The Edlers are not mentioned in any way in Matthew 18. Jesus appearably did
not believe in "Elder run chuches." Matthew 18 is personal responsibilty and
congregational rule.
        The witnesses are not "Judges" who decide guilt or innocence. If the
individual being accused refuses to hear the complaint and the one making
the accusation wants to pursue the matter further by taking it befoe the
Church then the witnesses can testify that an honest attempt was made at
resolving the matter but the accused refused to even listen to the charge.
Again, the witnesses are involved as judges of who is right or wrong. They
have only heard one side. All they can witness to is that an attempt to
resolve a problem was made and refused. If it goes before the Church they
may well decide the accuser was wrong and not the accused. The accuser may
be the trouble maker.  JGR


----- Original Message -----
From: "hircock" <hircock@...>
To: <soundofgrace@...>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 4:23 AM
Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Matthew 18:15-17


> I mainly lurk, and that not too well, so please excuse me if this has
> already been raised under this thread.
>
> Who are the 2 or 3 taken along in verse 16 and, especially, to what are
they
> witnesses?
>
> I have generally heard them described as witnesses to the confrontation
> between accuser and accused. Doesn't the reference to Dt.19:15 (and
paralel
> instruction regarding elders in 1Tim.5:19) rather suggest that they should
> be witnesses to the alleged offence?
>
> David.
>
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