THE SEVENFOLD WITNESS OF JOHN
By Herb Evans
For
there are three that bare record in heaven the FATHER, the
WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these three are one. And
there are three that bare witness in earth, the SPIRIT, and the
WATER, and the BLOOD: and these three agree in one.
-- 1 John 5:7, 8
Jehovah’s Witnesses (Rusellites) and other modern day Arians and
Sabellians are quick to deny the authority and truth of 1 John 5:7 as did
there more ancient counterparts, the Nicolaitanes and Cerinthians.
Fundamentalists are now joining such a company. Yes, even Scofield did
say in his margin, “It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real
authority, and has been inserted.” (It was a J.W. that first reminded us
of this many years ago.) Fortunately, we have learned a long time ago to
listen for the hiss of the serpent in expressions like, “It is generally
agreed” or “the consensus of the scholars.” Agreed to by who? Who do you
consider to be a real authority? Quite frankly, we could care less
whether Scofield, Wescott & Hort, Sumner, Kutilek, and the Biblical
Evangelist say. They are agreeing on everything, including a Bible
believer’s divorce and their dislike for this passage. We certainly
question whether they are REAL authorities. After all, wasn’t
Scofield divorced? Consistency, Brother!
THE HEAVENLY WITNESSES
When
Bible believers make a stink about the blood taken being out of the ASV
and other corrupt bibles (Col. 1:14), they are expected to be soothed by
the fact that there are still other places in the Bible, where the blood
can be found. Well, why should the same crowd be upset at a Trinitarian
concept of Father, Word, and Holy Ghost which are taught in other places
of the word of God? Nice, fair, consistent crowd they are!
When
Bible believers heap praise on the Authorized Version, they are quickly
assailed with, “Erasmus was a Catholic, when he did not use the
underlying Greek manuscripts, and so forth. However, regarding 1
John 5:7, the same bunch tells us that Erasmus didn’t think that verse
should be included. Was he not still a Catholic? Nice, fair, consistent
bunch!
When
Bible believers contend for preservation and the Authorized Version only
position, they are bombarded with the rules of Greek and Hebrew syntax,
genders and all. The same Bible of the month club refuses to explain why
the Greek masculine article, numeral, and participle do not match the
neuter Spirit, blood, and water when the unauthoritive (socalled) verse
seven IS EXCLUDED! Nice, fair, consistent Bible of the month
club!
When
Bible believers are criticized for only having two Greek manuscripts*
extant to support 1 John 5:7 (actually, there are a dozen or more), they
are ignored. When they respond with a list of the Best Rendering
group’s renderings without support from ANY manuscript, they are
also ignored. A case in point is Romans 8:28, “the Holy Spirit
himself.” Why doesn’t this group explain why the Greek gender for “Holy
Spirit” and “itself” are neuter as they insist that it should be, “the
Holy Spirit HIMSELF?” Nice, fair, consistent group!
When
Bible believers believe 1 John 5:7, their critics boast of the antiquity
of their corrupt manuscripts, which do not contain it (you know, the
oldest and best manuscript trick). However, the same outfit ignores the
antiquity of the ancient writers and commentators who do refer to the
passage, ignoring also the antiquity of the Old Latin manuscripts
translated from the Greek. Nice, fair, consistent outfit! *
*Note: Manuscript evidence at the end of this article
THE EARTHLY WITNESSES
This is he that CAME BY WATER and BLOOD, even Jesus Christ; not by
water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth
witness, because the Spirit is truth. -- 1 John 5:6
For by
one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof
the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us . . .Let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled (blood-Heb.
9:14), and our bodies washed with PURE WATER. --Hebrews
10:14, 15, 22
But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came
there out BLOOD and WATER. And he that saw it BARE RECORD
and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might
believe. --John 19:34,35
Rock
of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let
the water and the blood, From thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of
sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
--Augustus M. Toplady
We
have seen the three heavenly witnesses; here, we see the three earthly
witnesses, six witnesses, yea seven with John’s record, a perfect
sevenfold witness. Jesus came in the flesh by WATER and BLOOD
(virgin birth), and He went by WATER and BLOOD (the crucifixion)
It seems hardly necessary to crusade for comparing scripture with
scripture in these blood and water passages. The connection is readily
apparent. At least, Augustus Toplady in his song, “Rock of Ages” saw the
connection and the double cure of salvation and sanctification. The water
is not to be foolishly interpreted as baptism. The water is pure water,
the purest of water, and the explanation is spiritual, not medical!
Jews, everywhere, are called on to view the fulfilling of the Old
Testament shedding of blood and also the washings with water. Jesus
Christ came by water and blood.
TO WHAT DO THEY WITNESS?
Who is
he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son
of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ
. . . If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
Son . . . And this is the record, that God hath given to us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son . . . These things have I
written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the Son of God. --1 John 5:5, 9, 11,
13
The
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost in heaven; the blood and water and
Jesus’ Spirit, which He commended to the Father, while on earth, and
John’s records (both of them) all bare record to the Son of God and the
complete salvation that is in His ONE offering FOR EVER.
That one offering being pre-pictured and prophesied throughout the Old
Testament. These seven witnesses all agree with John’s record, even the
word of God. Who but a Bible Corrector could or would object to
that!
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EVIDENCE TO 1 JOHN 5:7 (MORE THAN 2 MANUSCRIPTS?)
1) Old Latin Bible (second century)
2) 157 Italic Bible
3) 170 - Old Syriac version
4) 200 - Tertullian quotes the verse (Gill, “An exposition of the NT,”
Vol 2, pp. 907-8)
5) 250 - Cyprian, who writes, “And again concerning the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit it is written: ‘and the Three are One”* (Vienna,
vol. iii, p. 215)
6) 350 - Priscillian cites the verse (Vienna, vol. xviii, p. 6)
7) 350 - Idacius Clams cites the verse (MPL, vol. 62, col. 359)
8) 350 - Athanasius cites the verse (Gill)
9) 380 Varimaden
10) 415 - Council of Carthage appeals to the verse as a
basic text proving a fundamental doctrine when contending with the Arians
(Ruckman, “History of the NT Church,”
Vol. I, p. 146)
11) 435 Cassian
12) AD 427 - The Speculem, Ms m, a treatise containing an Old Latin text
arranged by topic
13) 450-530 - several orthodox African writers quote the verse when
defending the doctrine of the Trinity against the gainsaying of the
Vandals. These writers are:
A)
Vigilius Tapensis (AD 490, MPL, vol. 62, col. 243)
B)
Victor Vitensis (Vienna, vol. vii, p. 60)
C)
Fulgentius (MPL, vol. 65, col. 500)
D.
Eugenius, Bishop of Carthage, confession of faith (AD 484)
14) 500 - Cassiodorus cites the verse (MPL, vol. 70, col. 1373)
16) 550 - Old Latin ms r has the verse
16) 550 - The “Speculum” contains the verse
17) 750 - Wianburgensis cites the verse
18) 800 and on - Jerome*s Vulgate includes the verse
19) 1150 - minuscule ms 88 in the margin, Codex Ravianus
20) 1200-1400 - Waldensian Bibles have the verse
21) 1500 - ms 6l has the verse
22) various witnesses cited in Nestle’s 26th edition for a replacement of
the text as it stands with the Comma: 221 v.1.
23) 18 vg[cl]; 629; 61; 429 v.1.; 634; 635 margin; 636 v.1. margin; 918;
Omega 110; Ms 1; and other important Latin mss.
24) Lectionaries 60,
173
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