1 john 5:6 - This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
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What does "1 john 5:6" mean?
This verse in 1 John 5:6 is a key passage in understanding the nature of Jesus Christ and how we come to know Him. It's a bit dense, so let's break it down:
"This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ..."
This points to Jesus as the one being discussed. The phrase "came by water and blood" refers to significant events in Jesus' life, likely:
Water: His baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). This publicly inaugurated Jesus' ministry.
Blood: His crucifixion and sacrificial death on the cross. This is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
The phrase connects both Jesus' incarnation and obedience to His mission culminating in death.
"...not with the water only, but with the water and the blood."
This emphasizes the importance of both the baptism and the crucifixion. Some believe there was a heretical teaching at the time that Jesus was just human until the baptism, and then became divine. This verse refutes that; He was both divine AND human the entire time.
Both the baptism (his identification with humanity) and the death on the cross (his sacrifice for humanity) are essential for salvation.
"It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth."
The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. The Spirit confirms that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that His sacrifice is effective for the forgiveness of sins.
The Spirit's testimony is reliable because the Spirit is truth. The Spirit doesn't lie or mislead, and He is the one who guides believers into all truth (John 16:13).
In essence, the verse is saying:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to fulfill God's plan of salvation. He identified with humanity through baptism, and He offered the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins through His death on the cross. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth and makes it known to those who believe.
Key Interpretations and Theological Implications:
Emphasis on Jesus' Humanity and Divinity: The verse highlights both the human aspects of Jesus' life (water representing His earthly ministry and baptism) and the divine aspects (blood representing His sacrificial death as the Son of God).
Importance of Both Life and Death: Both the life of Jesus (symbolized by the water of baptism) and His death on the cross are essential for salvation. The death makes atonement possible, while the life demonstrates His obedience and perfect righteousness.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the key to understanding and accepting the truth about Jesus. The Spirit guides believers, reveals the truth of the Gospel, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.
Combating Heresy: Many scholars believe that this passage was written in part to combat early heresies that denied the full humanity or divinity of Jesus, or that minimized the importance of His death on the cross.
Ultimately, this verse encourages believers to embrace the complete picture of Jesus Christ – fully human, fully divine, and the one who brings salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit illuminates this truth and empowers believers to live in accordance with it.
1 john 5:6 - This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
What does "1 john 5:6" mean?
This verse in 1 John 5:6 is a key passage in understanding the nature of Jesus Christ and how we come to know Him. It's a bit dense, so let's break it down:
"This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ..."
This points to Jesus as the one being discussed. The phrase "came by water and blood" refers to significant events in Jesus' life, likely:
Water: His baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). This publicly inaugurated Jesus' ministry.
Blood: His crucifixion and sacrificial death on the cross. This is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
The phrase connects both Jesus' incarnation and obedience to His mission culminating in death.
"...not with the water only, but with the water and the blood."
This emphasizes the importance of both the baptism and the crucifixion. Some believe there was a heretical teaching at the time that Jesus was just human until the baptism, and then became divine. This verse refutes that; He was both divine AND human the entire time.
Both the baptism (his identification with humanity) and the death on the cross (his sacrifice for humanity) are essential for salvation.
"It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth."
The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. The Spirit confirms that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that His sacrifice is effective for the forgiveness of sins.
The Spirit's testimony is reliable because the Spirit is truth. The Spirit doesn't lie or mislead, and He is the one who guides believers into all truth (John 16:13).
In essence, the verse is saying:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to fulfill God's plan of salvation. He identified with humanity through baptism, and He offered the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins through His death on the cross. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth and makes it known to those who believe.
Key Interpretations and Theological Implications:
Emphasis on Jesus' Humanity and Divinity: The verse highlights both the human aspects of Jesus' life (water representing His earthly ministry and baptism) and the divine aspects (blood representing His sacrificial death as the Son of God).
Importance of Both Life and Death: Both the life of Jesus (symbolized by the water of baptism) and His death on the cross are essential for salvation. The death makes atonement possible, while the life demonstrates His obedience and perfect righteousness.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the key to understanding and accepting the truth about Jesus. The Spirit guides believers, reveals the truth of the Gospel, and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God.
Combating Heresy: Many scholars believe that this passage was written in part to combat early heresies that denied the full humanity or divinity of Jesus, or that minimized the importance of His death on the cross.
Ultimately, this verse encourages believers to embrace the complete picture of Jesus Christ – fully human, fully divine, and the one who brings salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit illuminates this truth and empowers believers to live in accordance with it.