The term "certify" in the context of the Bible refers to the act of making something known with assurance, confirming a truth, or providing evidence to establish a fact. This concept is closely related to the ideas of testimony, witness, and assurance found throughout Scripture. While the specific word "certify" may not frequently appear in many English translations of the Bible, the underlying principles are evident in various passages.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of certifying is often linked to the role of witnesses and the establishment of truth. For example, in legal contexts, the testimony of two or three witnesses was required to certify a matter (Deuteronomy 19:15). This principle underscores the importance of reliable testimony in confirming the truth and ensuring justice.

The prophets also played a role in certifying God's messages to His people. Through visions, dreams, and direct communication, prophets were tasked with delivering God's word and certifying His will to the nation of Israel. Their role was to provide assurance of God's promises and warnings, as seen in the prophetic books.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of certifying is closely associated with the testimony of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The apostle Paul, for instance, often emphasized the certainty of the gospel message he preached. In Galatians 1:11-12 , Paul writes, "For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not devised by man. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Here, Paul is asserting the divine origin and authority of his message, certifying it as truth revealed by Christ Himself.

The resurrection of Jesus is another key event that required certification. The apostles served as witnesses to the risen Christ, providing firsthand testimony to the truth of His resurrection. Acts 1:3 states, "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." This passage highlights the importance of certifying the resurrection through multiple appearances and proofs.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit also plays a crucial role in certifying the truth of God's word and work in the believer's life. In John 16:13 , Jesus promises, "But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come." The Holy Spirit certifies the truth of the gospel and guides believers in understanding and applying God's word.

Application for Believers

For believers, the concept of certifying is significant in the assurance of salvation and the reliability of Scripture. The Bible is seen as the divinely inspired and certified word of God, providing a foundation for faith and practice. Believers are called to be witnesses, certifying the truth of the gospel through their lives and testimony.

In summary, while the specific term "certify" may not be prevalent in biblical texts, the concept is deeply embedded in the themes of testimony, assurance, and the confirmation of truth throughout Scripture.1. (v. t.) To give certain information to; to assure; to make certain.

2. (v. t.) To give certain information of; to make certain, as a fact; to verify.

3. (v. t.) To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in writing, under hand, or hand and seal.

CERTIFY

ser'-ti-fi: Occurs in

(1) 2 Samuel 15:28 (haggidh, "to show," "announce," from naghadh);

(2) Ezra 4:14, 16; Ezra 5:10; Ezra 7:24 (hodha`, "to make known," from yedha'; Aramaic for yadha`);

(3) Esther 2:22 the King James Version ('amar, "to say," "tell," so the Revised Version (British and American)); and

(4) Galatians 1:11 the King James Version gnorizo, "to make to know," so the Revised Version (British and American).

In the English Versions of the Bible, accordingly, the word has not the strong, specific sense of "to make certain," but only the broader sense of "to make to know." Compare Psalm 39:5 (Prayer Book version), "that I may be certified how long I have to live."

1107. gnorizo -- to come to know, to make known
... known (6), make...known (1). certify, declare, make known. From a derivative
of ginosko; to make known; subjectively, to know -- certify ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1107.htm - 7k5046. nagad -- to be conspicuous
... bewray, certainly, certify, declare, denounce, expound, fully, messenger,.
A primitive root; properly, to front, ie Stand boldly ...
/hebrew/5046.htm - 6k

3046. yeda -- to know
... certify, know, make known, teach. (Aramaic) corresponding to yada' -- certify, know,
make known, teach. see HEBREW yada'. 3045, 3046. yeda. 3047 . ...
/hebrew/3046.htm - 6k

559. amar -- to utter, say
... answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge,. A
primitive root; to say (used with great latitude) -- answer ...
/hebrew/559.htm - 7k

The South Country. Judea Called 'the South,' in Respect of Galilee ...
... They said to him, "Go to, write to our brethren, the inhabitants of Upper Galilee,
and Nether Galilee, health: we certify you, that the time is come of ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 12 the south country.htm

Our Manifesto
... At an Assembly of Ministers of the Gospel. "But I certify you, brethren, that the
gospel which was preached of me is not after man""Galatians 1:11. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/our manifesto.htm

Fragment iv. He who Has Charge of the Private Moneys of the ...
... to his memory, which, being drawn off day by day to other matters, readily fails
us, so that, without writing, we sometimes honestly certify things which have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/theonas/epistle of phileas/fragment iv he who has.htm

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
... Abraham; God tempted the people of Israel; that is, God did try and examine them,
not for His own knowledge, to whom nothing is hid, but to certify others how ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/knox the first temptation.htm

A Reasonable Service
... Second: He received his instructions concerning these things of God, not from men,
for when he writes to the Galatians he says: "But I certify you, brethren ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/a reasonable service.htm

Not Far and not In
... smitten by the conviction of his own sinfulness, and to have reflected on the latter
to have discovered that he needed some one who could certify and commend ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/not far and not in.htm

A Bright Gleam of Light.
... God. A man's choice in this life is his choice always. Any student of the
ordinary working of man's mind can certify that. Whatever ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/a bright gleam of light.htm

Rom. x. 14, 15
... Why this very thing, when taken along with the others, is of force to certify thee
of the truth of my statements, even in that some do not believe. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xviii rom x 14.htm

Cana
... We have little to certify as to the situation of this place: only we learn this
of Josephus concerning Cana, that it was such a distance from Tiberias, as he ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 90 cana.htm

Of the Fifth and Last Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
... revelations, and miracles, which God vouchsafed after the death of St Francis, in
confirmation of the truth of his sacred stigmata, and to certify the day and ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the fifth and last.htm

Certify (4 Occurrences)
... and seal. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CERTIFY. ser'-ti ... to live.".
Multi-Version Concordance Certify (4 Occurrences). Galatians 1 ...
/c/certify.htm - 8k

Announce (56 Occurrences)
... people. (DBY). 2 Samuel 15:28 See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness,
until there come word from you to certify me. (See JPS). ...
/a/announce.htm - 22k

Cesar (20 Occurrences)

/c/cesar.htm - 12k

Commend (22 Occurrences)
... as "righteousness" and "love of God" (Romans 3:5; Romans 5:8), and thus to attest
(2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 4:2), and, finally, to certify or to ...
/c/commend.htm - 15k

Certified (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Certify. Multi-Version Concordance
Certified (3 Occurrences). John 3:33 He who has received ...
/c/certified.htm - 7k

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. ...
/a/attest.htm - 7k

Plains (31 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Samuel 15:28 See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until
there come word from you to certify me. (See JPS DBY YLT). ...
/p/plains.htm - 16k

Sign (181 Occurrences)
... By anticipation the child to be born of a young woman (Isaiah 7:10-16; compare Luke
2:12) is to certify the prophet's pledge of a deliverer for a captive people ...
/s/sign.htm - 46k

Builded (65 Occurrences)
... Ezra 4:16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls
thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river ...
/b/builded.htm - 27k

Tarry (62 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS). 2 Samuel 15:28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness,
until there come word from you to certify me. (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT). ...
/t/tarry.htm - 25k

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