|
HOUSMAIL
HM122
12 May 2005 THE
JOHANNINE COMMA - 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven,
This
verse from the KJV is commonly called the "Johannine Comma". It
is often quoted by Trinitarians as the strongest Biblical "proof
text" in support of the doctrine of the Trinity. Of
course, taken at face value, it doesn't do that! It does not say that the
three witnesses are "one God". It says nothing at all about
co-equality and co-eternity. It does not say any of the other complicated and
mathematically impossible things contained in the Trinitarian Creeds. If it
says anything at all to readers of the KJV, it is simply that the three
witnesses are united in complete agreement about the identity of Jesus as
Messiah and Son of God. That is the subject of the surrounding verses in the
chapter. However
the REAL issue is that the verse should not be there at all! Modern
translations omit it, and sometimes include a footnote to the effect that it
is found only in a few late MSS. e.g NASB. It
is widely recognised by scholars as a forgery, of unknown origin. There
are in fact, only FOUR Greek New Testament manuscripts which contain the
verse. *
Codex Montfortianus, dating from the early 16th century. *
#918: A 16th-century manuscript at the Escorial,
Spain. *
#2318: An 18th-century manuscript, influenced by
the Clementine Vulgate, at Bucharest, Rumania. *
#629: 16th Century.
Much of this was back translated from the Vulgate, including a partial quote
of the Comma Johanneum. (The phrase, "… and these three are one" is
missing.) There
are another four which contain it as a variant reading. (marginal note) *
#88: A variant reading
in a 16th-century hand, added to the 14th-century codex Regius of Naples. *
#221: A variant
reading added to a 10th-century manuscript in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. *
#429: A variant reading added to a 16th-century
manuscript at Wolfenbuttel. *
#636: A variant reading added to a 16th-century
manuscript at Naples. It
is believed by many scholars to have first appeared in a fifth century Latin
manuscript from Spain. Since
that time it has been included in a number of LATIN New Testament manuscripts.
However, it is significant that it was not contained in the early editions of
Jerome's 5th century Latin Vulgate translation. It was added to later versions of
the Vulgate somewhere about 2 centuries after Jerome died! It remained there
until the 20th century, when after much debate, Catholic authorities decided
to remove it again! Current editions of the Vulgate no longer contain it. CONCLUSION This
verse is not a Trinitarian "proof text". Even for KJV readers who are
not aware of the deception, it does not really say the things contained in
the Trinitarian Creeds. Careful readers of the Bible already know that Jesus
calls His Father "The only true God", thus indicating that He
Himself is not God! However
the evidence quoted above removes any remaining problem about this verse. It
should not be there at all. It is a forgery! Allon |