1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"

Calvary Chapel includes 1 John 5:7-8 (the Comma Johanneum) as Scripture and uses it to affirm Trinitarian doctrine. While textual scholars debate its origin, Chuck Smith taught that the passage's inclusion in the traditional text and its doctrinal harmony with Scripture justify its acceptance. The explicit statement that 'the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit' are 'one' provides clear articulation of Trinitarian theology.

In Calvary Chapel's approach, the text is not rejected on the basis of textual criticism alone. Rather, the doctrinal content—the Trinity—is affirmed as true from Scripture. The Comma Johanneum provides an explicit confirmation of Trinitarian belief, even if its manuscript history is debated. Calvary Chapel prioritizes theological truth over manuscript minutiae.