I John 5:7-8
Back to The Bible's Difficult Scriptures Explained!
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
At first glance, this passage appears to directly prove the trinity. Could this scripture be revealing that the God of the Bible is three persons in one being? Was it inspired by God so that mankind would understand who and what He is?
Here are the plain facts of this verse: Transcribers who believed in the trinity concept—but who could find no scriptural support—added the bold italicized words to support their beliefs. They are pure human invention! Those who use these verses to support the trinity doctrine are either unaware that the passage was altered, or they are aware but feel that their use serves a “greater good.”
Most Bible margins directly state the truth of the passage. For example, the New King James Version margin reads this way: “NU, M [versions] omit the rest of I Jn 5:7 [after “record”] and through on earth of I Jn 5:8, a passage found in Greek in only four or five very late mss. [manuscripts].”
The Critical and Experimental Commentary says of this section that the verse was not found in the Latin Vulgate until the eighth century. The New Interpreter’s Bible states, “This verse in the KJV is to be rejected…It appears in no ancient Greek MS [manuscript].”
Here is what Adam Clarke’s Commentary, written by an avowed trinitarian, states, “But it is likely that this verse is not genuine. It is wanting [missing] in every MS. [manuscript] of this epistle written before the invention of printing, one excepted, the Codex Montifortii, in Trinity College, Dublin: the others which omit this verse amount to one hundred and twelve.”
Clarke continues, “It is wanting in both the Syriac, all the Arabic, Ethiopic, the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Slavonian, etc., in a word, in all the ancient versions but the Vulgate; and even of this version many of the most ancient and correct MSS. have it not. It is wanting also in all the Greek fathers; and in most even of the Latin.”
These verses should properly read, “There are three that bear record: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree as one.”
We must then ask: What is the meaning of “three that bear record”? To “bear record” or “bear witness” is to attest or testify to something. When a witness testifies in a courtroom, he is telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Therefore, these three elements of the conversion process “attest” to the fact that a person is indeed a Christian.
This works in the following way:
(1) Spirit: Romans 8:16-17 states, “The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” Rom 8:9 continues, “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”
It is by the receiving of the Holy Spirit that one is begotten by the Father. With this Spirit then dwelling in the mind, a person can begin to understand God’s Word and His Plan: “For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God” (I Cor. 2:11).
(2) Water: The death and burial symbolized by water baptism, preceding true conversion, is the means by which Christians show God their willingness to live a new life, to “put off…the old man” (Eph. 4:22; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:4-6) and walk “in newness of life.” It also demonstrates faith in Christ’s death and resurrection.
(3) Blood: It is the blood of Christ that cleanses people from their past sins (Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12) upon repentance and baptism.
So, does I John 5:7-8 teach the doctrine of the trinity? Rhetorically, we could say that it might—if it belonged in the Bible! Actually, most of I Jn 5:7 and half of I Jn 5:8 did not begin to appear in any manuscripts until A.D. 800! The italicized passage is simply not part of Scripture, and there is no other verse similar to it that is. The Bible does not teach the trinity doctrine! Men added this passage to promote the long-existing, false, pagan concept of the supposed three-in-one nature of God. Suggested reading:
• The Trinity – Is God Three-In-One?
• What Do You Mean Water Baptism?
• What Is True Conversion?