Many trinitarians like to use 1 John 5:7 as so-called 'proof' of the Trinity.However, there are many problems for trinitarians concerning this Scripture:
1.) Even many Trinitarians admit that 1 John 5:7 in the KJV is spurious (not genuine; not authentic; untrue; counterfeit). Highly respected trinitarian scholar, minister (Trinity Church), Professor (University of Glasgow and Marburg University), author (The Daily Study Bible Series, etc.), and Bible translator Dr. William Barclay states the following about this passage:
**Note on 1 John 5:7**
"In the Authorized Version [KJV] there is a verse which we have altogether omitted [in Barclay's NT translation]. It reads, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one."
"The Revised Version omits this verse, and does not even mention it in the margin, and none of the newer translations includes it. It is quite certain that it does not belong to the original text."
2.) And even if it wasn't spurious, 1 John 5:7 would still not mean the three are the one God as trinitarians want. The word for "one" here is in the neuter form, hen, which cannot mean "one God" since "God" is always in the masculine form in NT Greek, and grammatically adjectives (such as "one") applied to it must also be masculine (heis, masculine form). When the neuter "one" (hen) is applied to persons, it means "one thing." In other words they have become united in some thing such as "purpose," "will," etc. (John 17:22) (See: 1 John 5:7 (KJV); Examining the Trinity)
3.) Sadly for Trinitarians, 1 John 5:8 is by far the clearest "Trinitarian" statement in the entire Bible. It is the only one that even mentions "three".
And still the formula of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is absent. Rather, these three "persons" who are equally God are the Spirit, the water, and the blood! (Compare Translations for 1 John 5:8: http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-john/5-8-compare.html)
Therefore, this clearest of trinitarian "proofs" (1 John 5:8) shows "conclusively" that if the Holy Spirit is God, His two equal partners are not Jesus and Jehovah, but the "persons" of "the Holy Water" and "the Holy Blood"!
Certainly such "evidence" is absolutely ridiculous. However, it is an excellent example of how the very best trinitarian "proofs" are tragically worthless. (Jer. 16:19 - KJV, ASV, RSV, NASB, JPS)
For more about 1 John 5:7, see:
Bible Book Number 62—1 John (si pp. 256-258; Watchtower Online Library)
1 John 5:7, 8 rs p. 405-p. 426; Watchtower Online Library)
Spirit (Insight-2 pp. 1017-1027; Watchtower Online Library)
1 John 5:7 and the King James Version (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)
The 'Johannine Comma' - 1 John 5:7 (IN Defense of the NWT)
But Your Bible's Been Changed! (From God's Word)
Newton proved that the words in 1 John 5:7 were spurious... (Pastor Russell)
How does the accuracy of the New World Translation Bible compare to other translations? (Search For Bible Truths)
1 John 5:7 proof of the Trinity? (Search For Bible Truths)
"Word" and 1 John 5:7, KJV ("Oneness") (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
"Jehovah" in the New Testament (end notes) (SFBT, 10th par. end note #1, 10th par. "Zondervan" ) (Search For Bible Truths)
(Also see the SCRIPTURE INDEX.)
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