# Witnesses ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Witnesses* ([[revelation-11#^revelation-11-3|Rev 11:3]]) - *Martys* (Gk.): a noun meaning \"witness\". The term is used in a variety of ways in the NT. **(1)** In a legal sense, a witness is \"one who testifies\" before a court or panel of authorities ([[acts-of-the-apostles-06#^acts-of-the-apostles-06-13|Acts 6:13]]; [[2-corinthians-13#^2-corinthians-13-1|2 Cor 13:1]]; [[1-timothy-05#^1-timothy-05-19|1 Tim 5:19]]). **(2)** A witness can be an \"eyewitness\", referring to one who has seen or heard something and who may be called upon to vouch for it ([[acts-of-the-apostles-22#^acts-of-the-apostles-22-15|Acts 22:15]]; [[1-thessalonians-02#^1-thessalonians-02-10|1 Thess 2:10]]). Paul invokes God in this way as a witness to his intentions and interior actions ([[romans-01#^romans-01-9|Rom 1:9]]; [[2-corinthians-01#^2-corinthians-01-23|2 Cor 1:23]]). **(3)** A witness can be a \"messenger\". In this sense, the apostles are witnesses who tell the world of the dying and rising of Jesus ([[acts-of-the-apostles-01#^acts-of-the-apostles-01-8|Acts 1:8, 22]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-10#^acts-of-the-apostles-10-39|10:39]]). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired t). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired t). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired t). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired t). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired t). **(4)** In early Christian times, the word acquired the specialized meaning of \"martyr\", referring to someone who testifies to Christ to the point of death ([[acts-of-the-apostles-22#^acts-of-the-apostles-22-20|Acts 22:20]]). This is the sense of the term in Revelation, where Jesus is the prototype of the martyrs ([[revelation-01#^revelation-01-5|Rev 1:5]]; [[revelation-03#^revelation-03-14|3:14]]) who choose to die for him rather t) who choose to die for him rather t) who choose to die for him rather t) who choose to die for him rather t) who choose to die for him rather t) who choose to die for him rather than deny him and his gospel ([[revelation-02#^revelation-02-13|Rev 2:13]]; [[revelation-11#^revelation-11-3|11:3]]; [[revelation-17#^revelation-17-6|17:6]]). ### Sources [[27-revelation-commentary#^brx8dp|Witnesses — word study]]