“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
This verse is not in older Greek manuscripts.
John enlarges on the Holy Spirit’s witness to the truth (5:6) concerning the person and work of Christ. He appeals to three more witnesses.
For there are three that bear witness in heaven:
The Law required two or three witnesses to verify a thing (Deut. 17:6; 19:15).
1 Ti 5:19-20, 19 “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
the Father,
The Father is the originator and planner of creation. He sent the Word.
the Word,
The Word is the revealer.
and the Holy Spirit;
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of the Father’s plan.
and these three are one
The testimonies of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit all converge to prove the same point, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
PRINCIPLE:
The Bible teaches the fact of the trinity.
APPLICATION:
If this verse belongs to the original Greek manuscripts, it clearly teaches the trinity. However, if this verse is not a genuine text, the doctrine of the trinity does not rest upon this single verse. The trinity does bear witness to the person and work of Christ as deduced from the entire New Testament.
2 Co 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
In your commentary on verse 7, you’re using the words “Holy Spirit”. My KJV use the words “Holy Ghost”. However in verse 8, the word Spirit is used, not Holy Spirit. I’m not trying to be critical by no means, just trying to have an understanding. It seems to me that the Holy Ghost in Heaven, and the Spirit that bears witness in earth are two separate deities. Can you explain this to me please? Is the Holy Ghost and the Spirit the same, or two separate persons?
Rhonda, there is no Greek word for “ghost.” The Greek word is πνευμα (spirit). We get the English word pneumatic from this Greek term. “Ghost” was a term the 16:11 translators of the KJV used to convey the idea of “spirit.” All references to “ghost” in the KJV refer to the spirit, many times the Holy Spirit.