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Daily Devotions

1 John

1 John 
Day 
Day 116

"For there are three that bear witness..."

Text: 1 John 5:7

TEXTUAL VARIANTS

The text that we read today is found in the NKJV Text. (The text is called “The Majority Text.”) There are other texts that predate the Majority Text and this verse is not found there. How then should we read and understand this text?

READING VARIANT TEXTS

Let us take time to read this text carefully. We will need to evaluate its content carefully.

“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

1. It is important that we evaluate the content

a) Is there any untruth?
b) Is there any contradiction?

2. Bearing witness

a) The text offers three witnesses.
b) These three witnesses do not contradict each other in any way.
c) They are indeed “one”.

3. The Father as witness

a) Jesus called upon His Father as witness (John 5:37).
b) This is consistent with the Scriptures.

4. The word as witness

a) Jesus also made reference to the Word of God as witness (John 5:39).
b) Again there is accord here.

5. The Holy Spirit as witness

a) Jesus also spoke about the Holy Spirit as His witness (John 15:26-27).
b) Once again we have accord.

THE TEXT AT HAND

The text we are reading is a late text. However, this does not mean it is an errant text.

1. The truth of the text is certain.

2. We may read this text safely.

3. These witnesses bear testimony of Jesus as the Christ.