1 John Structural Analysis
Elizabeth Marrero
NT 113: Paul and the Early Church
September 22, 2014
NT 113: Interpretive Essay, Stage One
1 John 5:1-12 (NRSV)
Scripture Text:
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[a] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent [c] loves the child.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
5:3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,
5:4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
5:5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
5:7 There are three that testify:[b]
5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree[b] [c].
5:9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.
5:10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God[d] have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Footnotes: The text contains a minimum amount of variations. The variations are equivalent in meaning and do not affect the message of the text. The ESV does not report variations in text for this pericope.
[a] 1 John 5:1 Or the Messiah (NRSV, NASB)
[c] 1 John 5:1 OR Lit one who begets (NASB)
[c] 1 John 5:8 Lit for the one thing (NASB)
Text Problem:
[b] 1 John 5:7-8 Verse 7 presents a variation in the text. The NRSV, NASB and the ESV
NT 113: Paul and the Early Church
September 22, 2014
NT 113: Interpretive Essay, Stage One
1 John 5:1-12 (NRSV)
Scripture Text:
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[a] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent [c] loves the child.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
5:3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,
5:4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
5:5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
5:7 There are three that testify:[b]
5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree[b] [c].
5:9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.
5:10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God[d] have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Footnotes: The text contains a minimum amount of variations. The variations are equivalent in meaning and do not affect the message of the text. The ESV does not report variations in text for this pericope.
[a] 1 John 5:1 Or the Messiah (NRSV, NASB)
[c] 1 John 5:1 OR Lit one who begets (NASB)
[c] 1 John 5:8 Lit for the one thing (NASB)
Text Problem:
[b] 1 John 5:7-8 Verse 7 presents a variation in the text. The NRSV, NASB and the ESV