The 2×2 Fellowship’s lack of a creed makes analysis of their faith problematic, but the following quote in Jaenen’s book provides a vehicle by which we can engage with their beliefs in a tangible way:

“In June 1898 several of these workers, who were still affiliated with various denominations, met in Kilkee to consider ministerial requisites as described in the tenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel and related scripture. Cognizant that these scriptures referred specifically to the messianic ministry among the Jews, they also concluded that the conditions for the ministry remained unchanged throughout the New Testament. The commission was broadened beyond Palestine, the special manifestations of healing and exorcism were fulfilled but the requirements for apostolic ministry remained unaltered.” (524)

Despite not having a formal creed outlining their beliefs, one of the foundational beliefs of the 2×2 Fellowship is their emphasis on sending workers out in pairs. This is based on their interpretation of Jesus sending the Apostles two by two in Mark 6:7 and Luke 10:1. Interestingly, the mention of pairs is notably absent in this parallel passage in Matthew chapter 10 (1-15). Jaenen appears to be aware that the initial commission was directed at the Jews, but he assumes that the condition of pairing two preachers was to remain in the form of an enduring requirement.

In the beginning of his earthly ministry, Jesus was clear that he was limiting himself to the Jews. He was preaching in the synagogues (Mt 9:35), and his focus on the Jews was made obvious in his reply to the Canaanite woman whose daughter was tormented by a demon, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 15:24), repeating the common derogatory term (“dogs”) that the Jews had for Gentiles “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” (Mt 15:26). Everyone knows that God's original chosen people were the children of Abraham:

"for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession." (Deut 14:2)

It is clear that Jesus is preparing the Apostles for negative reaction from the Jews. He compares their sending to fighting in a war, “I have come to bring not peace but the sword” (Mt 10:34). Jews had been promised a messiah and likely would not react well to the Apostles. In fact, Jesus told them that it was going to be so severe that families would be split, “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother” (Mt 10:35) such that “one’s enemies will be those of his household” (Mt 10:36). Jesus limited His earthly mission to Israel to train a core group of Jewish disciples. After His resurrection, this foundation allowed them to take the Gospel outward to the entire world, telling them that at a later time they will evangelize the Gentiles (Mt 10:18). Indeed, after his resurrection, Jesus told them “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:20)

In this case the 2×2 Fellowship mistakes the mention of pairs for a mandate. There were specific Jewish considerations for this limited mission. Under Jewish law arriving in pairs lended legal credibility and validating testimony to Jews who were well-versed in Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or any offense that may have been committed; a charge shall stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses." - a sentiment echoed by Paul (1 Cor 14:29 and 2 Cor 13:1). In the Old Testament, the testimony of a single person was not considered sufficient to convict someone of murder (Num 35:30, Deut 17:6). The Jews also would have been more receptive to Apostles being paired based on complementary strengths, as King Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Eccl 4:9-10), and again “ if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccl ‭4‬:‭12‬).

There were geopolitical considerations. Saint John Chrysostom points out in his “Because the Samaritans too are in a state of enmity with the Jews. And yet it was an easier thing to deal with them, for they were much more favorably disposed to the faith; but the case of these was more difficult. But for all this, He sends them on the harder task, indicating his guardian care of them, and stopping the mouths of the Jews, and preparing the way for the teaching of the apostles, that people might not hereafter blame them for entering in to men uncircumcised, and think they had a just cause for shunning and abhorring them.” (Homily 32 on Matthew)

There were practical considerations, as well. Jesus warned the Apostles “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves” (Mt 10:16). The physical dangers of traveling as an itinerant preacher were obvious. On the evening of the resurrection, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked “for fear of the Jews”. (Jn 20:19). And as Luke records multiple times in the Acts of the Apostles when theJews often were seeking to harm them. After debating with the Sanhedrin, Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:60). After Paul converted and started preaching, the Jews in Damascus conspired to kill him and watched the city gates day and night. The disciples helped him escape by night, lowering him in a basket through an opening in the wall (Acts 9:23-25). Because Paul himself had persecuted the disciples prior to his conversion they initially afraid of him until Barnabas vouched for him (Acts 9:26). When he returned to Jerusalem and debated the Hellenists, they tried to kill him (Acts 9:29-30). Unbelieving Jews planned an assault on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:2-6). Paul was stoned by crowds in Lystra who dragged him out of the city and left him for dead (Acts 14:19). So great was their desire to kill him that forty Jews took an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed him (Acts: 21:27-31; 23:12-15). The Jewish high priest and the Sadducees captured and beat the Apostles in Acts 5:17-40 and ordered not to speak the name of Jesus again. Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten with rods and thrown into prison in Acts 16:16-24. Early Christian writers report that Paul was ultimately martyred during Emperor Nero's persecution around AD 64–68. (Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians). In the late 2nd century Tertullian specifically says that Paul was beheaded (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics). Similarly, the scholar Origen (recorded in Eusebius's Church History) explicitly wrote that Peter was crucified at Rome during the same persecution, with his head placed downwards, at his request because he was not worthy to be crucified in the same was as Christ.

So, there is nothing wrong with going out two by two. Indeed, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” (Mt 18:20). However, while there were perfectly good reasons for this strategy, there was a deeper meaning behind it. They were given divinely imparted authority to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy, as Paul encapsulates the timeline "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). Furthermore, there is no scriptural basis for Jaenen’s assertion that special manifestations of healing and exorcism were fulfilled. Luke records multiple instances of miracles after Jesus ascended (Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:12-16, Acts 5:17-21, Acts 6:8, Acts 8:5-8, Acts 8:13, Acts 14:8-10, Acts 16:16-18, Acts 16:25-26, Acts 19:11-12, Acts 20:7-12, Acts 28:3-6, Acts 28:8-9, etc).

The “requirements for apostolic ministry” were simply the receiving of divinely imparted authority to go forth to preach and baptize with the warning that they were going to suffer for it. Going in pairs was a mention, not a mandate. It was pattern, not prescription. St. John Chrysostom beautifully summarizes it:

“Do you see how again He does not promise them deliverance from death, but permits them to die, granting them more than if He had not allowed them to suffer it? Because deliverance from death is not near so great as persuading men to despise death. You see now, He does not push them into dangers, but sets them above dangers, and in a short sentence fixes in their mind the doctrines that relate to the immortality of the soul, and having in two or three words implanted a saving doctrine” (Homily 34 on Matthew)

Saint John Chrysostom, Homily 34 on Matthew. Catholic Encylopedia. Translated by George Prevost and revised by M.B. Riddle. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1888.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight.