Can I Get A Witness?

    It is commonly recognized that during the course of our lives, we humans all need companionship. That no person is an island unto themselves (Romans 14:7), and that God made each one of us with an innate nature that requires fellowship with others in order to be emotionally fit and healthy. As the writer in Genesis has noted, “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

    It is not only human beings that need the camaraderie of others, but in a unique way, verses in Scripture also need the companionship of other verses found within God’s Word. This is necessary to establish Biblical doctrinal truths, for God has ordained that truth needs to be established from the testimony of more than one witness. In his second letter to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul wrote, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (II Cor. 13:1). This verse of Scripture fittingly finds its own validation in two companion verses from the Old Testament, which required that for a person to be found guilty of a capital offense, there needed to be more than one witness (Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6). We also find Jesus Himself confirming this principle in the Book of John, where He stated “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me” (John 8:17,18). 

    Many music lovers are familiar with the 1970’s musical group Grand Funk Railroad, and of their popular hit song “Some Kind of Wonderful”. What most are not aware of is the fact that the lyrical hook line from that song is derived from this Biblical concept of truth needing to be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. For within the song, we find a plea for corroboration being made by the singer for someone to testify to the fact that his girlfriend was indeed, “Some Kind of Wonderful”.  Hence the song finds its culmination in the repetition of the refrain, “Can I get a witness?”.

    God’s Word employs the usage of companion verses, or what we might call, “witnesses”, throughout the totality of Scripture in order to establish Biblical Doctrines. For no verse from Scripture can qualify as a matter of Biblical Doctrine in and of itself without the validating concordance of at least one companion verse.

    The following are some examples of how scripture utilizes companion verses. When the Word of God wants to establish the theological principle that, “God often allows sin to come to its full fruition before He judges it”,  we first find the idea succinctly stated in the Book of Genesis: 

        “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the

    Amorites is not yet full.” Genesis 15:16

    Then, to establish this principle as Biblical Doctrine, the Word of God later employs not just one, but two companion verses:

        “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full,

     the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” Joel 3:13

     The concept is again verified later in the Book of Revelation:

        “And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried

    with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in the sharp sickle, and

    gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Revelation 14:18

    Another example of God employing companion verses in order to establish Biblical principles can be found in the Apostle Paul’s validating the assertion made by David in the Book of Psalms that, “Everything that occurs in the Universe is ultimately done for the sake of the believer.” In Psalm 57, David wrote:

        “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.” Psalm 57:2

    Paul confirms that David’s proclamation is indeed an eternal truth in his second letter to the Church at Corinth, where he writes:

        “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the 

    thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 4:15  

    These two companion verses taken from both the Old and the New Testaments firmly establish this wonderful truth that, all aspects of God’s Creation are ultimately done for the sake of those who will come to believe in Him.

    The following is a list of 20 Biblical Principles in which God’s Word firmly establishes Biblical Doctrine through incorporating the usage of companion verses in order that, “Every thought would be established in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses” (II Corinthians 13:1).

1. This Biblical truism that “History does indeed repeat itself”  is confirmed in the Book of Ecclesiastes when Solomon states that there is “No new thing done under the sun.” Solomon makes note that “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Later, we find the Prophet Isaiah affirming Solomon’s prior declaration: “… Let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come” Isaiah 41:22).
2. “God can be found by man, if man seeks Him with his whole heart.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13).
3. The fact that “believers are not to neglect the attending of church services or of having fellowship with other believers” is not a concept that is unique to the New Testament (Hebrews 10:25), for this principle is also stated within the Old Testament record (Deuteronomy 12:5).
4. In God’s assessment of our lives, it can be said that “God is more concerned with the motivations of the heart of believers than He is by their overt actions” (I Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 10:12).
5. “God expresses His love and concern for His children by not only blessing them, but also by correcting and chastening them” (Job 5:17,18, Psalm 119:75, Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6).
6. “God often uses the ungodly to discipline believers” (Psalm 17:3, Proverbs 16:7, Isaiah 10:5,6).
7. “Believers are admonished to show kindness to their enemies” (Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:20).
8. “There are not many people who are wise after the flesh who become a part of God’s family of believers” (Job 32:9, I Corinthians 1:26).
9. “God reserves His Wrath in this world for the ungodly” (Nahum 1:2, I Thessalonians 5:9).
10. “Parents should seek to leave an inheritance for their children” (Proverbs 13:22, II Corinthians 12:14).
11. “There are aspects of the Word of God that are of more importance than others.” One of these aspects being what Jesus termed as, “the weightier matters of the law”; judgment, mercy, and faith, of which it can be argued constitute the framework of the “normal Christian life” (Matthew 23:23, Micah 6:8, Zechariah 7:9-11).
12. “The believer is to walk not by sight, but rather by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).
13. “God the Father has committed the Judgment of mankind to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Psalm 98:9, Isaiah 2:4, John 5:22,27, Acts 17:31, 10:42, Romans 2:16, Romans 2:16).
14. “It is possible for believers to attain the love of Christ in one’s spiritual growth while still on earth”. This was evidenced in the lives of both Moses and Paul, who were both willing to go to an eternal hell for the sake of their brethren (Exodus 32:32, Romans 9:3).
15. Although it is true that Scripture teaches that Satan blinds the hearts of unbelievers (II Corinthians 4:4), “In the outworking of His Sovereign plan, God is also said to blind the minds of unbelievers.” (Job 17:4, Matthew 11:25, Romans 11:8).
16. “It was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ who had met with Moses at the burning bush, as Scripture refers uniquely to both Personages by the name of, “I Am.” (Exodus 3:2,14, John 8:58).
17. “Not only did Jesus Christ as the 2^nd Person of the Trinity openly lead Israel during the time of the Exodus, but He continued to do so throughout the Old Testament record.” This is evidenced by the fact that Jesus continued the same one to one relationship with Joshua that He had originally had with Moses. This is clearly shown by Jesus’ command to both Moses and Joshua at their initial meetings to “remove their sandals, for the ground upon which they were standing was sacred” during their initial meetings with Him (Exodus 3:2,5, Joshua 5:15).
18. “Jesus as the 2^nd Person of the Trinity maintains a consistency of character throughout Scripture.” This is evidenced by the fact that He promised both Joshua, the Psalmist, and New Testament believers to be forever with them (Joshua 1:9. Psalm 73:23,24, Matthew 28:20). These verses are also in themselves companion verses to the Biblical reality that “Jesus Christ never changes.” “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 
19. “God the Father functions as the actual planner of Creation.” (Jeremiah 32:17, I Corinthians 8:6).
20. “God the Son functions as the actual Creator of the Universe.” (II Kings 19:15, John 1:10, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2).

        The preceding list is by no means exhaustive. It simply serves as an example of how God establishes sound doctrine through incorporating the usage of companion verses, and that the careful student of God’s Word should be on the “constant lookout” for them while studying Scripture. For through the usage of “companion verses” God not only establishes truth, but He also subtly points out the more important aspects of His Word. 

    Companion verses should also serve as a testimonial to the fact that, “Although there were numerous human agents involved in the writing of God’s Holy Word, the thoughts which are expressed all came from one mind, the “mind of God.” To this the author cheekily asks, “Can I get a witness?” To which God’s Word emphatically replies, “Yes you most certainly can.”

        “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for

    correction, for instruction in righteousness:

        That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

    II Timothy 3:16, 17

        “Knowing this first, that is no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 

        For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as

    they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:20,21