For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Parallel translations
- WEB For there are three who testify:
- 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 ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- 2 Cor 13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
- Acts 5:32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
- Matt 3:16–17And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon 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 that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
- Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
- John 8:54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
- John 1:32–34And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
- Isa 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Matt 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- John 10:30I and my Father are one.
- Heb 2:3–4How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
- John 10:37–38If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
- 1 Cor 12:4–6Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Isa 48:16–17Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
- Ps 33:6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- Deut 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
- 1 Jn 5:10–11He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
- John 8:13–14The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- John 5:26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
- John 12:28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
- Rev 1:4–5John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
- John 8:18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
- Rev 19:13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
- Matt 18:16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- 1 Jn 1:1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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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