IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES
By Ryan Hicks
While most people do not obey the Scriptures and establish things by two or three witnesses, especially when it comes to the word, many people misunderstand the principle here and then try to ignore verses of Scripture because they know of no other verse that confirms it. This is utterly missing the point.Deuteronomy 19:15
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Matthew 18:16
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
2 Corinthians 13:1
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
We are to back up our teachings by the word of God and two or three witnesses from it, but this gives us no license to ignore a single verse of Scripture. If there is one single verse that goes against a person's teaching then they are wrong, the verse stands alone as true. Some things are only mentioned once in the Bible and thus one would not be able to have two or three witnesses. Yet, to reject that single verse simply because it is not confirmed by another verse is erroneous.
Remember that "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, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That means that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, thus we cannot reject one single verse simply because we do not know of another Scripture that confirms it. We are to take the Bible literally whenever it is possible, and then when obviously figurative or symbolic language is used we look for the literal meaning intended by such language. We cannot reject anything in the word of God, and most teachings are confirmed by at least two or three Scriptures.
I have seen people reject a single plain Scripture because of the fact that they do not know of another Scripture that confirms it, and yet later they found out that there are numerous Scriptures confirming that verse. Thus, their rejection of a single verse was a rejection of numerous verses. We need to accept whatever the Scriptures say, regardless of whether one verse teaches something or whether there are 500 verses teaching something. Do not twist Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1 into excuses to reject the plain teaching of the Scriptures. Let God be true, but every man a liar (Romans 3:3)!
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