Does the Bible claim Three are One, or Three are Witnesses?

The Trinity defines one God as three distinct Persons - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Put simply, "one God in three persons". Each of these persons has their own will, personality and perform different roles. To support the Trinity, the Bible verse most quoted is 1 John 5:7.

The table compares the verse 1John 5:7 and how it has been translated across 51 Bible versions.

Three Are One 1 John 5:7	Three Are Witnesses 1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One 1JOHN 5:7
The "Three are One" verse was spread by the King James Bible (KJV) translation. Manuscript evidence questions the authenticity of this verse in eight manuscripts from the 16th century onwards; the earliest is Erasmus' Greek NT published in 1516. Before 1516, the earliest reference appears in the Codex 221 manuscript (from 10th century) which includes the text "These Three are One" as a side note in the margin; that was later added into the main Bible text by scribes. Bible.org
51 Bible Translations
So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One; Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 1954	And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. American Standard Version
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one BRG Bible 2012	For there are three witnesses: Amplified Bible 2015
And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition	The three are testifying— Common English Bible 2011
For there are three, which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1599 Geneva Bible	There are three witnesses — Common English Bible; Complete Jewish Bible 1998
For there are three witnesses in heaven—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one International Standard Version 1995	In fact, there are three who tell about it. Contemporary English Version 1995
For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one Jubilee Bible 2000	For they that bear witness are three: Darby Translation
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one King James Version	Because the ones testifying are three: Disciples' Literal New Testament
For there are three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one 21st Century King James Version 1994	So there are three witnesses that tell us about Jesus: Easy-to-Read Version 2006
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one Authorized (King James) Version	For there are three that testify: English Standard Version 2001
There are three who testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and the three are one Modern English Version 2014	For there are three that testify: English Standard Version (Anglicised) 2001
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one New King James Version 1982	So [or For] there are three witnesses [who testify/bear witness] Expanded Bible 2011
There are three Who speak of this in heaven: the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit. These three are one New Life Version 1969	There are three witnesses: God's Word Translation 1995
There are three in heaven who prove it is true. They are the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one Worldwide English (New Testament) 1969	There are three witnesses: Good News Translation 1992
For three be, that give witnessing in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost [For three be, that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, or Son, and the Holy Ghost]; and these three be one Wycliffe Bible 2001	For there are three that testify: Holman Christian Standard Bible 1999
15 because three are who are testifying [in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these -- the three -- are one Young's Literal Translation	15 So there are three witnesses: International Children's Bible 1986
	For there are three that testify Lexham English Bible 2012
	For there are three that testify: Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament 2011
	There are three witnesses: Names of God Bible 2011
	So there are three that testify New American Bible (Revised Edition) 1970
	For there are three that testify: New American Standard Bible 1960
	So there are three witnesses: New Century Version 2005
	For there are three that testify New English Translation 1996
	There are three that are witnesses about Jesus. New International Reader's Version 1995
	For there are three that testify: New International Version 1973
	For there are three that testify: New International Version UK 1979
	So we have these three witnesses— New Living Translation 1996
	There are three that testify: New Revised Standard Version 1989
	There are three that testify: New Revised Standard Version (Anglicised) 1989
	There are three that testify: New Revised Standard Version (Anglicised Catholic Edition) 1989
	There are three that testify: New Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) 1989
	Because there are shloshah giving solemn eidus: Orthodox Jewish Bible 2002
	And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. Revised Standard Version 1946
	And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) 1965
	And we know he is, because God said so with a voice from heaven when Jesus was baptized, and again as he was facing death—yes, not only at his baptism but also as he faced death.* And the Holy Spirit, forever truthful, says it too. So we have these three witnesses: the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the voice from heaven at Christ's baptism, and the voice before he died.* And they all say the same thing: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.* MSG Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement. Living Bible 1971
	So there are three testifying witnesses: The Voice 2012
	36 For there are three who testify World English Bible
29% (or 15 versions from 51) Support Trinity Use the 'THREE ARE ONE' wording	71% (or 36 versions from 51) DO NOT support Trinity Use the 'THREE WITNESS' wording

Author: Guest • Updated: 02 May 2018

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