1 John 5:8 kjv
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:8 nkjv
And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
1 John 5:8 niv
the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
1 John 5:8 esv
the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
1 John 5:8 nlt
the Spirit, the water, and the blood ? and all three agree.
1 John 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 19:15 | ...by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses... | Legal principle of multiple witnesses for truth. |
| Matt 3:16-17 | After being baptized...a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son..." | The "water" (baptism) where God declared Jesus as Son. |
| Mk 1:9-11 | ...Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee...and was baptized by John... | Jesus' baptism by water. |
| Jn 1:29-34 | ...John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending...He is the Son of God." | The "water" (baptism) as witnessed by John, affirming Jesus. |
| Jn 3:5 | Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit..." | Connection between water and Spirit in new birth. |
| Jn 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit...He will teach you all things..." | Spirit's role in revealing truth about Christ. |
| Jn 15:26 | "But when the Helper comes...He will testify of Me." | The Spirit as a direct witness to Christ. |
| Jn 19:34-35 | One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out... | Physical evidence of Jesus' death; symbolic connection to water and blood. |
| Acts 5:32 | "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit..." | Spirit's role in empowering witnesses to Christ. |
| Rom 8:16 | The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. | The Spirit's inner testimony within believers. |
| 1 Jn 2:20 | But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. | Spirit's anointing as a source of truth/knowledge. |
| 1 Jn 2:27 | ...the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you...it teaches you concerning all things... | The indwelling Spirit's guidance and truth. |
| 1 Jn 4:2-3 | ...every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God... | Directly counters Gnostic denial of Christ's humanity. |
| 1 Jn 5:5 | Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? | Links belief in Jesus' Sonship to overcoming the world. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word... | Spiritual cleansing through "water" and Word. |
| Heb 9:12 | Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place... | Jesus' blood as the perfect sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus... | Access to God through Jesus' sacrificial blood. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...you were redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish... | Redemption through the blood of Christ. |
| Rev 1:5 | ...from Jesus Christ...who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood... | Cleansing and deliverance through Christ's blood. |
| Tit 3:5 | ...He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit... | Salvation connected to washing and Spirit's renewal. |
| 2 Cor 13:1 | ...'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.' | Paul applies the witness principle for truth. |
1 John 5 verses
1 John 5 8 Meaning
The verse 1 John 5:8 explains that there are three crucial testimonies concerning Jesus Christ: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three elements are distinct, yet they are in perfect unity and agreement, collectively affirming the true identity of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who truly came in the flesh through His baptism (water) and sacrificial death (blood), and is continuously attested to by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 5 8 Context
First John chapter 5 reiterates John's central themes from the epistle, particularly the inseparable connection between belief in Jesus as the Son of God, righteousness, and love. Verse 8 functions as a robust affirmation of Jesus' identity and work, specifically challenging a growing heresy in the early church known as Docetism or early Gnosticism. These false teachings often separated "Jesus" (the human being) from "the Christ" (the divine spirit), claiming that the divine Christ descended upon Jesus at His baptism and departed before His crucifixion. They denied that Jesus truly came "in the flesh" or suffered and died physically. John emphatically refutes this by asserting that Jesus came "by water and blood" (1 Jn 5:6), meaning He was fully divine and human from His baptism to His death, and these historical events, combined with the Holy Spirit's continuous testimony, prove His true identity as the Christ and the Son of God. The context emphasizes that true belief and overcoming the world stem from accepting this unified testimony of Jesus.
1 John 5 8 Word analysis
- And there are three: (Greek: kai treis eisin) - Highlights the plurality and therefore the strength of the evidence, appealing to the legal principle established in Deut 19:15 that "a single witness shall not suffice... only on the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a matter be established." This ensures credibility and certainty.
- that bear witness: (Greek: hoi martyrountes) - The verb martyreō means to testify, bear witness, give evidence, or confirm. It's an active, ongoing testimony. These three elements are not just passive symbols but active proponents of truth.
- on earth: (Greek: epi tēs gēs) - Present in some manuscripts (like the Textus Receptus, forming the basis for KJV/NKJV), this phrase emphasizes the tangible, historical, and physical nature of the testimony. It underscores that these witnesses were not abstract or heavenly, but real occurrences on human soil, directly confronting the Docetic idea that Jesus' physical reality was an illusion.
- the Spirit: (Greek: to Pneuma) - Refers to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's witness is multifaceted:
- Inner Witness: Confirming Jesus' identity to believers (Rom 8:16; 1 Jn 2:20, 27).
- External Witness: Through miraculous signs, prophetic declarations, and the powerful proclamation of the Gospel by those filled with the Spirit (Acts 5:32; Jn 15:26).
- Truth-revealing Witness: Leading into all truth about Jesus (Jn 16:13-14).
- the water: (Greek: to hydōr) - Universally interpreted as Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan River. At His baptism, Jesus was divinely identified by God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:16-17; Jn 1:29-34), inaugurating His public ministry and divine mission. This event clearly demonstrated Jesus' obedience and acceptance of His prophetic role, showing He was truly "in the flesh" and came for human identification.
- and the blood: (Greek: kai to haima) - Refers to Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, specifically the shedding of His blood. This event is the pinnacle of Jesus' mission, providing atonement for sins and establishing the New Covenant (Lk 22:20; Heb 9:12; 1 Pet 1:18-19). The emphasis on blood strongly refutes the Docetic idea that Christ only seemed to suffer or was not physically crucified. His physical death validated His humanity and His atoning work.
- and these three agree as one: (Greek: kai hoi treis eis to hen eisin) - Literally, "and these three are into the one." This phrase signifies that the Spirit, the water, and the blood do not merely co-exist but actively work together to point to a singular, consistent truth: the full, real, and salvific identity of Jesus Christ. Their testimony is harmonious, coherent, and indivisible, presenting an irrefutable confirmation of who Jesus is and what He accomplished. This unity counters any attempt to separate "Jesus" from "the Christ" or deny the reality of His coming in flesh.
1 John 5 8 Bonus section
The distinction and unity of the water and blood are sometimes understood to echo the flow of water and blood from Christ's pierced side (Jn 19:34-35), although John the Apostle might also have had a broader theological meaning in mind for the 'water' and 'blood' connected to the beginning and end of Jesus' earthly ministry, which the Holy Spirit continually validates. The emphasis on "three" witnesses ties directly into established Jewish legal principles that required multiple witnesses for validation, making Jesus' identity and work abundantly clear and legally indisputable. The "agreement as one" is critical; it implies that despite their distinct forms, the Spirit, baptism, and crucifixion present a single, coherent narrative about Jesus, dismantling any attempts to dissect or diminish His identity or redemptive work. This verse, along with 1 Jn 5:6-7, serves as a cornerstone for affirming the robust biblical Christology against theological errors.
1 John 5 8 Commentary
1 John 5:8 is a powerful declaration confirming the foundational truths about Jesus Christ, specifically His true humanity and divine Sonship. Against the backdrop of early heresies denying Jesus' physical coming, John asserts that three earthly, yet divinely appointed, witnesses testify to His identity and saving work. The "water" points to Jesus' baptism, a public affirmation by God Himself of His Sonship and the commencement of His ministry in humanity. The "blood" unequivocally refers to Jesus' death on the cross, validating His complete physical human experience and the atoning power of His sacrifice. Lastly, the "Spirit" continuously confirms and illumines the truth of both events, testifying to the reality of Jesus as the Christ through inner conviction and outward proclamation. These three testimonies are not contradictory but unify in purpose, collectively establishing the authenticity of Jesus' full incarnation, life, death, and ongoing spiritual presence, affirming that He truly came, lived, died, and rose as the Son of God, our Savior. This unity ensures an unassailable foundation for Christian faith, emphasizing that salvation is found in believing in the fully human and fully divine Jesus, attested by these unmistakable signs.