Frank

Cheryl, this second “interview” with Paul is just as good as the first, and the Scriptural rule that any testimony must be confirmed by two or more witnesses couldn’t have been explained better. And I think your comments on the debate between Jesus and the Pharisees confirms that this rule does not only apply to “legal pronouncements,” but to even the proclamation of the Gospel itself. Consider what the author of Hebrews says on this matter: “Since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Heb. 2:2-4, TNIV). Here the Gospel of God’s Present and Future Kingdom, first proclaimed by our Lord Jesus is confirmed 1) by the Apostles, who were eyewitnesses of all he said and did, and so knew what Jesus proclaimed; 2) by God the Father, who performed signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, showing that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and that his message had divine approval; and 3) the Gospel proclaimed by Christ was further confirmed by coming of the Spirit and his gifting everyone who believed and lived by that message. So here is a most powerful example of a message or testimony being confirmed as true and binding by the three most important witnesses to appear on any witness stand.