1 A twofold or manifold trope. See Append, on the figure. — E.
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as before lie bad put the spirit in the third place, he now puts it in the first place, according to the natural order. The spirit, as was be- fore said, bore witness before the water and the blood ; and the spirit bears witness even without the testimony of the water and the blood, but the water and the blood never bear witness without the spirit. — xa/ oi rpsTg sig to sv siotv, and these three agree in one [concur towards one end]) The Prophet, the Baptist, and the Apostle are equally of the same earthly nature of themselves (comp, are one , 1 Cor. iii. 8), and are ordained altogether to one end , to testify of J esus Christ, as of Him who is come into the world. Comp, thcu iig ri , Luke v. 17. To sv, with the article, denotes not so much one , as the same thing.
Does this interpretation of the 7 th verse seem somewhat weak ? This complaint will presently be of service to our argument.
8. Kcci rpsfg stffiv oi /xapTvpo uvreg, and there are three that hear wit- ness) The testimony of the spirit, and the water, and the blood, by a remarkable gradation and addition of strength (Epitasis), is cor- roborated by the additional testimony of three wTho give greater tes- timony. Comp, altogether John iii. 8, 11. — h ru> ovpuvti, in heaven) See below. — 6 liarrip, the Father) Under this name the name of God is also understood ; as under the name of the Word (respecting which, however, see what shortly follows), the Son is understood ; according to the nature of the relatives. Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 28. — 6 A byog, the Word) The name, Word , is remarkably adapted to the testimony. The Word testifies respecting Himself, as respecting the Son of God. Apocal. i. 5, xix. 13. Some of the Fathers in this place write Filius {the Son), according to the more frequent usage of Scripture. And even the Florentine and Beutlingensian Latin Manuscripts have this reading (Filius). — to Uvsv/xa., the Spirit) In this passage, and everywhere throughout the Epistle, John, when speaking of the Holy Spirit, understands the epithet Holy. Jesus Christ, before His passion, spake openly of His own testimony and that of the Father: there is added, especially after His glorification, the testimony of the Holy Spirit : ch. ii. 27 ; John xv. 26; Acts v. 32 ; Bom. viii. 16. Wherefore, as before a pair of witnesses was urged, John viii. 17, 18, so now there is a Trinity. — xai oItoi oi rpeTg sv siffi , and these three are one) The preceding verse has, and these three agree in one : now it is said, these three are one. There is a carefully weighed difference of expression, although in other places tig is either inserted or omitted indifferently. These three are one : just as the twro, the Father and the Son, are one. The Spirit is