I John 5:1-12                          March 25, 2007

Verses 7 & 8: (KJV) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one”.   And these are three that bear witness in earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one”.  (There are 45 words here)

Verse 7 & 8: (NIV) “For there are three that testify: the spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement”.  (There are 19 words here)

Note: In the KJV we have three that bear record in heaven and three that bear witness in earth.  But in the NIV there are none that bear record or bear witness. 

Verse 9: We accept the witness (testify) of men, but the witness of God is greater!  Why, then, does the NIV only include the witness (testify) of men?  Is that why many modern NIV Christians have no motivation to be a witness of God?

Verse 7:  “bear record” in heaven.  Record is a “once and done action”; to set down, as in writing; to register in some permanent form.  Record is both a noun and a verb; a written document and the action of writing it!

Verse 8: “bear witness” in earth.  Witness is a person who gives evidence (testimony).  To “bear witness” is a present participle, which expresses continuous or repeated action.

Verse 6: The Spirit (Holy Ghost) “beareth witness” (present participle) and the Spirit (Holy Ghost) is Truth.  Notice that this action of the Holy Spirit is continuous and repeating!  If you tell me that you are “filled with the Holy Spirit”, then why are you NOT “bearing witness”?  There seems to be a “disconnect” somewhere!

Verse 4: The word “born” is a (perfect passive participle), which means that “an action (performed by God on you) has been completed in the past, but it still has existing results”.  Does your “born again” experience still have an existing effect on your life?

Verse 6: The KJV says that “The Spirit is Truth” (that is, Truth is a Person); whereas in the NIV it says that “The spirit is the truth” (that is, truth is changed into an Object)!  We know that the Trinity is the union of three divine Persons in One Godhead (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit).

When we change “truth” from being a Person into being an Object, we are really “changing the truth of God into a lie”!  Romans 1:25