why did the heavenly witnesses drop from Greek mss

[Steven Avery]

1 John 5:7 (AV)
For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and these three are one.

A number of fine scholars, generally Trinitarian, have theorized that the verse dropped out of the Greek manuscript line largely because the Orthodox (who were faced with a split manuscript line) preferred the text without “and these three are one”. In this textual theory the phrase was seen as too “Sabellian”, a denial of distinct persons in the Godhead.

The original split line may have been caused by homoeoteleuton, eye skip, die to the similarity of the heavenly and earthly witnesses verse.

Pure Bible Forum
scholars theorizing that the Sabellian controversies contributed to the Greek ms line drop
https://www.purebibleforum.com/index...line-drop.671/

[Michael The Disciple]

I read that years back. Makes sense to me because the first time a Oneness spoke to me about the doctrine they used it as a proof text.

[Scott Pitta]

It was identified as being late in the manuscript transmission. It has nothing to do with theology.

This is a textual criticism issue, not a theological one.

[1 God]

I like the verse. It bolsters the doctrine of 3 manifestations...

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by 1 God

I like the verse. It bolsters the doctrine of 3 manifestations...

A nice contrast to the trinity. Also it was quoted as early as 250ad I think by Cyprian.

[1 God]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

A nice contrast to the trinity. Also it was quoted as early as 250ad I think by Cyprian.

Yes, it is legitimate. The following verse is also in the context of manifestations.(Spirit/water/blood)

[Steven Avery]

Great responses, friends!

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I read that years back. Makes sense to me because the first time a Oneness spoke to me about the doctrine they used it as a proof text.

Yes, I have a close lady friend for whom it was a beacon of light, dynamite, after many years of some trin pentecostal confusion. It solidified the whole concept that God is one (the Shema). And then led to the born again experience. She had been baptized in a stream in the titles earlier.

Originally Posted by 1 God

I like the verse. It bolsters the doctrine of 3 manifestations...

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

A nice contrast to the trinity. Also it was quoted as early as 250ad I think by Cyprian.

The Cyprian reference in the Unity of the Church uses the verse clearly. The textual critics cry about it and try to make up stuff to disconnect the clear usage.

Cyprian quoted John 10:30 and added,
"Et iterum de Patre et Filio et Spiritu Sancto scriptum est—Et hi tres unum sunt"
"And again it is written of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—and these three are one."
(De Unitate Ecclesiæ, "On the Unity of the Church", vi).

Originally Posted by 1 God

Yes, it is legitimate. The following verse is also in the context of manifestations.(Spirit/water/blood)

[Steven Avery]

Georgios Babiniotis affirms heavenly witnesses, with nod to Eugenius Voulgaris
https://www.purebibleforum.com/index...oulgaris.1472/

[Steven Avery]

Heavenly Witnesses
Potamius of Lisbon
(Greek: Ποτάμιος, fl. 343–360 CE)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potamius

"He was part of the Council of Sirmium in 357, in which he defended Arianism"

Lots of nuances as to his positions over the years. Covered in the Wiki article somewhat.
**** Another truly amazing evidence.

Decades before Priscillian.
Even writing to **** Athanasius **** (and Athanasius wrote to Potamius).
Potamius is writing, again and again, Potamius is looking at the Johannine Epistles and writing phrases like this:

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Letter on the Substance of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

3. With good reason John asserts:
'and the three of them are one'

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Likewise John says: "And the three of them are one.."

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As John says: 'And the three of them are one'

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And one of the four extant spots is to ... Athanasius!

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Potamius, Bishop of Lisbon (circa 355-366 AD)
https://www.purebibleforum.com/index...vr7U#post-7287.

Plus this shows you the complexities in the 4th century of the doctrinal issues, and that various groups might want to simply take the Greek text without the verse.

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While I knew a bit about this a decade ago, researching with Michael Maynard, the new book:

The Witness of God is Greater
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YxG...owCx8BC9YPoYKA

brings forth the texts in English!

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Facebook, the Pure Bible group, has some more notes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pure...5287901229735/

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Steven Avery
Dutchess County, NY USA