1 John 5:9

Contextual Overview

⁶This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁶ This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁶ This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁶Jesus proved who he was when he was baptized in water and shed his blood on the cross. Not just one or the other, but by both. The Holy Ghost confirms that this is true. ⁶ This is he who came by water and by blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only but by water and by blood. ⁶ This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus [the] Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, for the Spirit is the truth. ⁶ This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. ⁶ This is he that came by water and blood; even Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood: and it is the Spirit who testifieth; because the Spirit is truth. ⁶ Jesus Christ is He who came with water and blood; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And it is the Spirit who gives testimony-- because the Spirit is the Truth. ⁶ This is hee that came by water and blood, euen Iesus Christ, not by water onely, but by water and blood: and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse, because the Spirit is trueth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: 1 John 5:10, John 3:32, John 3:33, John 5:31-36, John 5:39, John 8:17-19, John 10:38, Acts 5:32, Acts 17:31, Hebrews 2:4, Hebrews 6:18

for: Matthew 3:16, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5

Reciprocal: Psalms 19:7 - testimony Psalms 78:5 - For he Psalms 81:8 - Hear Psalms 93:5 - Thy Isaiah 8:16 - the testimony John 1:34 - this John 5:36 - I have John 12:17 - bare Acts 11:14 - words Romans 1:9 - the Romans 9:32 - Because 2 Corinthians 1:19 - the Son 1 Peter 5:12 - testifying 1 John 4:14 - we have

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalchel, Iared.

1 Chronicles 1:2
Cainan, [fn] Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Ma-hal'alel, Jared;

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalaleel, Iered,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If we receive the witness of men,.... The witness of a sufficient number of credible men, of men of good character and report, is always admitted in any case, and in any court of judicature; it was allowed of in the law of Moses; everything was proved and established hereby; upon this men were justified or condemned, cognizance was taken of men's sins, and punishment inflicted, yea, death itself, Deuteronomy 17:6; and even in this case concerning the Son of God, his coming into the world, and the dignity of his person, the testimony of men is credited; as that of the wise men, who declared that the King of the Jews was born, and his star had been seen in the east, which Herod himself gave credit to, and upon it summoned the chief priests, and inquired of them where he should be born; and also of the shepherds, who testified to the appearance of angels, who told them that there was then born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, and who also related that they themselves saw the infant at Bethlehem; and especially of John the Baptist, whose testimony was true, and could not be objected to by the Jews themselves, who sent to him, before whom he bore a plain and faithful witness. Now if an human testimony may be, and is received,

the testimony of God is greater; more valuable, surer, and to be more firmly depended on, since it must be infallible; for God can neither deceive, nor be deceived:

for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son; even the witness of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, is the testimony, not of men, but of God; the Gospel, attended with the Spirit of God, is the testimony of God; and so the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper, which bear witness of Christ, are not of men, but of God; and especially the witness of the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, must be the testimony of God, since, though three persons, they are one God; particularly the witness which God the Father testified of his Son Jesus Christ at his baptism and transfiguration, must be allowed to be the testimony of God, and far greater than any human testimony, and therefore to be received.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If we receive the witness of men - As we are accustomed to do, and as we must do in courts of justice, and in the ordinary daily transactions of life. We are constantly acting on the belief that what others say is true; that what the members of our families, and our neighbors say, is true; that what is reported by travelers is true; that what we read in books, and what is sworn to in courts of justice, is true. We could not get along a single day if we did not act on this belief; nor are we accustomed to call it in question, unless we have reason to suspect that it is false. The mind is so made that it must credit the testimony borne by others; and if this should cease even for a single day, the affairs of the world would come to a pause.

The witness of God is greater - Is more worthy of belief; as God is more true, and wise, and good than people. People may be deceived, and may undesignedly bear witness to that which is not true - God never can be; men may, for sinister and base purposes, intend to deceive - God never can; people may act from partial observation, from rumors unworthy of credence - God never can; people may desire to excite admiration by the marvelous - God never can; people have deceived - God never has; and though, from these causes, there are many instances where we are not certain that the testimony borne by people is true, yet we are always certain that that which is borne by God is not false. The only question on which the mind ever hesitates is, whether we actually have his testimony, or certainly know what he bears witness to; when that is ascertained, the human mind is so made that it cannot believe that God would deliberately deceive a world. See the notes at Hebrews 6:18. Compare Titus 1:2.

For this is the witness of God ... - The testimony above referred to - that borne by the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. Who that saw his baptism, and heard the voice from heaven, Matthew 3:16-17, could doubt that he was the Son of God? Who that saw his death on the cross, and that witnessed the amazing scenes which occurred there, could fail to join with the Roman centurion in saying that this was the Son of God? Who that has felt the influences of the Eternal Spirit on his heart, ever doubted that Jesus was the Son of God? Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 12:3. Any one of these is sufficient to convince the soul of this; all combined bear on the same point, and confirm it from age to age.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. If we receive the witness of men — Which all are obliged to do, and which is deemed a sufficient testimony to truth in numberless cases; the witness of God is greater-he can neither be deceived nor deceive, but man may deceive and be deceived.