“wasblind”: “ISAIAH 43:10 [‘You are my witnesses . . .’] was quoted before the Birth of the Christ.”
Good point! That same verse ends with, “. . . and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” (NIV) Clearly those to whom Isaiah’s quote had been directed (“you”) were of the ancient Jewish nation of Israel. The purpose of those ancient Israelites being God’s “witnesses” at that time was to bear witness to Him among the surrounding nations as an actual nation separate from other nations as God’s chosen people.
However, fast-forward to Jesus’ time – if Isaiah were alive at that time, then surely he would have recorded a scripture more along the lines of Jesus’ own words at Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (NIV), with the understanding that those who would be preaching the gospel message in the Christian era could properly be called something like “Witnesses of Jesus”; i.e., “Jesus’ Witnesses!”
“zophar”: “Isn't it true that at John 5:32 "There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the witness he bears about me is true." It is referring to Jehovah bearing witness to Jesus?”
This specific verse seems to refer to the Father, or Jehovah.
There are actually three different testimonies about Jesus referred to in this and the following scriptures: 1. that of Jesus himself, 2. that of his Heavenly Father, and 3. that of other men, specifically John the Baptist. Jesus says at John 5:33-35: “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” (NIV)
Note, however, the following commentary specifically regarding John 5:32 pasted directly from “http://biblehub.com/john/5-32.htm”:
Verses 32, 37, 38. -
(a) The witness of the Father. Verse 32. - It is another that witnesseth concerning me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth concerning me is true. It is a mistake, with Ewald, De Wette, and many others, to suppose that this refers to the testimony of John the Baptist. By Augustine, Hengstenberg, Luthardt, Godet, Meyer, etc., it has been perceived that the "other" (ἄλλος) refers to the Father. Jesus expressly declines to receive John's testimony as his justification or sufficient vindication, and he contrasts it with the higher confirmation which in three distinct ways is already and continuously vouchsafed to him. The present tense, μαρτυρεῖ, is in striking contrast to the testimony of John already silenced by imprisonment or death. The methods of this testimony are subsequently analyzed and described.”
