motive or inducement to the contrary. This presumption,
to which
we have before alluded, is applied in courts of justice, even to
witnesses
whose integrity is not wholly free from suspicion; much more is it
applicable
to the evangelists, whose testimony went against all their worldly
interests.
The great truths which the apostles declared, were that Christ had
risen from
the dead, and that only through repentance from sin, and faith in him,
could
men hope for salvation. This doctrine they asserted with one voice,
everywhere,
not only under the greatest discouragements, but in the face of the
most
appalling terrors that can be presented to the mind of man. Their
master had
recently perished as a malefactor, by the sentence of a public
tribunal. His
religion sought to overthrow the religions of the whole world. The laws
of
every country were against the teaching of his disciples. The interests
and
passions of all the rulers and great men in the world were against
them. The
fashion of the world was against them. Propagating this new faith, even
in the
most inoffensive and peaceful manner, they could expect nothing but
contempt,
opposition, revilings, bitter persecutions, stripes imprisonments,
torments and
cruel deaths. Yet this faith they zealously did propagate; and all
these
miseries they endured undismayed, nay, rejoicing. As one after another
was put
to a miserable death, the survivors only prosecuted their work with
increased
vigor and resolution. The annals of military warfare afford scarcely an
example
of the like heroic constancy, patience and unblenching courage. They
had every
possible motive to review carefully the grounds of their faith, and the
evidences of the great facts and truths which they asserted; and these
motives
were pressed upon their attention with the most melancholy and terrific
frequency. It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted
in
affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually rose
from the
dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any
other
fact. If it were morally possible for them to have been deceived in
this
matter, every human motive operated to lead them to discover and avow
their
error. To have persisted in so gross a falsehood, after it was known to
them,
was not only to encounter, for life, all the evils which man could
inflict,
from without, but to endure also the pangs of inward and conscious
guilt; with
no hope of future peace, no testimony of a good conscience, no
expectation of
honor or esteem among men, no hope of happiness in this life, or in the
world
to come. Such conduct in the apostles would moreover have been utterly
irreconcilable with the fact, that they possessed the ordinary
constitution of
our common nature. Yet their lives do show them to have been men like
all
others of our race; swayed by the same motives, animated by the same
hopes,
affected by the same joys, subdued by the same sorrows, agitated by the
same
fears, and subject to the same passions, temptations and infirmities,
as
ourselves. And their writings show them to have been men of vigorous
understandings. If then their testimony was not true, there was no
possible
motive for this fabrication.”
A. The prophets and
the apostles knew the law regarding false
witness.
“You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor.
“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the
wicked
to be an unrighteous witness.
Deuteronomy
5:20
“You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor.
“Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep
His
charge, His statutes, His
judgments, and His commandments
always.
1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of
dreams, and
he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2and the sign or the wonder
comes
to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other
gods’--which
you have not known--”and let us serve them,’ 3you
shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of
dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you
love the
LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the
thing does not
happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not
spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall
not
be afraid of him.
“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any
iniquity or any
sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the
matter
shall be established.
Proverbs
6:19
A false witness who speaks
lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false
witness, deceit.
Proverbs
14:5
A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness
will utter lies.
Proverbs
14:25
A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful
witness speaks lies.
A disreputable witness scorns
justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Do not be a witness against your
neighbor without cause, For would you deceive [Septuagint and
Vulgate read Do
not deceive] with your lips?
A man who bears false witness
against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
These are the things you
shall do: Speak each man
the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for
truth,
justice, and peace;
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s
clothing,
but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications,
thefts, false witness,
blasphemies.
17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? [NU-Text reads Why do you ask Me
about what is
good?] No one is good
but One, that is, God. [NU-Text reads There is One who is good] But if you want to enter into life,
keep the commandments.”
18He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, ““You shall not murder,’ “You shall not commit adultery,’
“You
shall not steal,’ “You shall not bear
false witness,’ [Exodus
You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery,’ “Do not murder,’
“Do not
steal,’ “Do not bear false witness,’
“Do not defraud,’ “Honor your father and your mother.”‘[Exodus
20:12-16;
Deuteronomy 5:16-20]
You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery,’ “Do not murder,’
“Do not
steal,’ “Do not bear false witness,’ “Honor your father and
your mother.”‘[Exodus
20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20]
They also set up false witnesses
who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous [NU-Text omits blasphemous]
words against this holy place and the law;
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not
murder,” “You
shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false
witness,” [NU-Text omits “You shall
not bear false witness.”]
“You shall not covet,” [Exodus
2
Corinthians 13:1
This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
shall be established.” [Deuteronomy
19:15]
B.
The prophets and the apostles knew the consequences for disobeying the
law.
Leviticus
5:1
“If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness,
whether he has seen or known of the matter--if he does not tell it, he
bears
guilt.
Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak
were to
give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond
the word
of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of
two or
three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony
of one witness.
The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to
put him to
death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away
the evil
from among you.
20But the prophet who presumes to speak
a word in
My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the
name of
other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21And if you say in
your heart,
“How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’-- 22when a prophet speaks in the name of the
LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing
which the
LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you
shall not be
afraid of him.
Deuteronomy
19
16If a false witness rises against any man to testify
against him of
wrongdoing, 17then both men in the controversy shall stand
before
the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days.
18And
the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified
falsely against his brother, 19then you shall do to him as
he
thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil
from among
you.
“But it shall come to
pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His
commandments and His statutes
which I command you today, that all these curses
will
come upon you and overtake
you:
A false witness will not go
unpunished, And he who speaks lies will
not escape.
A false witness will not go
unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
A false witness shall perish,
But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they
declare
their sin as
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter
the sheep of
My pasture!” says the LORD.
But there were also false prophets among the people,
even as
there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring
in
destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring
on
themselves swift destruction.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of
God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet
who
worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received
the mark
of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast
alive into
the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone
where [NU-Text and M-Text add also]
the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented
day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 22
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with
Me, to
give to every one according to his work. 13I am the Alpha
and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” [NU-Text and M-Text read the First
and the
Last, the Beginning and the End]
14Blessed are those who do His commandments, [NU-Text reads wash their robes]
that
they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the
gates into
the city. 15But [NU-Text and
M-Text
omit But] outside
are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and
idolaters, and
whoever loves and practices a lie.
16”I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
things in
the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and
Morning
Star.”
C. The prophets and
the apostles knew the rewards for obeying the law.
You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward
for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.
The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the
LORD God
of
Therefore the LORD God of
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely?
Therefore may
the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this
day.
“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According
to the
cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work
shall be rewarded!”
here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your
possession
which You have given us to inherit.
1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy
hill?
2He who walks
uprightly,
And works
righteousness,
And speaks
the
truth in his heart;
3He who does not
backbite
with his tongue,
Nor does
evil to
his neighbor,
Nor does
he take
up a reproach against his friend;
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According
to the
cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is
great reward.
So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the
righteous;
Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the
commandment
will be rewarded.
Then I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for
nothing and
in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my
work with my
God.”‘
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven, for
so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do
not even
the tax collectors do the same?
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your
door,
pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who
sees in
secret will reward you openly. [NU-Text omits openly]
40 “He who receives you receives Me,
and he who
receives Me receives Him who sent
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His
angels, and
then He will reward each according to his works.
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you
belong to
Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in
heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return;
and
your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most
High. For He
is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive
his own reward
according to his own labor.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my
will, I
have been entrusted with a stewardship.
23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for [NU-Text omits for] you serve the Lord Christ. 25But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently
seek Him.
Hebrews
11
24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be
called the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer
affliction
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in [NU-Text
and M-Text
read of ] Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and
someone
turns him back, 20let him
know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a
soul [NU-Text
reads his soul]
from death and cover a multitude of sins.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will
cover a multitude
of sins.”[Proverbs 10:12]
Look to yourselves, that we [NU-Text reads you]
do not lose those things we worked for, but that we[NU-Text reads you] may receive a full reward.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the
dead, that
they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants
the
prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And
should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Revelation
22
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with
Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the
First and
the Last.” [NU-Text and M-Text read the First and the Last, the
Beginning
and the End]
14Blessed are those who do His commandments, [NU-Text reads wash
their robes] that they may
have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates
into the
city. 15But [NU-Text and M-Text omit But] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually
immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a
lie.
16”I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
things in
the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
the Bright and Morning Star.”
D. The prophets and the apostles knew God Himself was a witness to their actions.
Simon
Greenleaf, Testimony of the Evangelists:
“They had every possible motive to review carefully the grounds of their faith, and the evidences of the great facts and truths which they asserted; and these motives were pressed upon their attention with the most melancholy and terrific frequency. It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually rose from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact. If it were morally possible for them to have been deceived in this matter, every human motive operated to lead them to discover and avow their error. To have persisted in so gross a falsehood, after it was known to them, was not only to encounter, for life, all the evils which man could inflict, from without, but to endure also the pangs of inward and conscious guilt; with no hope of future peace, no testimony of a good conscience, no expectation of honor or esteem amom men, no hope of happiness in this life, or in the world to come.
“Such conduct in the apostles would moreover have been utterly irreconcilable with the fact, that they possessed the ordinary constitution of our common nature. Yet their lives do show them to have been men like all others of our race; swayed by the same motives, animated by the same hopes, affected by the same joys, subdued by the same sorrows, agitated by the same fears, and subject to the same passions, temptations and infirmities, as ourselves. And their writings show them to have been men of vigorous understandings. If then their testimony was not true, there was no possible motive for this fabrication.
“It
would also have been irreconcilable with the fact that they were good
men. But
it is impossible to read their writings, and not feel that we are
conversing
with men eminently holy, and of tender consciences, with men acting
under an
abiding sense of the presence and omniscience of God, and of their
accountability to him, living in his fear, and walking in his ways.
Now,
though, in a single instance, a good man may fall, when under strong
temptations, yet he is not found persisting, for years, in deliberated
falsehood, asserted with the most solemn appeals to God, without the
slightest
temptation or motive, and against all the opposing interests which
reign in the
human breast. If, on the contrary, they are supposed to have been bad
men, it
is incredible that such men should have chosen this form of imposture;
enjoining, as it does, unfeigned repentance, the utter forsaking and
abhorrence
of all falsehood and of every other sin, the practice of daily
self-denial,
self-abasement and self-sacrifice, the crucifixion of the flesh with
all its
earthly appetites and desires, indifference to the honors, and hearty
contempt
of the vanities of the world; and inculcating perfect purity of heart
and life,
and intercourse of the soul with heaven. It is incredible, that bad men
should
invent falsehoods, to promote the religion of the God of truth. The
supposition
is suicidal. If they did believe in a future state of retribution, a
heaven and
a hell hereafter, they took the most certain course, if false
witnesses, to
secure the latter for their portion. And if, still being bad men, they
did not
believe in future punishment, how came they to invent which was to
destroy all their
prospects of worldly honor and happiness, and to insure their misery in
this
life? From these absurdities there is no escape, but in the perfect
conviction
and admission that they were good men, testifying to that which they
had
carefully observed and considered, and well knew to be true.”
If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my
daughters,
although no man is with us--see, God is witness between you and
me!”
6So Moses spoke to the children of
8Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into
the
tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of
Levi, had
sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe
almonds.
Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of
your
father, that they may be joined with you and serve you while you and
your sons
are with you before the tabernacle of witness.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that
you will
soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to
possess;
you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.
Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go
well with
you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and
right in the sight of the
LORD your God.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I
have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life,
that both
you and your descendants may live;
Deuteronomy
31:28
Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I
may speak
these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness
against them.
Judges
3:7
So the children of
Judges
10:6
Then the children of Israel again
did evil in the sight of the
LORD, and served the
Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods
of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the
gods of Moab, the gods of
the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD and
did not serve Him.
And the elders of
Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His
anointed:
Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I
cheated?
Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe
with which
to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
Then he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and His
anointed
is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my
hand.” And they
answered, “He is witness.”
Then Jonathan said to David: “The LORD God of
and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness
against him,
saying, You have blasphemed God and the king. Then take him out, and
stone him,
that he may die.
2
Chronicles 36:5
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned eleven years in
2
Chronicles 36:12
He did evil in the sight of
the LORD his God, and did not humble himself
before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
Job
10:17
You renew Your witnesses against me, And increase Your
indignation
toward me; Changes and war are ever with me.
Job
16:8
You have shriveled me up, And it is a witness against me; My
leanness
rises up against me And bears witness to my face.
Job
16:19
Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on
high.
Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything
hastily before
God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore
let your words
be few.
“You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I
have
chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He.
Before
Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign
god
among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD,
“that I am
God.
Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and
declared
it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed
there is no
other Rock; I know not one.”‘
And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have
not
sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false
vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their
heart.
because they have done disgraceful things in
And You have said to me, O Lord GOD, “Buy the field for money, and take
witnesses”!--yet
the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”‘
Men will buy fields for money, sign deeds and seal them, and take witnesses,
in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities
of
Judah, in the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland,
and in the
cities of the South; for I will cause their captives to return,’ says
the LORD.”
So they said to Jeremiah, “Let the LORD be a true and faithful witness
between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your
God
sends us by you.
Micah
1:2
Hear, all you peoples! Listen, O earth, and all that is in it! Let the
Lord GOD
be a witness against you, The Lord from His holy temple.
“Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for
plunder; [Septuagint
and Syriac read for witness;
Targum reads for the day of My revelation
for judgment; Vulgate reads for the
day of My resurrection that is to come] My determination is to
gather the
nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All
My
fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My
jealousy.
Malachi
2:14
Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt
treacherously;
Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness
Against
sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who
exploit
wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an
alien--
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.
And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men,
but God
knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight
of God.
But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which
the Father
has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness
of Me,
that the Father has sent Me.
I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent
Me bears witness
of Me.”
to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible
proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the
things
pertaining to the
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the
Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
and said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are
remembered in the sight of God.
not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God,
even to us
who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord,
who was
bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and
wonders to
be done by their hands.
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good
cheer,
Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of His
Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers
of the law will
be justified;
Romans
8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of
God,
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing
me witness
in the Holy Spirit,
Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have
testified
of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact
the dead
do not rise.
2
Corinthians 1:23
Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare
you I came
no more to
For we are not, as so many, [M-Text reads the
rest] peddling the word of God;
but as of sincerity, but as from
God, we speak in the sight
of God in Christ.
But we have renounced the hidden things
of shame, not walking in
craftiness nor handling
the word of God deceitfully, but
by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man’s conscience in
the sight of God.
But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident,
for “the just
shall live by faith.”[Habakkuk 2:4]
(Now
concerning the things which I write to you,
indeed, before God, I do not
lie.)
For God is my witness, how
greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
1
Thessalonians 1:3
remembering without ceasing
your work of faith, labor of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ in the sight of
our God and Father,
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a
cloak
for covetousness--God is witness.
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly
we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
1
Timothy 2:3
For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our
Savior,
1
Timothy 6:13
I urge you in the sight of God who
gives life to all things, and before
Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before
Pontius
Pilate,
I charge you therefore before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead
at His appearing and His kingdom:
God also bearing witness both
with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Spirit,
according to His own will?
But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said
before,
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
6 This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not
only by
water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who
bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7For
there are three that bear witness in
heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three
are one.
8And there are three that bear witness on earth [NU-Text and M-Text omit the words from in
heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse 8). Only four or
five very
late manuscripts contain these words in Greek] the Spirit, the
water, and
the blood; and these three agree as one.
9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which [NU-Text reads God, that] He has testified of His Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
E. The prophets
and the apostles appealed to reason.
Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before
the LORD
concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and
your
fathers:
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though
your sins
are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red
like
crimson, They shall be as wool.
Isaiah
41:21
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Bring forth your strong reasons,”
says the King of Jacob.
|
Matthew
19:5 |
|
Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to
him, “You
are not far from the
Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned
with them from the Scriptures,
Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with
the
Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who
happened to be
there.
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded
both Jews
and Greeks.
And he came to
8And he went into the synagogue and
spoke boldly
for three months, reasoning and
persuading concerning the things of the
1
Thessalonians 5:21
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
8For God
is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of
Jesus
Christ.
9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and
more in
knowledge and all discernment,
10that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you
may be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
But sanctify the Lord God [NU-Text reads Christ
as Lord] in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and
fear;
F. The
prophets and the apostles appealed to the truth.
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A
God of truth
and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and
You have
promised this goodness to Your servant.
And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which
You have
spoken to Your servant David my father.
And now, O LORD God of
He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth
in
his heart;
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep
His
covenant and His testimonies.
Psalm
31:5
Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Psalm
33:4
For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.
Psalm
40:11
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your
lovingkindness
and Your truth continually preserve me.
Psalm
43:3
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let
them bring
me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.
Psalm
86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and
abundant in mercy and truth.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth
go before Your face.
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall
take
refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth
endures to
all generations.
For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth
reaches to the
clouds.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because
of Your
mercy, Because of Your truth.
For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of
the LORD
endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your
righteous
judgments endures forever.
I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your
lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word
above
all Your name.
Psalm
145:18
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm
146:6
Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth
forever,
Proverbs
12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully
are His delight.
And you shall swear, “The LORD lives,’ In truth, in judgment,
and in
righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him
they shall
glory.”
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the
everlasting
King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be
able to
endure His indignation.
So they said to Jeremiah, “Let the LORD be a true and faithful
witness
between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your
God
sends us by you.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth,
and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put
down.
“As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon
us; yet
we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn
from
our iniquities and understand Your truth.
Daniel
10:21
But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth.
(No one
upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of
The law of truth [Or true
instruction ] was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his
lips. He
walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity.
And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we
know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor
do You
care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do
not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.
Is it
lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth,
for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
Luke
20:21
Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach
rightly,
and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming
into the
world. [Or That was the true Light which, coming into the
world,
gives light to every man. ]
John
1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through
Jesus Christ.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds
may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
He who has received His testimony has certified that God is
true.
23But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true
worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is
Spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth.”
25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming”
(who is
called Christ). “When He comes, He will
tell us all things.”
32There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not
give you
the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread
from
heaven.
John
7:18
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the
glory of
the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both
know Me,
and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who
sent Me
is true, whom you do not know.
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him,
“You bear
witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness
of
Myself, My witness is true, for I
know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where
I come
from and where I am going. 15You judge according to the
flesh; I
judge no one.
16And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent
Me is true;
and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in
My
word, you are My disciples
indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free.”
But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth
which I
heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
44You are of your father the devil, and
the
desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the
beginning,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When
he
speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and
the father
of it. 45But because I tell
the truth, you do not believe
John
10:41
Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the
things
that John spoke about this Man were true.”
John
14:1
“Let not your heart be troubled; you
believe in God, believe also in Me.
John
14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes
to the Father except through Me.
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither
sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and
will be in
you.
John
15:1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the
Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify
of Me.
John
16:13
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide
you into
all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but
whatever He
hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true
God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified
by the truth.
36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My
kingdom
were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be
delivered
to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was
born,
and for this cause I have come into the world, that I
should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of
the truth hears My voice.”
38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said
this, he
went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him
at all.
And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he
knows that
he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these
things; and
we know that his testimony is true.
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that
God
shows no partiality.
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud
voice, “Paul,
you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak
the words
of truth and reason. 26For
the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am
convinced that none of these things
escapes his attention, since this
thing was not done in a corner.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness,
who show the work of the law written in their hearts,
their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts
accusing
or else excusing them)
|
|
Psalm 51 |
Romans
4:5
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for
righteousness,
I tell the truth in Christ, I am
not lying, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision
for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the
leaven of
malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
For we are not, as so many, [M-Text reads the
rest] peddling the word of God; but as of
sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
But we have renounced the hidden things
of shame, not walking in craftiness
nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of
the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God.
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of
righteousness
on the right hand and on the left,
For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed.
But as we
spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus
was
found true.
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this
boasting
in the regions of Achaia.
For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will
speak the truth.
But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to
be or
hears from me.
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth
of
the gospel might continue with you.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth,
[NU-Text omits that you should not obey
the truth] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed
among you [ NU-Text omits among you]
as crucified?
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
gospel
of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with
the Holy
Spirit of promise,
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into
Him who
is the head--Christ—
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth
is in Jesus:
|
Commentary by J.P. Holding: http://www.tektonics.org/af/beangry.html |
Zechariah 8:16 16These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Psalm 4 |
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit [NU-Text reads light] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having
put on the
breastplate of righteousness,
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things
are noble,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there
is
anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, [NU-Text and M-Text add and growing] as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had
to you,
and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
God,
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a
cloak
for covetousness--God is
witness.
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received
the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the
word of
men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also
effectively
works in you who believe.
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they
did not
receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved
by the
Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through
sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior,
4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the
truth. 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God
and men,
the Man Christ Jesus,
for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth
in Christ [NU-Text omits in Christ]
and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to
conduct
yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God,
the pillar
and ground of the truth.
in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will
grant
them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
2
Timothy 3:8
Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the
truth:
men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside
to fables.
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to
the
faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which
accords
with godliness,
13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that
we might
be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
|
14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” |
Leviticus 11 Leviticus 19 Leviticus 20 |
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to
you
briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace
of God in
which you stand.
|
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
|
Matthew 17 Mark 9 Luke 9 |
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
7But if we walk in the light as He is
in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His
Son cleanses us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If
we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a
liar, and
the truth is not in him.
Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in
Him and
in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true
light is
already shining.
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth,
but because
you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If
what you
heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son
and in
the Father.
17But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother
in need,
and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,
but in
deed and in truth. 19And by this we know [NU-Text reads we shall know] that we are of the truth, and
shall assure our hearts before Him.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by
this we
know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1
John 4:6
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not
hear
us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of
error.
This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by
water, but by
water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the
Spirit is truth.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an
understanding, that
we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true,
in
His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only
I, but
also all those who have known the truth, 2because of the
truth which
abides in us and will be with us forever:
3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you [NU-Text and M-Text read us] from God the Father and from the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [NU-Text and M-Text read our]
3
John 1:8
We therefore ought to receive [NU-Text reads you]
such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth
itself. And
we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans [NU-Text and M-Text
read in
Revelation
6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true,
until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Revelation
15:3
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb,
saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just
and true
are Your ways, O King of the saints! [NU-Text and M-Text read nations]
And I heard another from [NU-Text and M-Text omit another
from ] the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true
and righteous are Your judgments.”
For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged
the
great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has
avenged
on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Then he said to me, “Write: “Blessed are those who are called to the
marriage
supper of the Lamb!”‘ And he said to me, “These are the true
sayings of
God.”
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on
him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war.
Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And
the Lord
God of the holy [NU-Text and M-Text read spirits
of the prophets] prophets sent His angel to show His servants the
things
which must shortly take place.
The topic of “truth”
is further discussed at the
following:
Dr. Norman L. Geisler. “The Nature of Truth – Part One,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/theological-dictionary/TD1W1099.pdf
Dr. Norman L. Geisler. “The Nature of Truth – Part Two,”
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/theological-dictionary/TD2W1099.pdf
Dr. Norman L. Geisler. “The Absolute Nature of Truth – Relative Truth,”
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/theological-dictionary/TD3W1099.pdf
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “The Christian Faith--Why It’s True,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP1201W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “The Christian Faith--Why It’s True, Part Two,”
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0102W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God?-- Part One,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0402W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and Is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Two,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0502W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Three,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0602W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Four,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0702W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Five,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0802W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully True and Is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Six,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0902W4.htm
Dr. John Ankerberg and
Dr. John
Weldon. “Is Christianity Alone Fully
True and Is Jesus Christ Really the Only Way to God? -- Part Seven,” http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP1002W4.htm
G. The prophets and the apostles appealed to the truthfulness of their testimony as eyewitness accounts.
Webster’s
defines the following:
Eyewitness: “n. 1. A person who
actually sees some act. Occurrence, or the like, and can give a
first-hand
account of it.”
Witness: “n. 6. A person who is present
at an occurrence, esp. one who is able to attest as to what took
place.
7. A person who gives testimony, as in a court of law. 8. A
person or
thing serving as evidence. 9. A person who signs a document
attesting the
genuineness of its execution. 10. Testimony or evidence: to
bear
witness to her suffering.”
Testimony: “n. 1. The statement or
declaration of a witness under oath, usu. in court. 2.
Evidence in
support of a fact or statement; proof. 3. Open declaration
or
profession, as of faith.”
F.
F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?: [6]
“The evidence indicates
that the written
sources of our Synoptic Gospels are not later than c. A.D. 60; some of
them may
even be traced back to notes taken of our Lord’s teaching while His
words were
actually being uttered. The oral sources go back to the very beginning
of
Christian history. We are, in fact, practically all the way through in
touch
with the evidence of eyewitnesses. The earliest preachers of the gospel
knew
the value of this firsthand testimony, and appealed to it time and
again. ‘We are witnesses of these things,’ was
their constant and confident assertion. And it can have been by no
means so
easy as some writers seem to think to invent words and deeds of Jesus
in those
early years, when so many of His disciples were about, who could
remember what
had and had not happened. Indeed, the evidence is that the early
Christians
were careful to distinguish between sayings of Jesus and their own
inferences
or judgments. Paul, for example, when discussing the vexed questions of
marriage and divorce in I Corinthians 7, is careful to make this
distinction
between his own advice on the subject and the Lord’s decisive ruling: ‘I, not the Lord,’ and again, ‘Not I, but the
Lord.’ And it was not
only friendly eyewitnesses that the early preachers had to reckon with;
there
were others less well disposed who were also conversant with the main
facts of
the ministry and death of Jesus. The disciples could not afford to risk
inaccuracies (not to speak of willful manipulation of the facts), which
would
at once be exposed by those who would be only too glad to do so. On the
contrary, one of the strong points in the original apostolic preaching
is the
confident appeal to the knowledge of the hearers; they not only said, ‘We are witnesses of these things,’ but also,
‘As you yourselves also know’ (Acts
2:22). Had there been any tendency to depart from the facts in any
material
respect, the possible presence of hostile witnesses in the audience
would have served
as a further corrective.”
And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that
they may
be my witness that I have dug this well.”
Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a
witness
between you and me.”
Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, [Literally, in Aramaic, Heap
of Witness] but Jacob called it Galeed. [Literally, in
Hebrew, Heap of Witness]
And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this
day.”
Therefore its name was called Galeed,
This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,
that I will
not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this
heap and
this pillar to me, for harm.
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning
flashes, the
sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw
it,
they trembled and stood afar off.
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her
husband, and it is concealed that she has defiled herself, and there
was no witness
against her, nor was she caught—
Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the
testimony of witnesses;
but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person
for the
death penalty.
5then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman
who has
committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman
with
stones. 6Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death
on the testimony of two or three witnesses;
he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7The
hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to
death, and
afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil
from
among you.
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. 16If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days.
17then both men in the controversy shall stand before the
LORD,
before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. 18And
the
judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness
is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his
brother, 19then you shall do to him as he thought to have
done to
his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you.
Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them,
that this
song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be
forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the
inclination of
their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of
which I
swore to give them.”
“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant
of the
LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you;
26Therefore we said, “Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, 27but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, “You have no part in the LORD.”‘ 28Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, “Here is the replica of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.’
The children of Reuben and the children of Gad [Septuagint adds and half the tribe of Manasseh] called
the altar, Witness, “For it is a witness between us
that the LORD
is God.”
So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against
yourselves that
you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said,
“We are witnesses!”
And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness
to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us.
It
shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”
9And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are
witnesses
this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was
Chilion’s
and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10Moreover, Ruth the
Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to
perpetuate the
name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may
not be
cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. [Probably his civic office] You are witnesses
this day.”
11And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders,
said, “We are witnesses. The LORD make the
woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who
built the
house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in
Bethlehem.
So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, “Why
have you
not required the Levites to bring in from
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony
of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in
This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went
throughout
the
Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony
of Your mouth.
Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony
of
If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I
shall teach
them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”
And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah
the
priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”
Isaiah
8:16
Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according
to this
word, it is because there is no light in them.
Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be
assembled. Who
among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring
out
their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear
and say, “It
is truth.”
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious
things
shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither
see nor
know, that they may be ashamed.
Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader
and
commander for the people.
And I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses, and
weighed the
money on the scales.
and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of
Mahseiah, in
the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses
who signed the purchase deed, before all the Jews who sat in the court
of the
prison.
And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show
yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony
to them.”
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony
to them and to the Gentiles.
|
Hebrews
10:28 |
Deuteronomy 19:15 15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.. |
Matthew
23:31
“Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are
sons of
those who murdered the prophets.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness
to all the nations, and then the end will come.
and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way,
show
yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which
Moses
commanded, as a testimony to them.”
“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to
councils, and
you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought [NU-Text and
M-Text
read will stand] before rulers and
kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony
against Jesus
to put Him to death, but found none.
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled [Or are most surely believed] among us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words
which
proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the
priest, and
make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them,
just as
Moses commanded.”
In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your
fathers;
for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have
heard it
ourselves from His own mouth.”
And you are witnesses of these things.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of
whom I
said, “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before
me.”‘
John
1:19
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests
and Levites
from
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven
like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We
have
seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, “I am not the
Christ,’ but,
“I have been sent before Him.’
There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness
which He witnesses of Me is true.
John 5:31-36
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
John 8:13-18
13
The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You
bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness
of
Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am
going;
but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. 15You
judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16And yet if I do
judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the
Father who
sent Me. 17It is also written in your law that the
testimony of two
men is true. 18I am
One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father
who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works
that I do
in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.
John
12:17
Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of
his tomb
and raised him from the dead, bore witness.
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me
from the
beginning.
John
18:23
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the
evil;
but if well, why do you strike Me?”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered,
“You say
rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause
I have
come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone
who is of the truth hears My voice.”
And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true;
and he
knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
29Jesus said to him, “Thomas [NU-Text and M-Text omit Thomas] because you have seen Me, you
have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed.”
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of
His
disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these
are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that
believing you may have life in His name.
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these
things; and
we know that his testimony is true.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you
shall be witnesses to Me [NU-Text reads My witnesses]
in
21”Therefore, of these men who have
accompanied
us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning
from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one
of these
must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was
surnamed
Justus, and Matthias.
This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which
we are witnesses.
Acts
4:33
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the
resurrection of
the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the
Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
“Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness,
as He
appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that
he had
seen,
and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses
laid
down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and with
power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the
devil, for God was with Him. 39And we are witnesses
of all
things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in
not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God,
even to us
who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever
believes
in Him will receive remission of sins.”
He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord,
who was
bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and
wonders to
be done by their hands.
Acts
14:17
Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that
He did
good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts
with
food and gladness.”
Acts
22:5
as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council
of the
elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to
Acts
22:12-18
12”Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the
law, having
a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13came
to me;
and he stood and said to me, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at
that
same hour I looked up at him. 14Then he said, “The God of
our
fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just
One, and
hear the voice of His mouth. 15For you will be His witness
to all
men of what you have seen and heard. 16And now why are you
waiting?
Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of
the
Lord.’
17”Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was
praying in
the temple, that I was in a trance 18and saw Him saying to
me, “Make
haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your
testimony concerning Me.’
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good
cheer,
Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
Acts
26:16
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this
purpose,
to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which
you have
seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing
both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the
prophets
and Moses said would come—
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of His
Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Romans
2:13-15
13(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of
God, but
the doers of the law will be justified; 14for when Gentiles,
who do
not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although
not
having the law, are a law to themselves, 15who show the work
of the
law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and
between
themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed
by the Law and the Prophets,
Romans
8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of
God,
Romans
9:1
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing
me witness
in the Holy Spirit,
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not
according
to knowledge.
even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of
speech or
of wisdom declaring to you the testimony [NU-Text reads mystery] of God.
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that
we
conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not
with
fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have
testified
of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact
the dead
do not rise.
2
Corinthians 8:3
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and
beyond
their ability, they were freely willing,
What [NU-Text reads Where] then was
the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if
possible, you
would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal [NU-Text reads concern] for you, and those who are in
1
Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly
we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be
admired
among all those who believe, [NU-Text and M-Text read have
believed] because our testimony among you was believed.
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are
outside, lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor
of me His
prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according
to the
power of God,
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying
of his
gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be
sound in the faith,
Hebrews
3:5
And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony
of those things which would be spoken afterward,
1 Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders
obtained a good testimony.
3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which
are
visible.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith,
did not
receive the promise,
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness
against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up
treasure in
the last days.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness
of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will
be
revealed:
For we did not follow cunningly devised
fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus
Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
His majesty.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- 2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- 3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:1-6
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of
God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By
this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus
Christ
has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does
not
confess that [NU-Text omits that and
Christ
has come in the flesh] Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is not of
God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was
coming,
and is now already in the world.
4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them,
because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They
are of
the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears
them.
6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God
does not
hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 5:5-11
5Who is he who overcomes the world, but
he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not
only by
water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness,
because
the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that bear witness
in
heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are
one.
8And there are three that bear witness on earth: [NU-Text
and M-Text omit the words from in
heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse 8). Only four or
five very
late manuscripts contain these words in Greek] the Spirit, the
water, and
the blood; and these three agree as one.
9If we receive the witness of
men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness
of God which [NU-Text reads God,
that] He has testified
of His Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the
witness in
himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he
has not
believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And
this is
the testimony: that God has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you
send them
forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And
we also
bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show
His
servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by
His angel to His servant John, 2who
bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony
of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3Blessed
is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those
things which are written in it; for the time is near.
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from
the
dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us
and washed
[NU-Text reads loves us and freed;
M-Text reads loves us and washed] us
from our sins in His own blood,
I, John, both [NU-Text and M-Text omit both]
your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience
of Jesus
Christ, was on the island that is called
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans [NU-Text and M-Text
read in
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those
who had
been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
held.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will
prophesy one
thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to
them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness
to
Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his
image,
and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And
they
lived and reigned with Christ for a [M-Text reads the]
thousand years.
“Had
the evangelists been false historians,” writes Dr. Thomas Chalmers,
“they would
not have committed themselves upon so many particulars.
They would
not have furnished the vigilant inquirers of that period with such an
effectual
instrument for bringing them into discredit with the people; nor
foolishly
supplied, in every page of their narrative, so many materials for a
cross-examination, which would infallibly have disgraced them.
Now, we of
this age can institute the same cross-examination. We can compare
the
evangelical writers with contemporary authors, and verify a number of
circumstances in the history, and government, and peculiar economy of
the
Jewish people. We therefore have it in our power to institute a
cross-examination upon the writers of the New Testament; and the
freedom and
frequency of their allusions to these circumstances supply us with
ample
materials for it. The fact, that they are borne out in their
minute and
incidental allusions by the testimony of other historians, gives a
strong
weight of what has been called circumstantial evidence in their
favor. (Evidences
of the Christian Revelation, Chapter 3, pp. 76-78.)
See also
Dr. John Ankerberg. “Do We Have Accurate Information About Jesus?”
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0401W3.htm
H.
The prophets and the apostles risked their lives proclaiming the truth.
“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, So that no
one went
through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, A joy of many
generations.
For then the king of
Now Jeremiah was coming and going
among the people, for they had not
yet put him in prison.
Therefore the princes were angry
with Jeremiah, and they struck him
and put him in prison in the
house of
Jonathan the scribe. For they had made that the prison.
Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the
LORD
had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the
prophets
and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely
die!
22Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to
24Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was
with
Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people
to put
him to death.
So the decree went out, and they began killing
the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill
them.
Daniel
3:8-23
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and
accused
the Jews. 9They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O
king, live
forever! 10You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who
hears
the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony
with all
kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11and
whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of
a
burning fiery furnace. 12There are certain Jews whom you
have set
over the affairs of the
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to
bring
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the
king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image
which I
have set up? 15Now if you are ready at the time you hear the
sound
of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all
kinds of
music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good!
But if
you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a
burning
fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the
king, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If
that
is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery
furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But
if
not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods,
nor will
we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression
on his
face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and
commanded
that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20And
he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21Then
these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and
their
other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery
furnace.
22Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the
furnace
exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach,
Meshach, and
Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel
6:3-17
3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors
and
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave
thought to
setting him over the whole realm. 4So the governors and
satraps
sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but
they
could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there
any error
or fault found in him. 5Then these men said, “We shall not
find any
charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the
law of
his God.”
6So these governors and satraps thronged before the king,
and said
thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7All the governors
of the
kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors,
have
consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm
decree, that
whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king,
shall be
cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the
decree and
sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of
the
Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9Therefore King
Darius
signed the written decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went
home. And
in his upper room, with his windows open toward
11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and
making supplication
before his God. 12And they went before the king, and spoke
concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every
man who
petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall
be cast
into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of
the
Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel,
who is
one of the captives [Literally of
the sons of
the captivity] from
Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that
you
have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly
displeased
with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he
labored till
the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men
approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is
the law of
the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king
establishes may
be changed.”
16So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and
cast him
into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God,
whom
you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17Then a stone
was
brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with
his own
signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose
concerning
Daniel might not be changed.
|
|
|
Mark
13:13 |
|
Luke
21:17 |
34Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and
scribes:
some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will
scourge in
your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35that on
you may
come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of
righteous
Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered
between the
temple and the altar. 36Assuredly, I say to you, all these
things
will come upon this generation.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you
will be hated
by all nations for My name’s
sake.
“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to
councils, and
you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought
[NU-Text and
M-Text read will stand ] before
rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
Blessed are you when men hate you, And
when they
exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your
name as
evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
In fact, you bear witness that you
approve the
deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you
build
their tombs.
However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the
Jews.
John
9:22
His parents said these things because they
feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone
confessed
that He was Christ, he would be put out of
the synagogue.
John
12:42
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of
the
Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out
of the synagogue;
John
16:2
They will put you out of the
synagogues; yes,
the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God
service.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly, for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus;
and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when
the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled, [NU-Text omits assembled] for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said
to them, “Peace
be with you.”
13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and
beaten
them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus,
and let them go.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and
all those
who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were
filled
with indignation, 18and laid their hands on the apostles and
put them in the common prison.
When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to
kill them.
And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and
beaten
them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus,
and let them go.
and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their
clothes at
the feet of a young man named Saul.
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at
3As for Saul, he made havoc
of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women,
committing
them to prison.
And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the
Jews
and in
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Then Jews from
Then the multitude rose up together against them;
and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them
to be beaten with rods.
But Paul said to them, “They
have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us
into
prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us
out.”
11 But the following night the Lord
stood by him
and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and
bound
themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink
till
they had killed Paul. 13Now
there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.
They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound
ourselves
under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed
Paul.
Acts 28:17-20
17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the
leaders
of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them:
“Men and
brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs
of our
fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the
hands of the
Romans, 18who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me
go,
because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19But
when the
Jews [That
is, the ruling authorities] spoke against it, I was compelled
to appeal
to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20For
this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with
you,
because for the hope of
Hebrews
11
32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to
tell of
Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and
the
prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made
strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the
aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain
a
better resurrection. 36Still others had trial of mockings
and
scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37They were
stoned,
they were sawn in two, were tempted,
[NU-Text
omits were tempted]
were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins,
being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38of whom the world
was not
worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of
the earth.
Do not fear any of those things which you
are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison, that you may
be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until
death, and
I will give you the crown of life.
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those
who had
been slain for the word of God and for the
testimony which
they held.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the
bottomless
pit will make war against them, overcome
them, and kill
them.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to
them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their
witness
to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or
his image,
and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their
hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a [M-Text reads the] thousand years.
Martyrs:
Stephen: stoned to death
James, the brother of Jesus: stoned to death
Peter: crucified
Andrew: crucified
Philip: crucified
Simon: crucified
Matthew: death by the sword
Thaddaeus: killed by arrows
Thomas: death by a spear thrust
Bartholomew: crucified
James, the son of Zebedee: death by the sword
James,
the son of Alphaeus: crucified
Refer to the definitive reference of Christian martyrdom in FOX’s BOOK of MARTYRS, Edited by William Byron Forbush, posted online at http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/home.html, http://bible.christiansunite.com/foxindex.shtml,
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/martyrs/,
http://bible.crosswalk.com/History/AD/FoxsBookofMartyrs/,
http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm,
http://www.biblenet.net/library/foxesMartyrs/?s=,
http://www.born-again-christian.info/foxes.book.of.martyrs/foxes.contents.htm
And on many other
websites on the
Internet.