What does the Bible say about Witnesses?

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  (1 Peter 4:1)

 In this passage, Peter records how Christians are to speak and minister.  What about witnessing?  Aren’t Christians to be witnesses today?    According to W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, the word “witness” refers to one who has seen, heard, or observed an event (680).  In the Greek, the word meant ‘one who is a spectator of an event.’ With those thoughts in mind, let us uncover what the Bible has to say about the subject.

 The word witness is found 33 times in the Bible, but in today’s world, people do not use the word in the same way as the Bible.  Witnessing, in the world’s sense, is me retelling what happened to me from my perception or point of view.  Bible witnessing, in the first century, was completely different.  The apostles were told in Acts 1:8, “ye shall be witnesses unto me (Christ).”  In Acts 5:20, Peter and John were witnesses of Christ.  So, can we be witnesses today?  The answer is no.  We did not see the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  We did not see the works of the Holy Spirit.  In his book, Studies in the Book of Revelation, brother Robert Taylor says, “I have been preaching for over 63 years but have never been a witness (30). Remember, Christians are called to preach, teach, and share with others what those early apostles witnessed.  All the knowledge we will ever need to know is found in the Bible.  May we strive to show ourselves approved before our Heavenly Father.