1 John 5:1-8—John begins by telling us, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Faith in Jesus as the Christ is a sign of being born again just as love is. John wrote at a time when members of a family were closely associated as a unit under the headship of the father. He could, therefore, use the family as an illustration to show that anyone who loves God the Father will naturally love God’s children.
The validity of personal testimony in the Old Testament was linked to a specific number of credible witnesses, specifically “two or three witnesses” were necessary to establish guilt or innocence on criminal charges (Deuteronomy 19:15) and only on this basis could a person be sentenced to death (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus applied the principle of “two or three witnesses” to his instructions for resolving disputes in his church (Matthew 18:15-16).
Paul used the standard to determine whether an accusation could be sustained against an elder (1Timothy 5:19). In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul sees his thrice repeated testimony alone, whether in person or by letter, as satisfying the requirement of two or three witnesses" (2Corinthians 13:1-3). The writer of the book of Hebrews alludes to this pattern writing that "Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on [the testimony of] two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:28-29-note) In this passage the writer points out the "greater testimony" of two witnesses, the Son of God and the Spirit of grace. 1
A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper, we implore You, the work of farmers, grant them seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruit of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving. May we see by this noble vocation that with Your help they feed the world. And cause all those who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with both honor and respect; through Jesus Christ, our Lord 2
Sources:
1. https://www.preceptaustin.org/1_john_58_commentary
2. Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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