1 John 5:6

¶ 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.

This {G3778} is {G2076} he that came {G2064} by {G1223} water {G5204} and {G2532} blood {G129}, even Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547}; not {G3756} by {G1722} water {G5204} only {G3440}, but {G235} by {G1722} water {G5204} and {G2532} blood {G129}. And {G2532} it is {G2076} the Spirit {G4151} that beareth witness {G3140}, because {G3754} the Spirit {G4151} is {G2076} truth {G225}.

He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah — not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.

1 John 5:6 is a foundational verse that powerfully affirms the true identity and saving work of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the reality of His earthly ministry and sacrificial death, attested by the Holy Spirit.

Context

The Apostle John, writing towards the end of the first century, was addressing a nascent form of heresy known as Gnosticism, specifically a variant called Cerinthianism (named after Cerinthus) or early Docetism. These false teachings claimed that the divine Christ-spirit descended upon the human Jesus at His baptism (the "water") but departed from Him before His crucifixion (the "blood"). This effectively separated Jesus' humanity from His divinity and denied the reality of His suffering and death. John vehemently refutes this, asserting that Jesus Christ came by both "water and blood," meaning His divine and human natures were inseparable throughout His life, ministry, and saving work on the cross.

Key Themes

  • The Full Reality of Jesus' Ministry and Atonement: The phrase "came by water and blood" underscores the completeness of Jesus' identity and mission. The "water" is widely interpreted as referring to His baptism, marking the public inauguration of His ministry and His identification with humanity (Matthew 3:16). The "blood" unequivocally points to His sacrificial death on the cross, the means by which He secured salvation and cleansing for sins (Hebrews 9:22). John insists that both aspects – the beginning of His public ministry and the completion of His atoning work – were essential and real.
  • The Witness of the Holy Spirit: The verse states, "And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth." The Holy Spirit provides divine validation and testimony to the truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished. This witness is internal, affirming the truth to believers' hearts, and external, through the Spirit's work in the world and through the inspired Scriptures. As the "Spirit is truth," His testimony is absolutely reliable and infallible, providing a firm foundation for faith (John 16:13).
  • Assurance of Salvation: By affirming the historical reality of Jesus' life, death, and the Spirit's testimony, John provides believers with solid ground for their faith and assurance of salvation. It combats any notion that Jesus' work was illusory or incomplete.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "water and blood" (Greek: hudati kai haimati) is central. While the primary interpretation for "water" is baptism and "blood" is the cross, some scholars also note the literal outflow of water and blood from Jesus' side when pierced on the cross (John 19:34), which serves as a powerful physical testament to the reality of His death. Regardless, the core message is the undeniable reality of Jesus' physical incarnation, His public ministry, and His atoning sacrifice.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 John 5:6 serves as a powerful reminder of the historical and theological bedrock of Christian faith. It reassures us that our salvation is founded not on myth or mere spiritual concepts, but on the real, verifiable events of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. The presence and testimony of the Holy Spirit within us continue to confirm these truths, providing inner conviction and guiding us into a deeper understanding of God's plan. This verse encourages us to stand firm against any teachings that diminish the full humanity or deity of Jesus or the efficacy of His sacrifice, relying instead on the complete and true witness of the Spirit.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 9:14

    How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • John 16:13

    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

  • Mark 14:24

    And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

  • Hebrews 12:24

    And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

  • John 14:17

    [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • Revelation 7:14

    And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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