Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

1 John 5:8

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

KJV

τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν εἰσιν.

Greek NT

Et tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in terra : spiritus, et aqua, et sanguis : et hi tres unum sunt.

Vulgate

For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.

ASV

And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit and the water and the blood. And these three are one.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

9 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αἷμα
aima
noun · 97×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
εἰς
eis
preposition · 1769×
εἷς
eis
adjective · 336×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
πνεῦμα
pneuma
noun · 379×
τρεῖς
treis
adjective · 67×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὕδωρ
udor
noun · 76×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

major
The Johannine Comma (Comma Johanneum). This Trinitarian formula is absent from all known Greek manuscripts before the 16th century. It appears in some late Latin manuscripts and was included in the Vulgate tradition. Erasmus initially omitted it from his Greek New Testament but added it in his third edition (1522) under pressure, reportedly after a Greek manuscript was produced that contained it (Codex Montfortianus, now suspected of being created for this purpose). The passage became the primary proof-text for the Trinity in the KJV tradition.
  • ὅτι τρεῖς εἰσιν οἱ μαρτυροῦντες, τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν εἰσιν. — ALL Greek MSS before the 16th century; P74 (fragment); Codex Sinaiticus (01/ℵ); Codex Vaticanus (03/B); Codex Alexandrinus (02/A); All early versions
  • ὅτι τρεῖς εἰσιν οἱ μαρτυροῦντες ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὁ πατήρ, ὁ λόγος, καὶ τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα· καὶ οὗτοι οἱ τρεῖς ἕν εἰσιν. καὶ τρεῖς εἰσιν οἱ μαρτυροῦντες ἐν τῇ γῇ, τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα. — Codex Montfortianus (61, 16th c.); Some late Latin Vulgate MSS; Marginal notes in a few Greek MSS
source: curated

Historic Christian voices

6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§694Water. the symbolism of water signifies the Holy Spirit's action in Baptism, since after the invocation of the Holy Spirit it becomes the efficacious sacramental sign of new birth: just as the gestation of our first birth took place in water, so the water of Baptism truly signifies that our birth into the divine life is given to us in the Holy Spirit. As "by one Spirit we were …
§1225In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized.22 The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life.23 From then on, it is possible "to be…
1. The Work is Taken Up After a Violent Interruption, Which Has Driven the Writer from Alexandria. He Addresses Himself to It Again, with Thanks for His Deliverance, and Prayer for Guidance. When a house is being built which is to be made as strong as possible, the building takes place in fine weather and in calm, so that nothing may hinder the structure from acquiring the need…

Cross-references

  • 1John 1:7 — But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
  • 1John 5:6 — This 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.
  • 1Pet 3:21 — The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
  • 2Cor 1:22 — Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
  • Acts 2:2 — And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
  • Ezek 16:9 — Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
  • Heb 6:4 — For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
  • Heb 13:12 — Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
  • John 15:26 — 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 19:34 — But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
  • Mark 14:56 — For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
  • Matt 26:26 — And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
  • Matt 28:19 — Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  • Rom 8:16 — The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: