“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I John 4:1-3
The author of one of my textbooks (A Survey of the New Testament, by Robert H. Gundry) brings out the fact that there are some ancient manuscripts that do not include I John 5:7. This caught my attention several years ago, but because of recent events I thought I would share some information on this.
The difference means that either the verse was intentionally left out in these manuscripts, or it was intentionally added later by someone not led by the Holy Spirit and another author other than John.
This information shouldn’t come as a surprise to us for, John tells us that the spirit of antiChrist was already in the world while he was writing I John. He tells us to try the spirits to see if they are of God.
Now, Gundry, the author makes the unequivocal statement that I John 5:7 is a copyist error, without endeavoring (in the textbook at least) to show with what authority he makes such a statement. Although this is Gundry’s opinion, there other respectable men of God, who do not share his view.
How do we know what is right? God told us that “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (I Cor. 2.4) He doesn’t expect us to figure out which man of many to follow. He also tells us in His Word that no Scripture is of any “private interpretation” (II Peter 1:20).
If we can’t go to the Lord with our problems, who can we go to?
“Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
If we can’t go to the “Word of God”(John 1:1) about the word of God, where can we go?
Since no Scripture is of any “private interpretation” I ask, “Do other Scriptures testify of this?” And since John is not supposed to be the author, “What does John think of I John 5:7”?
Let’s look at the writings of John.
In the Gospel of John we read of Jesus speaking to Nicodemas,
” . . . Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” John 3:10-12
Jesus said, “We speak. We witness”. This means that there is more than one person that is bearing witness. This is a reference to the trinity. Just as God said in Genesis, “Let us make man in our image” so Jesus uses the plural “we”. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the God-head bodily (Col. 2.9). According to this verse, this “We” is telling Nicodemus of “heavenly things”.
John’s Gospel also records over and over Jesus words telling us that His Father bears witness of Him.
“ And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” John 5:37
Again the Holy Spirit from Heaven bears witness.
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” John 15:26
“[H]e that cometh from heaven is above all.
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. ” John 3:31-33
In fact a major theme of the Gospel of John, is the “witness” of someone or something. Of the 21 chapters the word “witness” occurs 16 times, “testify” 10 times, “record” 10 times, “testimony” 5 times, and the word “report” once. John begins with a witness (1:7) and ends with a ”testimony”(21:24). In between we have the witness of John (the Baptist), a Samaritan woman’s witness, a blind man’s witness. . . several false witnesses, the witness of men, the witness of the Father, and the witness of God.
And these three are one.
“God is a Spirit.” John 4:24 The Father and Holy Spirit are one.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. . . I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one.
And most clearly, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30
One of those “three” is identified as “the Word”.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” I John 5:7
There are other Gospels refer to Jesus Christ as “the Son”. But John uniquely reveals Jesus Christ to us as “the Word”, both in his Gospel and in the book of Revelation.
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1.1 ; see also Rev. 19:13).
In conclusion, “Yes, John tells us that there are three in Heaven.” Yes, one of those three is the Word.” “Yes, they bear witness.” He tells us this over and over again. And “Yes, these three, all of these three, are one”.
He also warns us against anyone, who does not witness “confess” that God came in the flesh.
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I John 4:3
When Ravens Cry 