Does the Comma Johanneum(1 John 5:7) belong in the New Testament?
This is an excellent and very controversial question. It is the only verse that gives an explicit statement concerning the Trinity. I am going to say that it is absolutely a true quotation of John and is authoritative. Here are my reasons:
1) Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (200 A.D. - 258 A.D.), quotes this as being written by John (vol. V, 418,423 , Ante-Nicene Fathers).
2) Vigilius of Thapsus quotes it in the 5th century.
3) The Codex Montfortii contains it.
What say ye?
1 Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
DISCUSS!
I am a Trinitarian, but believe this verse was added, because the original Greek was misunderstood by the early Church ... and even now.
This is the confirming Witness of the Father of His only begotten Son.
This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. 7 And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. ASV.
Spirit of truth gives witness;
"Came by water" refers to (Jesus' water baptism, when His Father witnessed and spoke, "This is my beloved Son, Whom I am well pleased" and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.
" and with blood" refers to His death (the purpose of His mission, to die for our sins and raise from the dead in order for us to be resurrected to eternal life).
This three are one, of God's plan and will.
_________
John MacArthur's view of this passage:
"
Water here refers to the baptism of Christ and blood refers to His death. At these two great events, these two notable events that bracket our Lord’s ministry, the Father gives testimony. These two events are critical to an understanding to the life and ministry of Jesus. At His baptism He was declared by the Father to be His Son. You remember a voice out of heaven at His baptism, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” You have direct divine witness there, not just sort of launching the beginning of His ministry, but defining it.
And I would say something else, as well. In the baptism of Christ, He identified with sinners. Didn’t He? He identified with sinners. You see, baptism was baptism of repentance. It was baptism of repentance. He didn’t have anything to repent of. But there in that most unique way, He told John, “You have to baptize Me.” And John said no, the reverse is true. And He said, “No, you have to baptize Me. I need to fulfill all righteousness.” And there He was in His baptism identifying with sinners and defining the reason He came. And the Father gave witness, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
And the second divine testimony was given at His blood, as it were, or at
His death, that at the end of His ministry – at the end. That too defined His ministry because as He had identified with sinners in going into the waters of a baptism of repentance, He fully identified with sinners at the cross by taking their punishment. Those are tremendously defining events, two monumental experiences bracketing His ministry of redemption. And so the Father says, I gave testimony at His baptism and testimony at His death."
