New International Version (©1984)
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.

English Standard Version (©2001)

Deuteronomy 17:6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
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Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
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New International Version ©1984 by Biblica
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.”

GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Don’t pay attention to an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

King James Bible
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

David the ever-helpful

When I was much younger, I believed everything that I saw on the news or read in the paper. After a couple of incidents in which I witnessed something and then watched it on the news and what I saw on tv was NOT the truth, I realized that the media includes the facts they want you to know and then disregard the ones they don’t. (Sorry, William, no offense intended. I think you do an absolutely wonderful job!)

I was a witness to another situation in which the word of a crackhead who was drunk at the time was used to convict a man of something he did not do. That man went to prison. Some of you who know him would probably say he deserves to be there. I’m not arguing his other activities. I’m only arguing that he was sent to prison for a false accusation, which is wrong in my book. You should be punished only for what you actually do (and occasionally what you fail to do) and not just because somebody said you did. I could say I saw you murder a man. Does that make it true? Of course not. Not only was this man sent to prison, but an article was printed in the Ledger that completely misrepresented the entire situation. My presence was because I was broke down in the middle of the road and the situation happened right in front of me between a man who stopped to help me and a drunken crack addict who came up. The way the story was printed it appeared that I was off partying with the Good Samaritan. When I called Joe at the Ledger and asked that he print the truth (not just my word but that of the other four people who saw all this), he refused. He told me that what he had printed was based on the statement given on the police report and therefore, it was accurate….no matter what the real truth was. I lost all faith in media at that point. It made me wonder how many other things and situations I had seen or heard and judged…..that were NOT true either. It’s mind boggling.

For this reason, I am not going to assume that this woman did anything just because she is accused and because some people don’t like her. That doesn’t make her guilty of anything. I’m just angered and concerned at the comments that reflect absolute conviction of her guilt just because they don’t care for her and the fact that people purport to have “known” that she was doing this (if it is true) and doing nothing. It is our responsibility as a society to stand up for truth and justice. So far, I see neither of these being done. That saddens me deeply.

You won’t find it.

It does allow people to be executed at the word of two witnesses (not three), but that requires the witnesses to be credible. (They tried to find witnesses against Jesus but the witnesses never agreed despite having been paid to do so.)

That’s why the penalty for perjury should be at least as bad as for the crime under consideration. If my word could send a person to his death, my perjury to do so should be treated at least as attempted murder since that would be my goal.

That being said, our laws are not set by the Bible but are written by humans. The Bible can give good ideas as to what to write but a big danger would be that one person would “translate” it to say what it really didn’t say in the first place. I’ve seen that happen many a time; sometimes to the point of reversing the meaning altogether. Another problem is that not everybody in America has signed on to follow the Bible–unlike the children of Israel who promised to keep every word and follow it faithfully down through all generations. (They didn’t do it, but they promised they would.)

David thinking people are quoting
the Book of Hezekiah again

People are factually innocent or guilty when they do anything. They are legally guilty only once a jury determines it to be so.

I don’t know what you are talking about with the “church” statement. I know I never mentioned any church when I said what the legal and historical reason is for setting bond.

It’s not a matter of getting a grip, it’s a matter of not jumping the gun. If YOU saw some incriminating video being made, then YOU know of guilt. If you have heard of some sort of possibly incriminating video existing, then you have hear-say–rumor. Would you like to spend your life in prison based on rumor?

David who’s heard many an interesting rumor
some of which were true

I’m sorry, but if I thought something like that was happening, I would report it and I would keep doing so until something was done. If the person moved, I’d find out where they had gone and keep reporting it there too. It’s not that hard, especially in this day and age, to find out where anybody is. Between the internet and the post office, you really can’t just disappear unless you have been the victim of foul play or you spend bookoodles of money to hide your tracks. Either way, that does NOT appear to have been the case here.