Canonical; explicit trinitarian testimony affirmed
The Maronite Catholic Church affirms 1 John 5:7-8 (the Comma Johanneum) as part of the canonical Gospel as received by the Church. The Council of Trent (1546) affirmed the canon of Scripture as it had been received in the Church, including this passage. While Catholic biblical scholarship may be aware of textual-critical questions, the Church's official teaching is that the Comma is part of authentic Scripture.
In Maronite tradition and Catholic teaching, 1 John 5:7-8 is received as Scripture providing explicit trinitarian teaching. The passage is used in Maronite liturgy and catechesis to affirm the Trinity. The Church's affirmation of the canon as received supersedes questions of manuscript history.
Key Distinctions
- Textual status:
- Trinitarian grounding:
- affirmed as part of canon received by Church at Trent
- Canonical status:
- received in Church's canonical tradition
Scripture References
Sources
- Council of Trent, Session 4, decree on canon (1546)
- Maronite liturgical tradition
- Catholic biblical commentaries