(I. JOHN v. 7.)*
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.” The whole of this verse has by some been omitted. †Jerome thinks that this has happened through design rather than through mistake, and that indeed only on the part of the Latins. But as even the Greek copies do not agree, I dare not assert anything on the subject. Since, however, the passage flows better when this claim is added, and as I see that it is found in the best and most approved copies, I am inclined to receive it as the true reading. And the meaning would be, that God, in order to confirm most abundantly our faith in Christ, testifies in three ways that we ought to acquiesce in Him. For as our
*The above extract from Calvin’s Commentary on I. John has been sent us by a reader of the Magazine with a request for its insertion in our pages.
†If Calvin refers to the Prologus Galeatus in vii. Epistolas Canonicois in which the author complains of the omission of verse 7 it is now recognised that the phrase is not Jerome’s.—Editor.
faith acknowledges three persons in the one divine essence, so it is called in so many ways to Christ that is may rest on Him. When he says, “These three are one,” he refers not to essence, but on the contrary to consent; as though he had said, that the Father and His eternal Word and Spirit harmoniously testify the same thing respecting Christ. Hence some copies have “eis hen,” “for one.” But though you read “hen eisin” as in other copies, yet there is no doubt but that the Father, His Word and the Spirit are said to be one, in the same sense in which afterwards the blood and the water and the Spirit are said to agree in one.
But as the Spirit, who is one witness, is mentioned twice, it seems to be an unnecessary repetition. For this, I reply, that since he testifies of Christ in various ways, a twofold testimony is fitly ascribed to Him. For the Father, together with His eternal Wisdom and Spirit, declares Jesus to be the Christ as it were authoritatively, then, in this case, the sole majesty of the Deity is to be considered by us. But as the Spirit, dwelling in our hearts, is an earnest, a pledge, and a seal, to confirm that decree, so He thus again speaks on earth by His grace.