{
  "id": "dict_006051",
  "term": "Witnesses",
  "slug": "witnesses",
  "letter": "W",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "In Scripture, witnesses are people who testify truthfully about what they have seen, heard, or know. The term can refer to legal witnesses, those who bear testimony to God's acts, and believers who testify about Christ.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "In the Bible, witnesses give testimony that confirms facts or events, especially in legal settings and covenant matters. The term also extends to those who publicly bear witness to God's truth and mighty works. In the New Testament, the apostles and the church are called to witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.",
  "description_academic_full": "In biblical usage, witnesses are persons who testify to the truth of a matter based on what they know, whether in legal proceedings, covenant confirmation, or public declaration of God's works. The Old Testament often speaks of witnesses in judicial contexts, where truthful testimony is essential to justice, while also using the idea more broadly for those who attest God's dealings with His people. In the New Testament, this theme reaches special importance in relation to Jesus Christ: the apostles are witnesses of His ministry and resurrection, and believers are called to bear witness to the gospel. Scripture treats faithful witness as a serious moral duty, while condemning false witness as sin. Because the term has several related uses, the safest definition is broad: witnesses are those who testify truthfully to what is real, especially concerning God's acts and the truth of Christ.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "In Scripture, witnesses are people who testify truthfully about what they have seen, heard, or know. The term can refer to legal witnesses, those who bear testimony to God's acts, and believers who testify about Christ.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/witnesses/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/witnesses.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}