1 John 5:9 BSB — MannaFest

1 John 5:9

Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.

KJV

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

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Commentary

4 voices

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 John (1107)

Having said this, he confirms his words with a proof from the lesser. If we accept human testimony about something, should we not all the more justly accept the greater testimony, from God? For this testimony about the Son of God, that is Christ, is …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

If we receive the testimony of men - As we do continually, and must do in a thousand instances. The testimony of God is greater - Of higher authority, and much more worthy to be received; namely, this very testimony which God the Father, together with the Word and the Spirit, hath testified of the Son, as the saviour of the world.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Here is the most excellent abridgment or breviate of the motives to faith in Christ, of the credentials the Saviour brings with him, and of the evidences of our Christianity, that is to be found, I think, in the book of God, upon which single account, even waiving the doctrine of the divine Trinity, the text is worthy of all acceptation.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1213: “Faith, And The Witness Upon Which It Is Founded” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1875)

YOU observe that I have somewhat corrected the translation. The same word is employed in every case in the original, but for the sake of variety of expression the translators have used four different words in our version and so, instead of improving the sense, which, indeed, never can be in the case of the Holy Spirit's writing, they have rather darkened the meaning. Put the word, "witness," or, "testimony," in each case, and you get the true meaning.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

25 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἰ	ei	If	G1487 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
μαρτυρίαν	marturian	testimony	G3141 →
τῶν	tōn	<the>	G3588 →
ἀνθρώπων	anthrōpōn	of men	G444 →
λαμβάνομεν,	lambanomen	we receive,	G2983 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
μαρτυρία	marturia	testimony	G3141 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
θεοῦ	theou	of God	G2316 →
μείζων	meizōn	greater	G3173 →
ἐστίν,	estin	is,	G1510 →
ὅτι	hoti	For	G3754 →
αὕτη	hautē	this	G3778 →
ἐστὶν	estin	is	G1510 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
μαρτυρία	marturia	testimony	G3141 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
θεοῦ	theou	of God	G2316 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
μεμαρτύρηκεν	memarturēken	He has testified	G3140 →
περὶ	peri	concerning	G4012 →
τοῦ	tou	the	G3588 →
υἱοῦ	huiou	Son	G5207 →
αὐτοῦ.	autou	of Him.	G846 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
leads to
- Matthew 3:17
  And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- Matthew 12:18
  “Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Mark 9:7
  Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- Deuteronomy 18:15
  The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.
Through
1 John 5:10
Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that…
leads to
- Romans 8:16
  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Through
Acts 17:31
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
leads to
- Matthew 25:31–46
  When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
- 2 Peter 3:7
  And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- Romans 2:16
  on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.

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About 1 John

The Last Supper — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 John: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 John 5 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 John

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 John