1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"

Reformed theology, informed by textual criticism, rejects the Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7-8) as a later textual addition. The passage is absent from the earliest Greek manuscripts and appears in late Latin texts. The Westminster Confession and other Reformed standards, while affirming the Trinity, do not rely on this disputed text. Calvin and Reformed commentaries recognize the textual issue and do not use this verse for doctrinal foundation.

Reformed epistemology requires intellectual honesty: if a text's manuscript evidence is weak, it should not serve as doctrinal basis. The Trinity is affirmed from passages with firm manuscript support (e.g., Matthew 28:19, 1 John 5:1-6). Reformed theology shows fidelity to Scripture by recognizing textual problems and building doctrine on the most reliable texts.