The Certainty of God’s Witness

This is He who came (A)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. (B)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness [a]in heaven: the Father, (C)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; (D)and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: (E)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

If we receive (F)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; (G)for this is the witness of [b]God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God (H)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God (I)has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 (J)He who has the Son has [c]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:7 NU, M omit the words from in heaven (v. 7) through on earth (v. 8). Only 4 or 5 very late mss. contain these words in Greek.
  2. 1 John 5:9 NU God, that
  3. 1 John 5:12 Or the life

This is the One who came (A)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not [a]with the water only, but [b]with the water and [c]with the blood. It is (B)the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are (C)three that testify: [d]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are [e]in agreement. (D)If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that (E)He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God (F)has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has (G)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (H)eternal life, and (I)this life is in His Son. 12 (J)The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  2. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  3. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  4. 1 John 5:8 A few late mss add ...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit
  5. 1 John 5:8 Lit for the one thing

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.

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

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

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.

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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