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"Where Two or Three" go to Church?


Deut 19:15 "A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed."

2 Cor 13:1 "This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the mouth of two or three witnesses."


1Ti 5:19 "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses."

Heb 10:28 "Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses."

Take a look at Matt 18.20 This passage has often been taken to mean something different than its foundation and entire context:

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." 

This passage is taken from the Torah, specifically Deuteronomy. It is not talking about gathering together or going to church. If you doubt, read the entire chapter. Mat 18:16, 

"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed…Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."

There is nothing in this passage about going to church. Actually, such an idea (as we know it today) was not to develop in Christianity for many years and certainly was not in Jesus' vocabulary. Too many times I have heard this verse (mis-)used and abused as if Jesus' intent was to command people to go to church. This is not what this passage is speaking about. 

Jesus was saying that when two or three (of his followers) came together or were agreed, he was also in or a part of that decision. This is a prime example of how tradition and post-apostolic developments influence the understanding of a text, and reading back (eisegete) into the passage an idea that was entirely foreign the original intent. I am not insinuating that believers and followers of God should not come together in mutual edification on a regular basis, but that is not what this passage is about. Context. Context. Context.

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