Theology 3: The Essence of God

By "essence" we mean the "substance" or "being" of God. This in fact is incomprehensible, because God is different from anything we can grasp with our finite (limited) minds. Consequently, the scriptures never discuss the being or essence of God apart from His attributes, inasmuch as God is what He reveals Himself to be.

I. THE ESSENCE OF GOD REVEALED IN JOHN 4:24

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." In this key passage, we note three things about God's nature or essence:

1. Life

2. Spirituality

3. Personality

A. God is Life.

John 4:24 states: "God IS...," not, "God was..."

The very essence of God is life!

1. What Is Life?

"Life" cannot be properly defined. Since it is of the nature of God it is incomprehensible. Life is not just "existence," but that which embraces relationship in activity.

Life is really an "intuition" — we can describe it, but not define it.

2. Other Scriptures Declare God Is Life.

John 5:26 KJV 1900

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Jeremiah 10:10 KJV 1900

10 But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king: At his wrath the earth shall tremble, And the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Acts 14:15 KJV 1900

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

3. Comparative Examples Show God To Be Living.

God is often compared to false gods by the fact that He is a living God. e.g. Compare Jeremiah 10:10-16 with Habakkuk 2:18-20.

Jeremiah 10:10–16 KJV 1900

10 But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king: At his wrath the earth shall tremble, And the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, He hath established the world by his wisdom, And hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, And he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, And bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: Every founder is confounded by the graven image: For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: In the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: For he is the former of all things; And Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

Habakkuk 2:18–20 KJV 1900

18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; The molten image, and a teacher of lies, That the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before him.

B. God is Spirit. (vs. Materialism).

The context of John 4:24 is important to the understanding of this scripture.

The woman of Samaria was actually asking Jesus where God was to be found - Jerusalem or Gerizim? His answer was that God is unlimited - He is a Spirit.

Note: The article "a" is omitted in several modern 'versions' of the Bible (e.g. RSV, NASB, NIV, NKJB). This distinction, however, is important and the rendering in the Authorized, King James Version is correct — God is A Spirit, in distinction to all other spirits.

1. What Does This Involve?

"Spirit" is in contrast to "matter." This passage of scripture teaches:

a. God Is Incorporeal (without body).
"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have"- Luke 24:39.

b. God Is Invisible (not seen).


"Who is the image of the invisible God..." - Colossians 1:15.


"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen" - / Timothy 1:17.


See also: Romans 1:20; 1 Timothy 6:16.

Romans 1:20 KJV 1900

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1 Timothy 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

c. God Is Unlimited (not contained).


"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" - Psalm 139:7.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" - 1 Kings 8:27.

2. Some Difficulties To Be Explained

Some would see apparent inconsistencies in the above explanation of God as a Spirit.

a. A number of references to God in the Bible ascribe to Him feet (Hebrews 1:10), fingers (Psalm 8:3), eyes (II Chronicles 16:9; Isaiah 59:1), hands (Numbers 11:23), arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), etc.

Hebrews 1:10 KJV 1900

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Psalm 8:3 KJV 1900

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV 1900

9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Isaiah 59:1 KJV 1900

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Numbers 11:23 KJV 1900

23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV 1900

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms: And he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; And shall say, Destroy them.

How then can we say He is incorporeal?

Answer: Such expressions of God are anthropomorphic. This means that God represents Himself in human terms (for our benefit!) It's the only way we can think of Him!

b. Other references tell us God was seen of men, yet John 1:18 says no man can see God,

Answer: A Spirit can be manifested in visible form. e.g. The dove at Jesus' baptism, the Theophanies. It is the essence of God we cannot see.

3. What Does This Mean?

John 4:24 means that God is not apprehended through our senses (as Charismatic practice seeks to do), but by our spirit.

We worship God in spirit and in truth.

a. In Spirit — as distinguished from a physical place or form.
John 4:20,21; Acts 7:48; 17:24,25.

b. In Truth - as distinguished from false conceptions resulting from imperfect knowledge. John 4:22; 17:17; I John 4:6; Isaiah 8:20.

4. Other Scriptures Declare God To Be Immaterial.

God forbade idolatry on the basis that no man had seen Him, neither was He anything material.

Deuteronomy 4:15–20 KJV 1900

15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: 19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. 20 But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Deuteronomy 4:23 KJV 1900

23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.

C. God is a Person (vs. Pantheism).

"They that worship HIM..." (Not, 'It!) Personality may be described as “self-consciousness" and "self-determination" (will.)

Personality involves three things:

a. Intellect — power of thinking. "I KNOW." e.g. Exodus 3:7.

Exodus 3:7 KJV 1900

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

b. Sensibility — power of feeling. "I FEEL." e.g. Exodus 2:24,25.

Exodus 2:24–25 KJV 1900

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

c. Volition -power of willing.“"I WILL." e.g. Exodus 3:17.

Exodus 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

God has Personality because:

1. He Has Personal Names: [See: page 181]

See, for example: Exodus 3:14; Psalm 23:1; Judges 6:24.\

Exodus 3:14 KJV 1900

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Judges 6:24 KJV 1900

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

2 He ls Contrasted With "Dead" Idols. See: Jeremiah 10:10-16

Jeremiah 10:10–16 KJV 1900

10 But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king: At his wrath the earth shall tremble, And the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, He hath established the world by his wisdom, And hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, And he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, And bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: Every founder is confounded by the graven image: For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: In the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: For he is the former of all things; And Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

3. He Is Addressed Using Personal Pronouns. e.g. "Thee & Thou," "He & Him." e.g. John 17:3; Psalm 16:1,2.

Note: The use of "thee's" and "thou's" is part of the accurate translating work done by the Authorized, King James Version translators — all pronouns beginning with “T" are singular, all pronouns beginning with "Y" ("ye," "you, yours," etc.) are plural. Modern translations often 'mess' this feature up!

4. He Has The Characteristics Of Personality:

a. Grief — Genesis 6:6.

Genesis 6:6 KJV 1900

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

b. Anger - I Kings 11:9.

1 Kings 11:9 KJV 1900

9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

c. Jealousy - Deuteronomy 6:15.

Deuteronomy 6:15 KJV 1900

15 (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

d. Love - Revelation 3:19.

Revelation 3:19 KJV 1900

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

e. Hatred - Proverbs 6:16.

Proverbs 6:16 KJV 1900

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

5. God is the "LAM" and the "I WILL"

Exodus 3:14 KJV 1900

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

"I AM"- implies "self-consciousness."

Exodus 6:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.

"I WILL"- implies "self-determination."

6. He Has A Personal Relationship To The Universe:

a. He created it. This requires interest.

b. He sustains it. This shows concern.

Hebrews 1:3 KJV 1900

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Colossians 1:17 KJV 1900

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

7. He has a personal Relationship with Man.

Man was created for fellowship with his Creator. Only two personalities can have this kind of relationship. e.g. In Salvation — A Father/child relationship.

II. The Nature of God - HIS UNITY (vs. Polytheism, Dualism, Tritheism)

A. The Meaning of the “Unity” of God.

By this we mean a "unity of essence" — not personality.

The fact that God is a Spirit (therefore uncontainable), and the fact that He is omnipresent (everywhere), logically precludes the existence of more than one God.

B. Scripture Declares the Unity of God

The Shema: "

Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

Isaiah 45:5 KJV 1900

5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, There is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

See also: John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:5,6; 1 Timothy 2:5.

John 17:3 KJV 1900

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV 1900

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Ephesians 4:5–6 KJV 1900

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV 1900

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

C. A Note Concerning the Scriptural Use of the Word “One.”

The word "one" can be used in the sense of "compound unity," For example:

Two May Be One:
Genesis 2:24 - "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Many May Be One:
Philippians 2:2— "Fufill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

Although this is not how the Bible teaches the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of the Unity of God neither violates nor contradicts the doctrine of the Godhead.

III. The Nature of God — The Trinity (vs. Unitarianism)

A. The Unity of God and the Trinity of God Contrasted.

Unity = a unity of essence - ONE God!

Trinity = a tri-unity of personality - THREE Persons!

The doctrine of the Trinity is one that we can never fully comprehend - it is to be believed because that is what the Bible teaches.

B. The Doctrine of the Trinity Taught in the Old Testament.

1. Seen In The "Uni-plural" Name For "God."

The Hebrew word translated "God" is "Elohim" which is a plural noun.

(Not that we have to be Hebrew scholars to know this fact.)

Genesis 1:26 KJV 1900

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. Seen In The Appearances Of "The Angel Of The Lord."

These so-called "Theophanies" are preincarnate manifestations of God (Christ)

Carefully study Genesis 22:11.12,15,16 and compare with John 8.56,58

See also: Genesis 16:7-10,13; 18:1,2,13-33; 19:24.

Genesis 22:11 KJV 1900

11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Genesis 22:12 KJV 1900

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Genesis 22:15 KJV 1900

15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

Genesis 22:16 KJV 1900

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

John 8:56 KJV 1900

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

John 8:58 KJV 1900

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

3. Seen In The Work Of The Holy Spirit. For example:

Genesis 1:2 KJV 1900

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Judges 6:34 KJV 1900

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.

C. The Doctrine of the Trinity in the New Testament.

1. Seen In The "Great Commission" The word "name" is singular.

Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2. Seen In The "Apostolic Benediction"

2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV 1900

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

3. Seen At The Baptism Of Christ — The Son in the water, the Holy Spirit descending, the Father's voice from Heaven.

Matthew 3:16–17 KJV 1900

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

4. Seen In The Teachings Of Christ - John 14:16.
4," "The Father," Another Comforter."

John 14:16 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

5. Seen In Paul's Teachings — 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
"Spirit," "Lord," "God."

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

6. Seen In Considerations Of The Deity Of Christ And The Holy Spirit.

a. A Father Who is God - Romans 1:7.

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

b. A Son Who is God - Hebrews 1:8.

Hebrews 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

c. A Spirit Who is God — Acts 5:3,4.

Acts 5:3–4 KJV 1900

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

[This will be studied in greater detail in Unit 3 and Unit 4]

Note: God's workings among men (especially in salvation) may

be viewed as coming: From the Father; By the Son; Through the Spirit.

This is also the case with prayer - Ephesians 2:18.

Ephesians 2:18 KJV 1900

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

D. Observations Concerning the Trinity.

1. The Doctrine Does Not Mean Three Gods - Tritheism.

Remember: ONE God (in essence); THREE Persons.

2. The Bible Teaches Distinct Personalities.

The Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Spirit; etc. See: Hebrews 1:8; John 14:16.

Hebrews 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

John 14:16 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

E. Illustrations of the Trinity.

A number of attempts have been made to illustrate what the Bible means by the Trinity. Because such a doctrine is ultimately inexplicable to the human mind, such attempts are often poor, always inadequate.

1. The Egg:
An egg consists of "shell," "white," and "yolk." This illustration is invalid because each component by itself is not an egg.

2. Human Relationships.

a. I am a man.

b. I am a father to my son.

c. I am a son to my father.

d. Thus I am "3 in 1" — a man, a father, a son.

This illustration fails because it does not teach three persons, only three relationships — and could well be used by cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses to actually explain away the Trinity.

3. Water - H20.

This illustration comes closest to the truth. Water can exist in three states — solid (ice), liquid, and gas (steam). It can exist in all three states at one time - or, under the right conditions, as a single phase entity (totally solid, total gaseous). Whatever the state, it is all the same essence (H20). Ice is H20 whether in the presence of water or vapor, and so forth.

F. The Key Scripture on the Trinity.

The clearest passage teaching the doctrine of the Trinity is the one least used!

John 5:7 KJV 1900

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

The doctrine of the Trinity is plainly taught here — but we are told IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE BIBLE TO BEGIN WITH!

e.g. The Scofield Reference Bible has a marginal note: "It is generally agreed that u.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted." (Page 1325)

All modern translations either omit the verse — or, like the RSV and the NASB deceitfully divide verse 6 to create a verse 7.

Why? Because the verse is not found in the most ancient MSS — notably Sinaiticus (K) and Vaticanus (B). These manuscripts are the darlings of the textual critics, and provide much of the textual basis (New Testament) for modern versions and translations.

This passage is referred to as the "Johannine Comma."

Many Baptists have been deceived into shelving the verse - instead of preaching it as the pure Word of God.

The student should note the following:

1. There is satisfactory manuscript evidence for the verse's authenticity:

It is found in the Latin Vulgate, and therefore in a great many old Latin manuscripts. For example, it is:

a. Found in mss. 61, the Montfort Manuscript.

b. Found in codex Ravianus (88 and 629).

c. Found in the Speculum (m).

d. Found in mss. r (Old Latin, 5TH Century A.D.).

e. Cited by Tertullian (160-230 A.D.).

f. Cited by Cyprian (200-258 A.D.).

g. Quoted by Priscillian (d.385).

h. Quoted by Cassiodorus (480-570 A.D.).

i. Used by several African Latin writers to defend the doctrine of the Trinity against Arian Vandals, 5TH Century A.D.

From these facts, we conclude that the preservation of this passage came through the Latin stream, rather than the Byzantine stream.

2. There are four possibilities as to why this passage is missing in many manuscripts:

a. The passage was never there to begin with, but was deliberately added by Trinitarians to support their doctrine. Hence it is not found in most Greek manuscripts. (This is the standard Jehovah's Witness argument.)

b. The passage was never there to begin with, but was added by a well-meaning scribe to clarify the Trinitarian interpretation of verse
8, who saw the "spirit" = Father, "water" = Spirit, and "blood" =
Son.

c. The passage was deliberately omitted by Unitarians (Arians) to support their doctrine. Since most of the Christological controversies raged in the East, this would account for the lack of Greek manuscript witness.

The passage was accidentally omitted through a scribal error called homoioteleuton — "mistakes of the eye due to verses with similar endings."

The internal evidence from I John supports the authority of the disputed passage:

* John wrote his epistle near the end of the first century A.D. with the purpose of warning against the gnostic heresies. See: 2:26; 4:1-3.

* Cerinthus was a noted Gnostic (contemporary with the apostle John) who taught that Jesus was an ordinary man with whom the supreme on Logos united at his baptism and departed at his death.

* The Docetists were a group of Gnostics who denied the reality of the humanity of Christ.

* If the passage is kept in the text, then we have the witness of God. verse 7, and the witness of men, verse 8. (cf. verse 9) Verse 7 then refutes the Cerinthian, for it declares the unity of three distinct Persons in one essence, while verse 8 refutes the docetist by acknowledging the real humanity of Jesus Christ. (cf. I John 1:1; 4:2; 5:6; John 19:34,35.)

3. The Evidence Of Greek Grammar Supports The Passage:

Perhaps the most convincing argument for the authority of this passage is seen from the difficulty that arises with the passage's grammatical construction when the words are left out.

a. The words omitted by most translations are, " ...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth....

b. The mutilated verse then reads, "For there are three that bear record... the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

c. The Greek article "hoi" is masculine but the nouns "pneuma" (spirit), "hudor" (water), and "haima" (blood), are all neuter in gender. This would be a blatant error of Greek syntax - neuter subjects do not take a masculine antecedent.

The usual answer to this difficulty is that the spirit, the water, and the blood, are all personalized and therefore can have a masculine article. However, this is not an answer either because the previous person is "Spirit" in verse 6, and "pneuma" is neuter! The right sense can only be made here when the disputed words are kept in the Word of God.

Only then does the masculine numeral (treis — three), article (hoi), and participle (marturountes —bear witness), relate to the masculine nouns "pater" (Father) and “logos" (Word). Only then is the rule of Greek syntax: "The masculines among the group control the gender over a neuter connected with them" satisfied.

d. If the disputed words are omitted, the flow of words gives a meaningless repetition from verse 6 to 8, and the passage seems incomplete.

If the disputed words are omitted, the literal statement of verse 8 (“and the three to the one are”) begs the question, “who, what, one?” Without the disputed words in place. there is no antecedent.

e. If this passage was inserted by some Trinitarian to prove his belief, why would he not use the standard Trinitarian formula, “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?” Why use the term “”Word”

For the reasons cited above, coupled with the doctrine of preservation, we confidently conclude that I John 5:7 is genuine and has been providentially preserved against the raging attacks of Gnostic and Arian heretics through the early centuries of Christian history.