Law of Witnesses, 2 Cor 13:1-10

Themes from 2 Corinthians

The Law of  Witnesses

2 Cor 13:1-10

The Law of witnesses is an important concept taken into the life of Israel from general revelation or natural law and used for the good of the nation. The law is taken by the prophets to be used sparingly throughout the old testament life of God's ancient people. Then it is taken into the New Testament in the gospels and epistles. Again, it shows that the apostles did not see a radical break between the Law and laws of the old economy and the New Covenant. The Apostles were not afraid to borrow from those sources in order to have some sort of order in their own society.

The Law of Witnesses is one of the most practical regulations, not only in the scriptures, but in the world of law. Many rules of evidence--even for modern trials--go back to the simple principle  of "The more witnesses, the better the evidence ought to be." The exception being false witnesses. But, in the wisdom of, and many wise men from common grace in other cultures, there were ways of dealing with that as well. 

My hope is to survey the biblical material that establishes this law, and then to see how it is used in the scriptures via an overview of the material and then to look at the new application of the law by Paul in 2Cor 13. Then, as time allows, I want to apply the law to church life in this age.

1. The Biblical Establishment

2. The Overview in Scripture

3. The New Application in 2Cor 13

4. Application in the Church today

Let's start at our first point:

1. The Biblical Establishment

Just like the tithe, the Law of Witnesses appears in a lot of the societies of the ancient world. Once we realize what it is and its use, it will make sense that many of the wise among all the people of the world figured this out. The Law of witnesses is really just good common sense. Many people use it without even thinking about it. Parents in large families often find it helpful when dealing with their children. It just makes good sense that the testimony of multiple truth-telling witnesses is more certain that the testimony of one--especially where the testimony of many--read at least two or three, agrees.

In the book of Deuteronomy, whose name means the second giving of the Law, we find the law of witnesses established in Israel. It is in chapters 17 and 19.

• Deut 17:6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
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• Deut 19:15 "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Numbers--35:30--death and Exodus 20:16 not bear false witness.

In the Old Testament it has a very narrow meaning and these principles have a very narrow, but necessary, application.

In the New, the use of the Law is expanded from the letter of the Law to the Spirit of it--2 Cor 3:3, 6. When we go to the New, our expectations ought to be that we will see this. Adultery is expanded to what goes on in the mind. Anger in the heart is murder. Coveteousness is theft, and so on. Yet, even in the Old economy, the use of the law generally, is being slowly enlarged beyond capital offenses.

A good legal system assured a more civil and just society. For death penalty cases, the Law required multiple witnesses. Someone was not to be put to death on the testimony of a single witness.

2. The Overview in Scripture

There are many places we could go, but I want to mention two using them as witnesses for the doctrine. One is negative and the other is more positive.

Please turn to 1 Kings 21. This narrative shows that many in Israel had a familiarity with the Law of Witnesses. In this passage, we find it being misused in order to steal a vineyard for King Ahab. The setup of false witnesses is found in verses 10 & 13.

1Kings 21: 1 Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 

2 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." 

3But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." 

4 And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. 

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?" 

6 And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 

7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 

9 And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death." 

11 And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.

13 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 

On the word of two witnesses let every word be established. Yet, in this case, they were a set up of false witnesses. Two men described as worthless or dispensible. If somehow they were caught, their fate would be what they sought for Naboth.

14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead." 15As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 

16And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

The other passage is in the New and one that is more familiar. It is Matthew 18:12-20: This is the passage that deals with one of  the processes of church discipline. It is not the only one--there is a more direct route for issues affecting the church's organization or administration.

Matt 18: 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Jesus uses this principle right out of the Law for the good of the church. Again, the Law has much that is relevant for the church's life in doctrine and practice.

Is it possible for people in a church to give false witness?

Yes, it is. Many years ago, two young men had a fight in our parking lot. Nobody saw it start. They only were drawn to it after it began. SO, the witnesses were no help as to who was at fault. A woman told her daughter to say what happened. The woman told me what her daughter said and instructed me not to talk to her daughter about it. I wasn't about to obey her. The next week I gently asked the daughter about the start of the fight after explaining to her that God knew all she was thinking and would say. She immediately broke down and confessed she did not see the start of the fight and that her mother told her what to say. When the mother confronted me about talking to her daughter, I asked her about setting her daughter up as a false witness and how terrible that was. They didn't last too long.

When believers tell the truth, it is a beautiful thing. The one brought before the church, if it gets that far, is ready to repent. I say if it gets that far because if the person offending repents after being interviewed in front of two or three, there is no need to go any further. A few years ago now, there were about four cases all in a row where people repented after being confronted by one or before many members as witnesses. The matters were dropped. Two had to do with falsehood, one had to do with sexual impurity and the other had to do with dishonoring parents and other authorities. I would have thought people would be happy that the cases did not have to go further. But, people who love gossip and love to gossip, were offended at me for not carrying the matters forward to the church as a whole. I told them to do so would be sin on my part. They wanted to know things they were not entitled to know. And, that sinful curiosity affected the church adversely much more than the original sins ever did.

So, the use of this principle is important to protect the integrity of the church and sinners who repent in a timely manner after being lovingly confronted by a brother or sister. And, remember, the process of church discipline is designed to only be as public as needed, especially when those times when Matt 18 is being followed. Multiple witnesses are better because they can establish every word. Witnesses keep others from overstating or even understating what has gone on.

3. The New Application in 2Cor 13

2 Cor 13:1-10 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 

The language at the end of the verse shows us what he means at the beginning of the verse. Paul is seeking to establish something in the present to write about or something in the present that he wants to confront someone about. He is being a faithful minister for their good.

        2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them-- 

Do you see the three different senses of the language that matches The use of the Law of Witnesses?

The First: I warned those who sinned before, and all the others.

        Presumably they were warned either in person or through a letter sent to the church. Yet, there does not appear to be repentance in line with Pail's warning.

Paul does not carry on about the sin. They must know what it is. Paul is acting on the sin and their knowledge of it.

The Second: And I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit. This letter is a second admonition to them to repent of whatever sin they or a number of them had committed or were still committing.

This epistle served the purpose of a second witness against them based on Paul's personal knowledge of them.

The Third: that if I come again I will not spare them-- That is if they do not repent of whatever sin they were guilty of.

Paul uses himself as a witness three times. Two are based on the past and present and the third is based on what he expects to find on his next visit. Paul is willing to be the three witnesses needed to act. This was a serious matter to the Apostle and should have been to the church. Instead, at least some formed the idea that Jesus wasn't really speaking through Paul. SO he counters:

3b 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God.

Some look at the rag tag apostolic band and think they don't look like much. There is nothing extraordinary about them. There is no show of power when they come. Those in the church who thought that way were mistaken. There is great strength in weakness when dealing with spiritual matters.

As Jesus was strong in weakness, so to the Apostles…

4b For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. 

So based on their weakness showing the power of Jesus, Paul wants them to do two things that are similar…

        5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 

Give yourselves a thorough-going examination to discern are you in the faith--are you really true believers when you examine yourself in the bright light of what you have been taught and the realization that God knows all things. Then, continue to give yourselves a series of tests to continue to discern and check up on your exam answer to see if it is true. Don't stop testing yourselves. Never stop testing yourself. And, when you test yourself be an honest witness against yourself if need be.

There will be some who apply all of this to the Apostles and will turn it all around on them--people do that when they don't like what you have to say.

        7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong--not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 

Any process used to confront sin is aimed at restoration in a couple of ways. 1. To restore someone's understanding of events to the true understanding of them; 2. To rid falsehood from testimony given; 3. To encourage purity in the life of the church.

        10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

4. Application in the Church today

Paul and no minister of the gospel who seeks to follow the example of Jesus wants to have to deal strongly with people. Yet, they have the authority to do so. The Authority of the Apostles passed to the elders/pastors/overseers in the churches up their deaths. The latter was intended to be in perpetuity. Even a number of the Apostles are called overseers or elders in the New Testament. Even in their time, they were less and less acting like apostles and more and more like ministers or elders.

It is not the pastors job to be the social coordinator or to make social calls in person or on the phone. His job is primarily to pray and to preach. That is the main way his rule is exercised. He tells God's people what God has said and what it means. And, then in his secret place he prayers for your spiritual good.

So, be careful what you say and how you live. When all  is said and done what will the witnesses say about you if they are ever called together?

What will they say about you? What will the unbelievers who know you say? What will God say in the judgment? That is the most important question to use as you give yourself a gospel examination. Mmay the Lord give you the grace to do it and judgment day honesty when it comes to your faith--are you in it or not? Amen

The ministry is for building up, not for tearing down. But, at times, both are needed if men in leadership positions are going to be faithful to the Lord, the shepherd of the church who in giving gifts to the church in captivity gave them pastor/teachers in the church for our time