1 John 5:7 – The Johannine Comma
The Most Famous Textual Variant in the New Testament?
By Simon Brown
For centuries, 1 John 5:7 has been one of the most debated verses in the New Testament. The longer reading found in the King James Version states:
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
This passage has often been used as one of the strongest biblical arguments in support of the doctrine of the Trinity.
But an important question remains:
Did the Apostle John actually write these words?
Or were they added centuries later?
As Christians, we should follow the example of the Bereans.
"Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good."
— 1 Thessalonians 5:21
And as the Apostle John warned:
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
— 1 John 4:1
If a passage has been questioned by scholars for hundreds of years, it deserves careful examination.
What Is the Johannine Comma?
The disputed words are commonly known as the Johannine Comma.
The longer reading says:
"...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth..."
Modern Bible translations usually omit these words because most textual scholars conclude they were not part of John's original letter.
Instead, most modern translations simply read:
"For there are three that testify:"
followed by verse 8:
"the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree."
Why Do Most Modern Bibles Omit the Longer Reading?
One of the main reasons is the manuscript evidence.
The Johannine Comma is absent from the overwhelming majority of ancient Greek manuscripts, including the earliest and most important witnesses.
It is also absent from many early Bible translations, including ancient Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Arabic and Slavonic manuscripts.
Many respected textual scholars therefore conclude that the longer reading was not part of the original text written by John.
Bruce Metzger, regarded as one of the world's leading New Testament textual critics, concluded that the passage entered the Greek tradition through a marginal note that was later copied into the text.
The Evidence from Greek Manuscripts
The evidence is striking.
The longer Trinitarian wording is missing from virtually all early Greek manuscripts.
It only appears in a handful of very late Greek manuscripts, most of which date from the Middle Ages or later.
This explains why many modern Bible translations omit the passage or place it in a footnote.
The NASB Lexicon
An interesting example is the NASB Greek Lexicon.
When examining 1 John 5:7, the lexicon simply translates:
"For there are three that testify."
The additional Trinitarian wording does not appear because it is absent from the Greek text being translated.
The Interlinear Greek Text
The same pattern can be seen in many Greek interlinear Bibles.
The Greek text simply reads:
"For there are three that testify."
There is no reference to:
the Father
the Word
the Holy Spirit
within the Greek manuscript tradition on which these editions are based.
What Do Bible Commentaries Say?
Even many conservative Bible commentaries acknowledge the textual problem.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary notes that the disputed words are absent from the oldest Greek manuscripts and appear to have entered the Latin tradition before eventually finding their way into some Greek copies.
Likewise, the Pulpit Commentary concludes that the passage was almost certainly introduced from a marginal note into the Latin Vulgate before later appearing in a small number of Greek manuscripts.
These observations come from commentators who generally hold orthodox Trinitarian beliefs, yet still recognize the textual evidence.
Dr. James White
Dr. James White is a well-known evangelical scholar and defender of the Trinity.
Despite strongly defending Trinitarian theology, he acknowledges that the longer reading of 1 John 5:7 was not part of the original Greek text.
His acceptance of this conclusion demonstrates that rejecting the Johannine Comma does not require rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity itself. Many Trinitarian scholars also agree that the passage is not original.
Why Was It Included in the King James Bible?
The King James Bible was translated from the Textus Receptus.
The earliest printed editions of the Textus Receptus did not contain the Johannine Comma.
Later editions included it after pressure was placed on Desiderius Erasmus when a Greek manuscript containing the passage was produced. Most scholars believe this manuscript was very late.
Because the King James translators relied largely on these later editions of the Textus Receptus, the longer reading entered the King James Version.
Does Removing the Comma Affect Christian Faith?
For many Christians, the answer is no.
Even many Trinitarian scholars freely admit the passage is almost certainly not original while continuing to believe in the Trinity based on other passages.
Likewise, Christians who reject the doctrine of the Trinity argue that removing the Johannine Comma simply restores John's original words.
Either way, the question is one of textual history, not merely theology.
The Importance of Honest Scholarship
Whatever our theological position, Christians should seek the original words of Scripture.
If later additions entered the biblical text, we should not be afraid to acknowledge them.
Truth has nothing to fear from honest investigation.
As Jesus said:
"Seek, and you shall find."
— Matthew 7:7
My Conclusion
After studying the manuscript evidence, the Greek text, early Bible translations, and the conclusions of numerous textual scholars—including many who themselves believe in the Trinity—I have concluded that the longer reading of 1 John 5:7, known as the Johannine Comma, was not part of John's original letter.
In my view, the evidence strongly supports the shorter reading preserved in the earliest Greek manuscripts.
For me, this demonstrates the importance of testing every teaching against Scripture and carefully examining the historical evidence rather than accepting traditions without question.
Whether readers ultimately agree or disagree with my conclusion, I encourage everyone to study the evidence personally and prayerfully.
As Jesus said:
"Seek, and you will find."
— Matthew 7:7
— Simon Brown
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- John 10:30 — What Did Jesus Mean by "I and the Father Are One"?
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- John 1:1 — Does "The Word Was God" Mean Jesus Is Almighty God?
- 2 Peter 1:1 — Another Trinitarian Misunderstanding?
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It says a lot when a "Christians" think the freemason Isaac Newton's scepticism of the trinitarian formula is more legitimate than St. Athanasius. Comical. I suppose 1John 5:7 is also a forgery? They are not three separate deities: the Father begat the Son/word and they both spirate the Holy Ghost. They are one and freemasonic scientists and schismatics will never understand it. Just like they don't understand their schism destroyed Christendom, the damned Luther and Calvin should have simply converted to Orthodoxy or moved to another continent.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that 'trinity' is not mentioned in the Bible should be a dead giveaway. But then somehow the church decided to have stupid arguments over this silly philosophical argument that even led to major splits in the church - just stupid!
DeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat is comical is that 1Jn 5:7-8 is super easy to prove was an added text. And there is no proof Newton was a freemason. And if he was, who care. The luciferian Creed in the lodge was added hundreds of years later. Top make stich a statement like that shows you have never read anything Newton wrote about. He literally quit scientific study to souly study scripture.
DeleteI don’t agree the Hebrew gospel was an authentic Christian text. The so-called “Shem Tov” Hebrew gospel of Matthew refers to a text of Matthew and parts of Mark which is interspersed amongst a Jewish, anti-Catholic, medieval work called The Touchstone, written by Shem Tov ben Isaac ben Shaprut. It is dated to the year 1385 A.D. It has been published as a text of Matthew by George Howard who has worked to separate the text of Matthew from the document which served as a commentary of it.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gather at best the Hebrew gospel is a Jewish rendering of the authentic gospels. It alters other passages that elevate Christ in any way. For instance it doesn’t say Jesus forgave sins.
Greek 9:2 – thy sins be forgiven thee
Shem Tov 9:2 – It is by the faith of God that your sins have been forgiven
The Shem Tov also Removes the Son of Man reference in places.
Greek 13:37 – He that soweth the good seed is the son of man
Shem Tov 13:37 – the one who sows good seed is man
Greek 19:28 – When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory”
Shem Tov 19:28 – when man sits upon the throne of his glory
Lastly, The preaching of the Gospel is the anti-Christ in the Shem Tov.
Greek 24:14-16 – And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.
Shem Tov 24:14-16 – And this gospel, that is, evungili, will be preached un all the earth for a witness concerning me to all the nations and then the end will come. This is the Anti-Christ and this is the abomination which desolates. Then those who are in Judaea let them flee to the mountains.
Many thanks for your views.
DeleteBlessings.
Simon.