Bible Lexicons

μαρτυρία, μαρτυρίας, ἡ (μαρτυρέω, which see) (from Homer down);

1. a testifying: the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events, Revelation 11:7.

2. what one testifies, testimony: universally, John 5:34; in a legal sense, of testimony before a judge: Luke 22:71; Mark 14:56; with the genitive of the subjunctive, Mark 14:59; John 8:17; 1 John 5:9; κατά τίνος, against one, Mark 14:55; in an historical sense, of the testimony of an historian: John 19:35; John 21:24; in an ethical sense, of testimony concerning one's character: 3 John 1:12; 1 Timothy 3:7; Titus 1:13; in a predominantly dogmatic sense respecting matters relating to the truth of Christianity: of the testimony establishing the Messiahship and the divinity of Jesus (see μαρτυρέω, a.), given by — John the Baptist: John 1:7; John 5:32; ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Ἰωάννου, John 1:19; Jesus himself, with a genitive of the subjunctive, John 5:31; John 8:13f; God, in the prophecies of Scripture concerning Jesus tile Messiah, in the endowments conferred upon him, in the works done by him, John 5:36; through the Holy Spirit, in the Christian's blessed consciousness of eternal life and of reconciliation with God, obtained by baptism ((cf. references under the word βάπτισμα, 3)) and the expiatory death of Christ, with a subject. genitive τοῦ Θεοῦ, 1 John 5:9-11, cf. 1 John 5:6-8; the apostles, σου τήν μαρτυρίαν περί ἐμοῦ, Acts 22:18 (Winer's Grammar, 137 (130)); the other followers of Christ: Revelation 6:9; with a genitive of the subjunctive αὐτῶν, Revelation 12:11; with a genitive of the object Ἰησοῦ, Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 20:4 (ἔχειν this μαρτυρία is to hold the testimony, to persevere steadfastly in bearing it, Revelation 6:9; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 19:10 (see ἔχω, I. 1 d.); others, however, explain it to have the duty of testifying laid upon oneself); elsewhere the testimony of Christ is that which he gives concerning divine things, of which he alone has thorough knowledge, John 3:11, 32f; ἡ μαρτυρία Ἰησοῦ, that testimony which he gave concerning future events relating to the consummation of the kingdom of God, Revelation 1:2 (cf. Revelation 22:16, 20); διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, to receive this testimony, Revelation 1:9.