Denies
Comma Johanneum absent earliest MSS; not original; Trinity proven elsewhere
The CRC does not accept 1 John 5:7-8 (the Comma Johanneum) as part of the original text. The explicit Trinitarian phrase ('the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost') is absent from the earliest Greek manuscripts and appears to be a Latin interpolation. The CRC applies rigorous textual criticism and rejects this passage as inauthentic. However, this does not undermine the reformed doctrine of the Trinity, which is amply supported by other biblical texts (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, etc.). The CRC's commitment to textual truth requires acknowledging this textual history honestly.
Key Distinctions
- Textual status:
- absent earliest MSS; Latin Vulgate addition
- Trinitarian grounding:
- independently affirmed by other Scripture
- Canonical status:
Scripture References
Sources
- CRC Statement on Biblical Canon
- Christian Reformed Church Doctrinal Standards