Far Eastern Bible College / Bible-Presbyterian Church : 1 John 5:7

20.6.25

1 John 5:7

One very interesting thing to note linguistically is that John in his New Testament books does not in any instance make use of the whole and full term “Holy Spirit.” When John refers to the Holy Spirit he always uses the simple term “the Spirit” or such a phrase as the “Spirit of God.” The text of 1 John 5:7 in the King James Version which includes the term “Holy Spirit” is not a reading supported by manuscript evidence. This is a distinctive mark in John’s writing that further linguistically connects the Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Book of Revelation.^{^[1]}

What Does the Text Say?

Traditional (Disputed) Reading in King James Version:

"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 on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one."

Modern Critical Reading (e.g., NIV, ESV):

"For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree."

The bolded section is the Comma Johanneum.

Authentic Reading: 1 John 5:7-8 refers only to the Spirit, water, and blood.

The Comma Johanneum is a later addition (likely 4th–8th century) and not part of John’s original letter.

Modern translations (NIV, ESV, NRSV) omit the Comma or relegate it to footnotes.

Conclusion: The "heavenly witnesses" (Father, Word, Holy Spirit) in 1 John 5:7 are not original Scripture. They reflect a later theological insertion. The true focus of the passage is the earthly witnesses to Jesus’ identity:

Spirit: The Holy Spirit’s testimony (John 15:26).

Water: Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16–17).

Blood: Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:34–35).

This aligns with John’s emphasis on Jesus’ human and divine nature (1 John 4:2–3). The Trinity remains biblically sound—but not dependent on this disputed verse.

For deeper study, consult Bruce Metzger’s Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament or Bart Ehrman’s Misquoting Jesus.

^{^[1]} Earl F. Palmer and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation, vol. 35, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 54–57.

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The Purpose in writing this blog

The authors are full-time ordained ministers and preachers in the Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore. The goal of this blog is to encourage all Bible Presbyterian pastors, elders, and leaders, as well as the flocks they serve, to turn to the Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. To unite under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Accepting our minor differences while focusing on the cross. Being described as one family under God the Father. We are called to be together in our diversity. Pride is the fault of all Bible Presbyterian Churches worldwide. Lust has blinded theologians at Far Eastern Bible College. It is at this heavy, serious, and gloomy moment in our Christian walk, rebuking these pastors and theologians, the remarks in this blog are heavy and severe in order to prompt them to repentance. May God help and bless us.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead; I believe in the Holy Ghost; I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

LUTHER'S MORNING PRAYER

Errors in King James Version

Read Romans 8:26...the KJV has "the Spirit itself..." This is an error; the Holy Spirit is our God, and we must address Him correctly! How may "itself" be used to approach God, the Holy Spirit? "It" is used to address an item or an animal, not a person or God! The KJV translators had insulted the Holy Spirit! However, in another verse, the KJV translators used the term "him" to designate Satan. What an insult to KJV readers! Read Luke 11:18: "...if Satan also be divided against himself..." The KJV uses the phrase "himself..." when addressing Satan! The KJV translator used "it" for the Holy Spirit, but "him" for Satan!!! Mark 3:28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"

One Another

Unity In Diversity for Bible Presbyterian Churches in Singapore

Like a peal of bells the word allelon-'one another'-rings through the pages of the New Testament.

'Accept one another' allelon

'Serve one another' allelon

'Wash one another's feet'

'Confess your sins one to another'

'Pray one for another'

'Forbearing one another and forgiving each other'

'Teaching and admonishing one another'

'Comfort one another and build each other up'

'Bear one another's burdens'

'Love one another as I have loved you'

Those who have the flow of mutuality in their relationship with each other need not be vocal or exuberant in expressing it.

John Calvin's consent

To new readers, I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may God grant us good theologians, humble servants of the Lord, and faithful believers in these last days, may God use this blog to call some one for self searching and repentance, and here we are blogging in theological debates. In 1547, Jacques Gruet, he was arrested by Calvin, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.. The civil court condemned him to death and, with Calvin's consent, he was beheaded. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) John Calvin consented to kill a man for his theological stand, but I rather use strong words to achieve that!

Statement

1. The authors of this blog do not believe that the KJV Bible is the perfect Bible. The KJV has problems and inaccuracies because it is a man-made translation. 2. The inerrant Bible is in the autograph. All subsequent copies of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts have God's Written Word. We have God's written Word preserved in the NIV, KJV, and ESV. 3. There is no such notion as Verbal Plenary Preservation on a single TR Greek Text underlying the KJV, and the authors do not believe that the entire Greek text underlying the KJV Bible, or the TR, is error-free. 4. The authors believe that the Bible was inspired verbally and plenarily preserved in NIV, KJV, ESV, NESB….other faithful Bible versions. 5. The authors recommend NKJV, NIV, ESV, and NLT New Living Translation. 6. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word.

Far Eastern Bible College / Bible-Presbyterian Church

20.6.25

1 John 5:7

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1 John 5:7

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