1 John 5:7-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 5:6-9

The faith of the Christian believer (or the believer in Christ) being thus mighty and victorious, it had need to be well founded, to be furnished with unquestionable celestial evidence concerning the divine mission, authority, and office of the Lord Jesus; and it is so; he brings his credentials along with him, and he brings them in a way by which he came and in the witness that attends him. I. In the way and manner by which he came; not barely by which he came into the world, but by and with... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 5:6-8

5:6-8 This is he who came through water and blood--Jesus Christ. It was not only by water that he came, but by water and by blood. And it is the Spirit which testifies to this, because the Spirit is truth; because there are three who testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood, and the three agree in one. Plummer, in beginning to comment on this passage says: "This is the most perplexing passage in the Epistle, and one of the most perplexing in the New Testament." No doubt, if we knew... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 5:6-8

John goes on to speak of the triple witness. There is the witness of the Spirit. In this John is thinking of three things. (i) The New Testament story is clear that at his baptism the Spirit descended upon Jesus in the most special way ( Mark 1:9-11 ; Matthew 3:16-17 ; Luke 3:21-22 ; Acts 10:38 ; John 1:32-34 ). (ii) The New Testament is also clear that, while John came to baptize with water, Jesus came to baptize with the Spirit ( Mark 1:8 ; Matthew 3:11 ; Luke 3:16 ; Acts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in heaven ,.... That is, that Jesus is the Son of God. The genuineness of this text has been called in question by some, because it is wanting in the Syriac version, as it also is in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions; and because the old Latin interpreter has it not; and it is not to be found in many Greek manuscripts; nor cited by many of the ancient fathers, even by such who wrote against the Arians, when it might have been of great service to them: to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 5:8

And there are three that bear witness on earth ,.... To the same truth of the sonship of Christ: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood ; by the "Spirit" is not meant the human Spirit or soul of Christ; for however that may be a witness of the truth of his human nature, yet not of his divine sonship: and moreover cannot be said to be a witness in earth; rather the Gospel, called the Spirit, which is a testimony of Christ's person, office, and graces and is preached by men on earth; or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:7

There are three that bear record - The Father, who bears testimony to his Son; the Word or Λογος , Logos, who bears testimony to the Father; and the Holy Ghost, which bears testimony to the Father and the Son. And these three are one in essence, and agree in the one testimony, that Jesus came to die for, and give life to, the world. But it is likely this verse is not genuine. It is wanting in every MS. of this epistle written before the invention of printing, one excepted, the Codex... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:8

The Spirit, and the water, and the blood - This verse is supposed to mean "the Spirit - in the word confirmed by miracles; the water - in baptism, wherein we are dedicated to the Son, (with the Father and the Holy Spirit), typifying his spotless purity, and the inward purifying of our nature; and the blood - represented in the Lord's Supper, and applied to the consciences of believers: and all these harmoniously agree in the same testimony, that Jesus Christ is the Divine, the complete, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:7

Verse 7 7.There are three than bear record in heaven The whole of this verse has been by some omitted. Jerome thinks that this has happened through design rather than through mistake, and that indeed only on the part of the Latins. But as even the Greek copies do not agree, I dare not assert any thing on the subject. Since, however, the passage flows better when this clause is added, and as I see that it is found in the best and most approved copies, I am inclined to receive it as the true... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:8

Verse 8 8There are three He applies what had been said of water and blood to it’s own purpose, in order that they who reject Christ might have no excuse; for by testimonies abundantly strong and clear, he proves that it is he who had been formerly promised, inasmuch as water and blood, being the pledges and the effects of salvation, really testify that he had been sent by God. He adds a third witness, the Holy Spirit, who yet holds the first place, for without him the wafer and blood would have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 5:1-12

Faith is the source of love. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 5:6-9

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 5:6-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 5:6-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 5:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 5:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 5:1-12

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