1 John 5:7-8 Comma Johanneum not in earliest manuscripts; addition
Mennonites follow biblical scholarship in recognizing that 1 John 5:7-8 contains the 'Comma Johanneum' ('three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost') — a passage not found in any Greek manuscripts before the 16th century. It appears to be a Latin interpolation, likely added in the 5th-6th century.
Mennonites affirm Trinitarian theology (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) based on other passages, not on the Comma Johanneum. The authentic 1 John 5:8 refers to 'three that bear witness on earth,' which are the Spirit, water, and blood. The genuine text provides no specific Trinitarian formula. Mennonites value honest textual engagement and recognize that the Comma Johanneum, while expressing true doctrine, is not original to 1 John. This distinction between the genuineness of a text and the truth of its content is important.
Key Distinctions
- Textual status:
- absent from all Greek manuscripts before 16th century
- Trinitarian grounding:
- Trinity affirmed from other passages
- Canonical status:
Scripture References
Sources
- Mennonite Confession of Faith (1995), Article 1-3