Difference between revisions of "Testimony"

<p> TESTIMONY, [[Testimonies]] </p> <p> These words would need no explanation in their simple sense and meaning, whether as they relate to the Lord's testimony or to man's. Every one cannot but know, that the direct tendency of a testimony is to witness to some certain truth. Thus the whole Bible is a testimony of JEHOVAH'S sovereign will; and the Gospel a special testimony of the riches of his grace in Christ Jesus to the church and people. </p> <p> But we meet with the word testimonies in the book of the Psalms, in a sense so peculiarly sweet and blessed, that I could not prevail upon myself to pass it by, without calling the reader's attention to it. </p> <p> If the reader will turn to &nbsp;Psalms 119:1-176 he will find the word testimonies, together with nine other words there evidently placed for the same meaning, which mutually serve to throw a light upon each other. The ten words are—testimonies, way, law, commandments, precepts, word, judgments, truth, (or faithfulness) statutes, and righteousness. And what is very remarkable, one or other of these ten words is in every verse of that Psalm, except one, (as far as my memory helpeth me) namely, &nbsp;Psalms 119:122. </p> <p> I beg the reader first to inform himself of his very striking circumstance, and then to consider, from the manner and occasion in which the words are applied, what is their obvious sense and meaning. If, for example, we consider the common and general acceptation of the word law, surely the [[Psalmist]] David could never be supposed to say, that the law of Moses as a covenant of works was his delight and joy, as he saith the law was in this Psalm, (&nbsp;Psalms 119:72; Psa 119:97, etc.) Had he been looking to his own personal performance of the law of God, the conviction of his manifold breaches of the law would have made him rather tremble. But if the law spoken of in this Psalm be considered with an eye to what the Holy Ghost saith by his servant the apostle, "that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," (&nbsp;Romans 10:4) —and if Christ himself be the speaker represented by his servant the Psalmist, the whole then is abundantly clear and evident. Jesus might well say, and Jesus alone could say it, "I delight to do thy will [[O]] my God, yea thy law is within my heart"—or as the margin renders it, "in the midst of my bowels," (&nbsp;Psalms 40:8) —meaning that it was wrapt up, yea forming his very nature, from the entire holiness of that nature. (See &nbsp;Hebrews 7:26) </p> <p> In like manner the word testimonies, these had evidently a reference to the table of testimony in the Jewish church. It was before this testimony the omer of manna was placed. (See &nbsp;Exodus 16:33-34) Now, as the whole of this service plainly typified Christ, we cannot be at a loss to discover what is meant under the term of testimonies in this Psalm, when we hear the blessed speaker saying, "Thy testimonies have I taken as mine heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart." (&nbsp;Psalms 119:111) </p> <p> [[Similar]] observations might be offered on each of the other words in this Psalm, but these are enough in point. I only desire to add, what may be considered as a key to the whole, that one verse in the middle of the Psalm determines at once to whom the whole refers, and who is the speaker; and the evangelist's application of the words to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ very fully confirms it: "My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words," (&nbsp;Psalms 119:139; Psa 69:9; &nbsp;John 2:17) </p>

<div> '''1: μαρτύριον ''' (Strong'S #3142 — Noun Neuter — marturion — mar-too'-ree-on ) </div> <p> "a testimony, witness," is almost entirely translated "testimony" in both AV and RV. The only place where both have "witness" is &nbsp;Acts 4:33 . In &nbsp;Acts 7:44; &nbsp;James 5:3 , the RV has "testimony" (AV, "witness"). </p> &nbsp;2 Thessalonians 1:10&nbsp;1 Timothy 2:6&nbsp; Revelation 15:5Witness. <div> '''2: μαρτυρία ''' (Strong'S #3141 — Noun [[Feminine]] — marturia — mar-too-ree'-ah ) </div> <p> "witness, evidence, testimony," is almost always rendered "witness" in the RV (for AV, "testimony" in &nbsp;John 3:32,33; &nbsp;5:34; &nbsp;8:17; &nbsp;21:24 , and always for AV, "record," e.g., &nbsp;1 John 5:10,11 ), except in &nbsp;Acts 22:18 and in the Apocalypse, where both, with one exception, have "testimony," &nbsp; Acts 1:2 , is objective, the "testimony" or witness given to Him (cp. &nbsp;Acts 1:2,9; as to those who will bear it, see &nbsp;Revelation 12:17 , RV). The statement "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," is to be understood in the light, e.g., of the "testimony" concerning Christ and Israel in the Psalms, which will be used by the godly Jewish remnant in the coming time of "Jacob's Trouble." All such "testimony" centers in and points to Christ. See Witness. </p>

<p> <em> ‛Êdûth </em> (עֵדוּת, Strong'S #5715), “testimony; ordinance.” The 83 occurrences of this word are scattered throughout all types of biblical literature and all periods (although not before the giving of the law at Mount Sinai). </p> <p> This word refers to the Ten Commandments as a solemn divine charge or duty. In particular, it represents those commandments as written on the tablets and existing as a reminder and “testimony” of Israel’s relationship and responsibility to God: “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exod. 31:18). [[Elsewhere]] these tablets are called simply “the testimony” (Exod. 25:16). Since they were kept in the ark, it became known as the “ark of the testimony” (Exod. 25:22) or simply “the testimony”: “As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept” (Exod. 16:34—the first biblical occurrence of the word). The tabernacle as the housing for the ark containing these tablets was sometimes called the “tabernacle of testimony” (Exod. 38:21) or the “tent of the testimony” (Num. 9:15). </p> <p> The word sometimes refers to the entire law of God: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Ps. 19:7). Here <em> ‛êdûth </em> is synonymously parallel to “law,” making it a synonym to that larger concept. [[Special]] or particular laws are sometimes called “testimonies”: “And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies …” (1 Kings 2:3). In Ps. 122:4 the annual pilgrimage feasts are called “the testimony of Israel.” </p>

<li> The altar raised by the [[Gadites]] and [[Reubenites]] (&nbsp;Joshua 22:10 ). <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Testimony'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/t/testimony.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>