For there are three who testify:
Parallel translations
- KJV For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
- BSB For there are three that testify:
- NKJV For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
- NASB For there are three that testify:
- NLT So we have these three witnesses—
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John declares that there are three witnesses who testify together to Jesus. Scripture gives multiple confirming testimonies to the truth about Christ.
Overview
This verse introduces the threefold witness completed in verse 8. The principle of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) underlies John's appeal: God provides ample confirmation of his Son. Many later manuscripts added the 'Johannine Comma' naming Father, Word, and Spirit here; faithful scholars widely agree this addition is not part of the original text, though the doctrine of the Trinity it touches is taught elsewhere in Scripture.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 28
- Matt 28:19Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
- 2 Cor 13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
- Acts 5:32We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
- Matt 3:16–17Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
- John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- 1 Jn 5:6This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
- Acts 2:33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
- John 8:54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
- John 1:32–34John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
- Isa 61:1The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;
- Matt 17:5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
- John 10:30I and the Father are one.”
- Heb 2:3–4how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation — which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;
- John 10:37–38If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
- 1 Cor 12:4–6Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Isa 48:16–17“Come near to me and hear this: “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it happened, I was there.” Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, with his Spirit.
- Ps 33:6By Yahweh’s word, the heavens were made; all their army by the breath of his mouth.
- Deut 6:4Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
- 1 Jn 5:10–11He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
- John 8:13–14The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- John 5:26For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
- John 12:28Father, glorify your name!” Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
- Rev 1:4–5John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;
- John 8:18I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
- Rev 19:13He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”
- Matt 18:16But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- 1 Jn 1:1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 5:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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