Steven Avery
Administrator
From Bill Brown's An Evaluation of the Internal Support for The Comma Johanneum
Another alternative sees the mismatched genders as an example of personification. Marshall sees the usage of the neuter noun (“Spirit") in 1 John 5:8 as an example of personification, viewing this passage as a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 19:15, where witnesses must speak in unity and be masculine.60 There are several instances in the New Testament where personification occurs.61
60 I. Howard Marshall, The Epistles of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 237.
61 These include: Matt 18:16; John 8:17-18; 2 Cor 13:1; 1 Tim 5:19; Heb 10:28-29 and 1 John 5:8-9.
One huge problem with this theory is verse 6...
To be continued
Another alternative sees the mismatched genders as an example of personification. Marshall sees the usage of the neuter noun (“Spirit") in 1 John 5:8 as an example of personification, viewing this passage as a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 19:15, where witnesses must speak in unity and be masculine.60 There are several instances in the New Testament where personification occurs.61
60 I. Howard Marshall, The Epistles of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 237.
61 These include: Matt 18:16; John 8:17-18; 2 Cor 13:1; 1 Tim 5:19; Heb 10:28-29 and 1 John 5:8-9.
One huge problem with this theory is verse 6...
To be continued