The SEVENFOLD WITNESS of JOHN

          

 
The SEVENFOLD WITNESS of JOHN

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 ofAges, 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!


--by Herb Evans


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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