Topical Bible: Testifying

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Definition and Context
Testifying, in a biblical context, refers to the act of bearing witness or giving evidence about the truth of God's work, character, and revelation. It is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments, where individuals and communities are called to testify to God's faithfulness, His laws, and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament
In the Old Testament, testifying often involves the recounting of God's mighty acts and His covenantal promises. The Hebrew word for testimony, "edut," is frequently associated with the law and commandments given to Israel. For instance, the Ark of the Covenant is sometimes referred to as the "Ark of the Testimony" (Exodus 25:22), symbolizing God's presence and His covenant with His people.

Prophets in the Old Testament served as key figures who testified to God's will and future plans. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets were called to bear witness to the people of Israel, often reminding them of their covenant obligations and warning them of the consequences of disobedience (Isaiah 8:16-20).

New Testament
The New Testament expands the concept of testifying to include the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist is a prominent figure who testifies to the coming of the Messiah, declaring, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). His role as a witness is foundational in preparing the way for Jesus.

Jesus Himself testifies to the truth of His identity and mission. In John 18:37 , Jesus states, "For this reason I was born and have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice." His life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate testimony to God's redemptive plan.

The apostles and early Christians are also depicted as witnesses who testify to the resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 records Jesus' commission to His disciples: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in empowering believers to testify. In John 15:26-27 , Jesus promises the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will testify about Him and enable the disciples to bear witness. The Spirit's presence ensures that the testimony of believers is not based on human wisdom but on divine truth.

The Purpose of Testifying
Testifying serves several purposes in the biblical narrative. It is a means of glorifying God, edifying the church, and evangelizing the world. By sharing personal experiences of God's work in their lives, believers encourage one another and provide evidence of God's ongoing activity in the world.

Furthermore, testifying is an act of obedience to Christ's command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). It is through the faithful testimony of believers that the message of salvation is spread, inviting others to enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Challenges and Rewards
While testifying is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, it is not without challenges. Believers may face opposition, persecution, or disbelief. However, the New Testament assures that those who testify in the face of adversity are blessed. In Revelation 12:11 , it is written, "They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death."

The reward for faithful testimony is not only the joy of participating in God's mission but also the promise of eternal life with Him. As believers testify to the truth of the Gospel, they participate in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Testify.

Greek

3143. marturomai -- to summon as witness, to affirm
... Word Origin from martus Definition to summon as witness, to affirm NASB Word
Usage affirm (1), imploring (1), testify (2), testifying (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3143.htm - 6k

3140. martureo -- to bear witness, testify
... 1), obtained the witness (1), received a good testimony (1), speaking well (1),
testified (17), testifies (7), testify (25), testifying (5), testimony (5 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3140.htm - 10k

2649. katamartureo -- to testify or bear witness against
... Word Origin from kata and martureo Definition to testify or bear witness against
NASB Word Usage testify against (1), testifying against (2). witness against. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2649.htm - 6k

1957. epimartureo -- to bear witness to
... the prefix, ). Word Origin from epi and martureo Definition to bear witness
to NASB Word Usage testifying (1). testify. From epi ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1957.htm - 7k

1263. diamarturomai -- to affirm solemnly
... affirm solemnly NASB Word Usage solemnly to testify (1), solemnly charge (3), solemnly
testified (2), solemnly testifies (1), solemnly testifying (3), solemnly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1263.htm - 8k

Library

And Yet, against his Will, Celsus is Entangled into Testifying ...
... Chapter XX. And yet, against his will, Celsus is entangled into testifying
that the world is comparatively? And yet, against his ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xx and yet against.htm

1 Thessalonians ii. 12-Sep
... you that believe: as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with
his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, to the ...
/.../homily iii 1 thessalonians ii.htm

The Conclusion
... Four times we have the person testifying; and four times the things testified. ...
Conclusion. A A^1 a^1 6-. The Angel testifying. b^1 -6. The things testified. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the conclusion.htm

Acts xx. 17-21
... Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed
you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xliv acts xx 17-21.htm

An Apostolic Testimony and Exhortation
... '... I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the
true grace of God wherein ye stand.'"1 Peter 5:12. 'I ...
/.../an apostolic testimony and exhortation.htm

Then the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of All, Affectionate and Most ...
... Then father Adam, falling forward at the feet of the Lord, and being raised erect,
kissed His hands, and shed many tears, saying, testifying to all: Behold the ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 9 25 then the.htm

The Discourse Continued: Christ Appeals to the Testimony of his ...
... The climax consists in the transfer of what has been said of the works, as testifying
of God, to God himself, as testifying through the works. ...
/.../section 146 the discourse continued .htm

The Life of Mr. Richard Cameron.
... giving a reason unto the said Sir William and his lady why he went not to church
with them, he took occasion to be plain and express in testifying against the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr richard.htm

That There are Two Portions in the Soul, and How.
... Abraham, according to the inferior portion of his soul spoke words testifying in
him a kind of diffidence when the angel announced unto him the happy tidings ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi that there are.htm

'Constrained by the Word'
... III. Lastly, we have here the witness to the word. 'He was constrained by the word,
testifying.' Now I do not know whether it is imposing too much meaning upon ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/constrained by the word.htm

Thesaurus

Testifying (35 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Testify. Multi-Version Concordance Testifying (35 Occurrences). Matthew
26:62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? ...
/t/testifying.htm - 16k

Exhorting (13 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Acts 2:40 Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting,
saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation;' (YLT NAS). ...
/e/exhorting.htm - 10k

Testify (110 Occurrences)
... John 5:32 another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that
the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true; (Root in YLT). ...
/t/testify.htm - 36k

Fully (153 Occurrences)
... Acts 18:5 And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed
in the Spirit, testifying fully to the Jews Jesus the Christ; (YLT). ...
/f/fully.htm - 36k

Obtained (61 Occurrences)
... Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this
day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets ...
/o/obtained.htm - 25k

Solemnly (62 Occurrences)
... Christ. (WEY NAS). Acts 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. (See NAS). ...
/s/solemnly.htm - 25k

True (305 Occurrences)
... John 5:32 another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that
the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true ; (WEB KJV WEY ASV ...
/t/true%20.htm - 33k

Testified (65 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:4 by faith a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through
which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and ...
/t/testified.htm - 26k

Testimonies (40 Occurrences)

/t/testimonies.htm - 18k

Kittim (8 Occurrences)
... oldest etymology is apparently that of Josephus, who connects Kittim with the
well-known old Cypriote city Kition (Citium) (Ant., I, vi, 1), testifying to the ...
/k/kittim.htm - 15k

Resources

Is it wrong to swear to God? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Ten Commandments? What is the Decalogue? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not give false testimony" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Testifying: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Testifying (35 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:62
The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"
(See NAS)

Mark 14:60
And the chief priest, having risen up in the midst, questioned Jesus, saying, 'Thou dost not answer anything! what do these testify against thee?'
(See NAS)

John 4:39
And from that city many believed in him, of the Samaritans, because of the word of the woman testifying, -- 'He told me all things -- as many as I did.'
(YLT)

John 5:32
another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true;
(YLT)

John 5:39
Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;
(YLT)

John 8:13
The Pharisees, therefore, said to him, 'Thou of thyself dost testify, thy testimony is not true;'
(See NAS)

John 8:18
I am 'one' who is testifying of myself, and the Father who sent me doth testify of me.'
(YLT)

John 12:17
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
(WEB YLT)

John 21:24
this is the disciple who is testifying concerning these things, and he wrote these things, and we have known that his testimony is true.
(YLT NAS)

Acts 2:40
Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation;'
(YLT)

Acts 14:3
long time, indeed, therefore, did they abide speaking boldly in the Lord, who is testifying to the word of His grace, and granting signs and wonders to come to pass through their hands.
(YLT NAS)

Acts 18:5
But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 20:21
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 20:24
but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God.
(See NIV)

Acts 26:22
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Acts 28:23
When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about the Kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 2:15
in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
(WEB)

Romans 9:1
I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
(WEB)

1 Thessalonians 2:11
as ye know how we 'dealt with' each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging 'you', and testifying,
(ASV YLT)

1 Timothy 6:13
I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
(See NIV)

2 Timothy 1:8
therefore thou mayest not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but do thou suffer evil along with the good news according to the power of God,
(See RSV)

2 Timothy 2:14
Of these things put in remembrance, testifying earnestly before the Lord not to have disputes of words, profitable for nothing, to the subversion of the hearers.
(DBY YLT)

Hebrews 2:4
God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
(WEB NAS)

Hebrews 3:5
and Moses indeed 'was' stedfast in all his house, as an attendant, for a testimony of those things that were to be spoken,
(See NIV)

Hebrews 11:4
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
(WEB KJV WBS YLT NAS)

1 Peter 1:11
searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed out, testifying before of the sufferings which belonged to Christ, and the glories after these.
(DBY YLT)

1 Peter 5:12
Through 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.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 John 5:6
This one is he who did come through water and blood -- Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and the blood; and the Spirit it is that is testifying, because the Spirit is the truth,
(YLT)

1 John 5:7
because three are who are testifying 'in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these -- the three -- are one;
(YLT)

1 John 5:8
and three are who are testifying in the earth', the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.
(YLT)

3 John 1:3
for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;
(YLT)

Revelation 22:20
he saith -- who is testifying these things -- 'Yes, I come quickly!' Amen! Yes, be coming, Lord Jesus!
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 32:46
and saith unto them, 'Set your heart to all the words which I am testifying against you to-day, that ye command your sons to observe to do all the words of this law,
(YLT)

Proverbs 25:18
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, 'Is' the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 11:7
For I certainly testified against your fathers, In the day of My bringing them up out of the land of Egypt -- till this day, Rising early and testifying, saying, Hearken to My voice,
(YLT)

Subtopics

Testifying

Related Terms

Stipulations (3 Occurrences)

Statutes (178 Occurrences)

Warnings (6 Occurrences)

Renewed (17 Occurrences)

Requirements (26 Occurrences)

Ordinances (119 Occurrences)

Judgments (146 Occurrences)

Decrees (131 Occurrences)

Regulations (37 Occurrences)