1 John 5 7

1 John 5:7 kjv

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1 John 5:7 nkjv

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

1 John 5:7 niv

For there are three that testify:

1 John 5:7 esv

For there are three that testify:

1 John 5:7 nlt

So we have these three witnesses ?

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 7 Meaning

The verse, as it appears in certain Bible translations, presents three divine entities—the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost—as united heavenly witnesses. It proclaims their shared purpose and single divine essence, forming a foundational statement for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. These three persons collectively bear record of Jesus Christ, affirming His divine identity and mission from the highest authority.

1 John 5 7 Context

1 John 5:7 is embedded within a passage that strongly emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the source of eternal life. The immediate surrounding verses (1 Jn 5:6 and 1 Jn 5:8) discuss various witnesses concerning Jesus: "This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one" (NKJV). The overall epistle of 1 John consistently assures believers of the reality of their salvation, reinforces true fellowship with God, and exposes false teachings (such as proto-Gnostic denials of Jesus' true humanity). The witnesses—the water (Jesus' baptism), the blood (His crucifixion), and the Spirit (His ongoing divine testimony and the Spirit's indwelling in believers)—verify His full divine-human personhood and the complete efficacy of His saving work. In this context, 1 Jn 5:7, where it is present in translations, presents the ultimate heavenly testimony, underscoring the divine certainty of God's work in Christ.

1 John 5 7 Word analysis

• For: This conjunction connects the current statement to the preceding discussion on witnesses, introducing a further clarification or higher-level confirmation.
• there are three: This numerical indicator signifies distinct entities contributing to a unified testimony, aligning with biblical principles requiring multiple witnesses to establish truth (e.g., Deut 19:15). The number three often carries significance of completeness or divine fullness in Scripture.
• that bear record (Greek: `hoi martyrountes`, οἱ μαρτυροῦντες, "those who witness/testify"): Refers to the act of giving testimony or evidence, to attest to the truthfulness or authenticity of a matter. Here, the "record" is the absolute truth about Jesus Christ.
• in heaven: Specifies the origin and nature of this witness as divine, supernatural, and ultimately authoritative, elevating it beyond any earthly testimony. It comes directly from God's dwelling place.
• the Father (Greek: `ho Patēr`, ὁ Πατήρ): Identifies God, the first person of the Holy Trinity. He repeatedly testifies to His Son's divine identity and mission throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Mt 3:17, Jn 5:37).
• the Word (Greek: `ho Logos`, ὁ Λόγος): This is a unique and profound title for Jesus Christ within Johannine theology (Jn 1:1, 1:14). It signifies Jesus' eternal pre-existence, divine nature, active role in creation, and His ultimate role as God's self-revelation. Jesus Himself is the truth revealed.
• and the Holy Ghost (Greek: `kai to Pneuma to Hagion`, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον): Refers to the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, inspires God's prophets, empowered Jesus in His earthly ministry, and continually bears witness to Jesus' Lordship and truth (Jn 15:26, Rom 8:16).
• and these three are one (Greek: `kai houtoi hoi treis hen eisin`, καὶ οὗτοι οἱ τρεῖς ἕν εἰσιν): This climactic phrase asserts the profound unity of the three divine persons. The Greek `hen` (ἕν) is neuter singular, emphasizing oneness in essence, nature, or purpose, rather than oneness of person. This concept is a core element in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, asserting co-equality, co-eternity, and unified action within the distinct persons of the Godhead, particularly in their testimony concerning Christ.

• "three that bear record in heaven": This grouping highlights the ultimate, irrefutable source of truth concerning Jesus Christ. It underscores that the most authoritative testimony comes directly from God's own realm, ensuring the unwavering validity of their witness concerning Jesus' identity and work.
• "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost": This direct enumeration of the three persons of the Godhead signifies their distinct yet unified participation in providing divine witness. It points to the core Christian theological understanding of God as a triune being.
• "and these three are one": This concluding declaration profoundly articulates the essence of Trinitarian unity. It signifies that while distinct as persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share a singular divine nature, will, and purpose, perfectly harmonized in their testimony to humanity regarding Jesus Christ. This asserts a harmonious, united Godhead acting in unison.

1 John 5 7 Bonus section

It is imperative to address that the text of 1 John 5:7, specifically the phrase "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (known historically as the Comma Johanneum or Johannine Comma), is considered by a broad consensus of modern biblical scholarship and textual critics as a later addition to the original Greek New Testament manuscripts. This phrase is notably absent from virtually all early and highly reliable Greek manuscripts (such as Codex Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, and Alexandrinus), as well as from the abundant quotations of the Church Fathers who wrote extensively in Greek during the first several centuries of Christianity.

The earliest appearances of this phrase are found in Latin manuscripts (specifically within the Old Latin and later the Vulgate traditions from around the 4th century CE onwards, often as marginal notes that were eventually incorporated into the main text) and subsequently in very late Greek manuscripts (from the 15th and 16th centuries), which were themselves often translated or influenced by the Latin Vulgate. Its inclusion in prominent English translations like the King James Version stemmed from the Greek text provided by Erasmus in the 16th century, which lacked sufficient ancient Greek manuscript evidence for this verse, initially excluding it, but adding it in later editions due to pressure based on very few and late manuscripts.

While the theological doctrine of the Trinity (the concept of God existing as three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is a fundamental tenet of Christian faith and is clearly supported and articulated throughout numerous other passages in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., Mt 28:19; Jn 10:30; 2 Cor 13:14), 1 John 5:7, as found in some Bibles, does not reflect what biblical scholars currently consider to be the most accurate original wording of John's epistle. This textual critical understanding informs the "boundaries" and "limitations" of how this particular verse is approached in deeper biblical study, acknowledging its historical significance in theological debate but its weak basis as an original reading.

1 John 5 7 Commentary

If understood as part of John's original composition, 1 John 5:7 would provide an explicit declaration foundational to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, stating that the Father, the Word (Son), and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons yet are "one" in divine essence and purpose. Within the broader context of 1 John 5:6-8, it elevates the ultimate source of witness to Jesus Christ—from the very nature of God Himself. It affirms that the truth about Jesus' divine origin, His authentic humanity (witnessed by water and blood), and His ongoing work (witnessed by the Spirit) is guaranteed by the unified testimony of the Godhead. Their "oneness" signifies a perfect unity of being, will, and purpose, rendering their collective record of Jesus undeniably true. This divine consensus solidifies the basis for Christian faith and assures believers of the profound truth in believing in Jesus Christ.

The certainty provided by these three divine witnesses (Father, Son, Spirit), where they appear, serves to assure a believer that their faith in Jesus is grounded in eternal, unshakeable truth, not in fleeting human ideas. This divine affirmation encourages unwavering trust and confidence in God's saving power through Christ.