The term "attest" in a biblical context refers to the act of bearing witness, providing evidence, or affirming the truth of a matter. This concept is integral to the biblical narrative, where God, His prophets, and His people are often called to attest to His truth, promises, and commandments.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Divine Testimony: Throughout Scripture, God Himself attests to His own nature, promises, and actions. In Isaiah 43:10, God declares, "You are My witnesses," affirming that His people are to attest to His sovereignty and uniqueness as the only true God. This divine attestation is foundational to understanding God's relationship with His people and His authority over creation.

2. Prophetic Witness: The prophets in the Old Testament frequently attest to the words and will of God. They serve as God's mouthpieces, delivering messages that often call for repentance and a return to covenant faithfulness. For example, in Jeremiah 42:5, the people say to the prophet, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to every word the LORD your God sends you to tell us."

3. Apostolic Testimony: In the New Testament, the apostles are called to attest to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 records Jesus' command to His disciples: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This attestation is central to the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of the early Church.

4. Legal and Covenantal Contexts: The concept of attestation is also present in legal and covenantal contexts within the Bible. In Deuteronomy 31:26, Moses instructs the Levites to place the Book of the Law beside the Ark of the Covenant as a witness against the people, attesting to the terms of the covenant between God and Israel.

5. Personal Testimony: Believers are called to attest to their faith through their words and actions. In 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are encouraged to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." This personal attestation is a vital aspect of Christian witness and evangelism.

Theological Significance

The act of attesting in the Bible underscores the importance of truth and faithfulness. It highlights the responsibility of God's people to bear witness to His character and works. Attestation serves as a means of affirming the reliability of God's promises and the authenticity of His revelation. It also emphasizes the communal and individual responsibility to uphold and proclaim the truth of the Gospel.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not use the term "attest" frequently, the concept is woven throughout its narrative, emphasizing the importance of witness and testimony in the life of faith. Whether through divine self-revelation, prophetic proclamation, apostolic witness, or personal testimony, attestation remains a crucial element of the biblical message.1. (v. t.) To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing.

2. (v. t.) To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence.

3. (v. t.) To call to witness; to invoke.

4. (n.) Witness; testimony; attestation.

4972. sphragizo -- to seal
... sphragis; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation
(literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret, to attest -- (set a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4972.htm - 8k

1957. epimartureo -- to bear witness to
... testify. From epi and martureo; to attest further, ie Corroborate -- testify. see
GREEK epi. see GREEK martureo. (epimarturon) -- 1 Occurrence. 1956, 1957. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1957.htm - 7k

1263. diamarturomai -- to affirm solemnly
... charge, testify unto, witness. From dia and martureo; to attest or protest earnestly,
or (by implication) hortatively -- charge, testify (unto), witness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1263.htm - 8k

All Portions of Creation Attest the Excellence of the Creator ...
... Chapter XIV."All Portions of Creation Attest the Excellence of the Creator,
Whom Marcion Vilifies His Inconsistency Herein Exposed. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xiv all portions of creation.htm

New Testament Passages Quoted they Attest the Same Truth of the ...
... Chapter XV."New Testament Passages Quoted They Attest the Same Truth of the
Son's Visibility Contrasted with the Father's Invisibility. ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xv new testament passages quoted.htm

Sundry Passages of St. Paul which Attest Our Doctrine Rescued from ...
... Chapter XL."Sundry Passages of St. Paul Which Attest Our Doctrine Rescued
from the Perversions of Heresy. Now it is no matter ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xl sundry passages of st.htm

Prophetic Things and Actions, as Well as Words, Attest this Great ...
... Chapter XXVIII."Prophetic Things and Actions, as Well as Words, Attest
This Great Doctrine. But we know that prophecy expressed ...
/.../chapter xxviii prophetic things and actions.htm

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
... be ignorant of the fact. Afterwards they know it, and attest the verity
of the prediction. The descriptions afforded in prophecy ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiii covenanting predicted in.htm

The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA
... Attest: George Francis Nelson, Secretary of the House of Bishops. ... Attest:
George Francis Nelson, Secretary of the House of Bishops. ...
/.../various/the hymnal of the protestant episcopal church in the usa/title page.htm

Of Baptism.
... Its primary object. This consists of three things.1. To attest the forgiveness of
sins. 2. Passages of Scripture proving the forgiveness of sins. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 of baptism.htm

How Joppa was Taken, and Tiberias Delivered Up.
... deep precipices, and great stones that jut out into the sea, and where the chains
wherewith Andromeda was bound have left their footsteps, which attest to the ...
/.../chapter 9 how joppa was.htm

On the Resurrection of the Flesh
... Chapter XXVIII.--Prophetic Things and Actions, as Well as Words, Attest This Great
Doctrine. Chapter XXIX.--Ezekiel's Vision of the Dry Bones Quoted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/

You Observe How New and Terrible a Form of Oath this is which He ...
... All can attest what I say in reference to this treatise of his; and my assertion
about it seems to be superfluous; but I must make use of some special testimony ...
/.../7 you observe how new.htm

Attest (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be
genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing. ...Attest (1 Occurrence). ...
/a/attest.htm - 7k

Sign (181 Occurrences)
... known. In Scripture used generally of an address to the senses to attest
the existence of supersensible and therefore divine power. ...
/s/sign.htm - 46k

Vouch (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To call; to summon. 2. (vt) To call upon to witness. 3. (vt) To warrant;
to maintain by affirmations; to attest; to affirm; to avouch. ...
/v/vouch.htm - 7k

Ostraca
... 17. The texts are in 3 different hands, and attest the interest of the poor
in the gospel in the century of the Arab conquest. Another ...
/o/ostraca.htm - 10k

Witness (295 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To see or know by personal presence; to have direct cognizance of.
7. (vt) To give testimony to; to testify to; to attest. ...
/w/witness.htm - 44k

Testimony (175 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Hence, the whole divine revelation; the sacred Scriptures. 7. (vt) To witness;
to attest; to prove by testimony. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/t/testimony.htm - 37k

Tadmor (2 Occurrences)
... colonnades of white marble, many of which are yet standing, and thousands of prostrate
pillars, scattered over a large extent of space, attest the ancient ...
/t/tadmor.htm - 9k

Estimate (6 Occurrences)
... But I forbear, lest any one should be led to estimate me more highly than what his
own eyes attest, or more highly than what he hears from my lips. (WEY). ...
/e/estimate.htm - 9k

Decapolis (3 Occurrences)
... The ruins still seen at Gadara, but especially at Kanawat (see KENATH) and Jerash,
of temples, theaters and other public buildings, attest the splendor of ...
/d/decapolis.htm - 10k

Drawer (1 Occurrence)
... down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up." The deep grooves in
their curbs, worn by the ropes as the water was being raised, attest to the ...
/d/drawer.htm - 11k

Who was John Calvin? | GotQuestions.org

How can Christian parents deal with empty-nest syndrome? | GotQuestions.org

Shia and Sunni Islam - what are the differences? | GotQuestions.org

Attest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus