Lessons

The lesson on July 4, 2021 was part 4 of the “Bible, Inspiration and Preservation” study.  This lesson showed a specific example of how an event in history impacted the so-called neutral texts in relation to the passage in 1 John 5:1-8 KJV.  This passage is one of the strongest in the testimony of the trinity, yet most Christian scholars do not use it.  We take time to look at the external and internal evidence that puts those verses there.  This is commonly referred to as “Comma Johanneum”.  The bold text is the Johannine Comma: 1 John 5:7-8 KJV “7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. In conclusion, we see that the historical attack by Emperor Diocletian from AD 284-312 who wanted to wipe out the Christian faith by destroying the manuscripts. (His wife Prisca and daughter Valeria converted to Christianity).  Secondly, when Constantine made himself high priest over the church – which was an unholy union between church and state – he at the Council of Nicea AD 325 wanted to remove the Deity of Christ to promote himself as the head of the church. Finally, Constantine commissioned Eusebius of Caesarea to make 50 copies of the NT. He was a student of Origen and Origen’s theology fueled the Arian controversy (which is the belief that Christ is a god, not God in the Flesh)  Jerome used Eusebius’ works to produce Latin Vulgate (which omits the Comma Johanneum).  The scripture reading was from 1 John 5:1-8 KJV

“1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”