Cheryl Schatz

pinklight,
I believe that Paul was especially talking about the issue of sin since he said in 2 Cor 13:2

2 Corinthians 13:2 (NASB95)
2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

However the term “fact” that Paul used goes even beyond discipline or a legal matter. The Greek word he used is “rhema” which has two basic meanings:

? that which is said, word, saying, expression, or statement of any kind
? after the Hebrew an event that can be spoken about, thing, object, matter, event

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed.) (905). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Under the first point they include prophesy, prediction, speech, sermon, proclamation, teaching and divine understanding.

I would take this to include any statement that is to be believed as a fact. For example if you tell me that the moon is made of blue cheese, I would need to have a verification of that “fact” to put my belief in what you have said. A sworn statement by one of the astronauts, etc could be a second witness.

I have received emails from people giving me outrageous statements that could be very slanderous to individuals and I ask them to confirm their sources, with documents that I can verify for myself. When I ask for the second witness, usually I never hear from them again. I think the second witness is a good, and biblical safeguard.