1 John 5:20
(‘This is the true God, and eternal life’)
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:20 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
(1 John 5:20 NKJV Emphasis mine)
THE ADVOCATES of the doctrine that Christ is God often use 1 John 5:20 to support their claim; however, upon close analysis of the verse reveals not only the difficulties that Trinitarians face in trying to prove that Christ is the “TRUE ONE” mentioned in the passage but grapple with the inconsistencies that arise with their claim.
Trinitarians argue that in the above passage, when Apostle John wrote, “THIS IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE.” it refers to Jesus Christ. However, if we are to submit to this erroneous belief that Jesus Christ is the true God, then it would appear that Jesus Christ has a Son who is also named Jesus Christ!
Therefore, it is clear that our Lord Jesus Christ is not the “true One” referred to as the true God whom Christ came or was sent by God His Father to give us an understanding in order to receive eternal life.
For a closer examination, let us break this into portions:
“And we know that the Son of God is come…”
So who came? Was it God or the Son of God? It was the Son of God!
But why did the Son of God come?
“…and hath given us an understanding.”
So why did the Son of God come? It is clear ― to give us an understanding!
So what is this understanding that will be given to us by the Son of God for which is the very reason why He came?
Let us continue…
1
that we may know him that is true;
2
…and we are in him that is true,
3
…even in his… (Son Jesus Christ).
Therefore, the “Him” that Christ is introducing as the “true One” is His Father because the true One that Christ is introducing — has a Son! So, it is clear Christ is not the “true One” being introduced in this passage. The verse then continues and states after the period in the KJV that the “true One” is the true God and eternal life:
“This is the true God, and eternal life.”
So who is the true God that means life eternal? Let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ since it was He who came to introduce the “true One.” Let us read what Christ has to say about this:
“After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father…
“And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent—Jesus the Messiah.”
(Reference: John 17:1,3 ISV, Emphasis Mine)
It is evident that the “true One” introduced by Christ as the one true God, which signifies “eternal life,” is none other than His Father. Christ unequivocally professed that the true God is the Father and not Himself. This is apparent in His use of the pronoun “you” and NOT “me” when referring to the Father. In addition, the absence of the Holy Spirit in the passage further negates the complete doctrine of the Trinity. Furthermore, Christ distinguished Himself from the Father by identifying Himself as the one sent by His Father. By adhering to this truth, we are simply accepting Christ’s word as clearly and plainly as He Himself put it.
What other collaborated work of scholars have to say about 1 John 5:7 from “The Racovians Catechism”:
“What answer do you make to the third testimony, from 1 John v.20, where Christ is said to be called the TRUE God?… Now I deny that the words ‘this is the true God’ refer to the Son of God… spoken of in this passage…. Neither would it all serve our adversaries, who would have the words ‘this is the true God’ applied to Christ, that he had been mentioned just before; for relative pronouns, such as THIS, &c. do not always refer to the nearest antecedent, but frequently to the principle subject matter under discussion, although more remote… And besides, if these words, ‘this is the true God,‘ are referred to Jesus Christ, John would assert that Jesus Christ was the son of himself, for he calls him the Son of that true God.”
(Reference: The Racovians Catechism By Thomas Rees, F.S.A., London : Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster Row, 1962., pp. 78-80, Emphasis Mine)
IN CONCLUSION
1
The first part of the verse states, “the Son of God is come.” This shows that the God being referred to in the verse has a Son and it is the Son who has come. Now, if Christ were the “true One” or shall we say, “the true God and eternal life” being referred to in the verse, then who would be Christ’s Son who has come? Absurd, isn’t it? Therefore, it would be really perplexing and odd to say that Christ is “the true God” referred to in the verse. Clearly, Christ is distinct from God, for He is the Son of God, and as such, He could NOT be “the only true God”.
2
Many scholars have rejected that Christ is the “true One” referred to in 1 John 5:20. They disagree with the argument that since Christ is the closest antecedent to the word “This,” therefore, it refers to Christ as “the true God and eternal life.” However, grammatically speaking, this Trinitarian claim is very disingenuous and incorrect; in their obsessions, they are simply not being honest. The antecedent is not the nearest preceding word in both English and Greek. The antecedent is rather the most recent subject under discussion. Therefore, Trinitarians are just resorting to wishful thinking and dishonest conduct for the sake of their doctrinal traditions.
The mere fact that the “true One” that Christ came to introduce has a Son validates that the “true One” is none other than the Father unless our Trinitarian friends would like to insert that Apostle John is claiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of Himself. Oh, the irony of such absurdity. A position that even Trinitarians can not explain away.
Grammatical Notes
The truth of 1 John 5:20 that Trinitarians deny:
The Problems with the Trinitarian Claim
1. Houtos
The word translated as “This” is the Greek word houtos. The word “this” requires an antecedent. This word is used to refer to the subject under discussion — something which has been mentioned or will be immediately mentioned. An antecedent is a noun or noun phrase to which the word “this” is referring. Trinitarians routinely suggest that the nearest aforementioned person is always the most likely antecedent to the word “This” (houtos). However, grammatically speaking, this Trinitarian claim is very disingenuous and incorrect; in their obsessions, they are simply not being honest. The antecedent is not the nearest preceding word in both English and Greek. The antecedent is rather the most recent subject under discussion. Therefore, Trinitarians are just resorting to wishful thinking and dishonest conduct for the sake of their doctrinal traditions.
2. The Ludicrous Implications of the Trinitarian Claim
The Trinitarian claim is that we should consider the nearest preceding word to “this” to be the antecedent to the word “This.” Notice carefully what happens if we use the Trinitarian method in these two verses from John:
“Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? “This”(houtos) is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22 NRSV, Emphasis Mine)
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. “This” (houtos) is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7 NASB, Emphasis Mine)
Here are two passages, one from this selfsame letter of Apostle John, and one from his next letter. If we used the same Trinitarian line of reasoning for these two verses, we would need to conclude that the referent for the word “This” in 1 John 2:22 is Christ, and we would therefore have Apostle John saying that Christ is the antichrist and the One who denies the Father and the Son. We would also need to conclude at 2 John 1:7 that the referent for “This” is the flesh of Jesus, and we would therefore have Apostle John saying that Jesus’ flesh is the deceiver and the antichrist. The Trinitarian line of reasoning results in preposterous implications.
ANALYSIS OF THE FACTS
3. The Greek word alēthinos (ἀληθινός)
The Greek word for “truth” is alētheia. The Greek word for “true” is alēthēs and refers to something objectively true. The Greek word alētheuō means to tell the truth. The Greek word alēthōs is usually translated as “truly.” The word alēthinos is used in a variety of ways in Scripture and essentially refers to something, or someone, as inherently true.
The following is a more literal translation:
“And we know that the Son of God comes and has given us understanding, to know the True One, and we are in the True one, in His son Jesus Christ. This is the True God and eternal life.”
Basic reading comprehension should be enough for most honest people to see that the True God is the Father who has a Son, in whom the Son came to introduce as the “true One” — The Father as the One and ONLY true God, which means life eternal (John 17:1.3). But apparently, basic reading comprehension doesn’t work in the Trinitarian world.
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ:
The Truth about God and Jesus Christ
SUPPORTERS OF THE BELIEF in the divinity of Christ, also known as the Christ-is-God or the God-man doctrine, assert that God exists as a trinity consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although they are three in nature and considered distinct beings, proponents maintain that they form a single God. The concept of the Trinity lacks explicit biblical endorsement; thus, proponents often argue that it represents a profound mystery beyond human comprehension and should be accepted by faith alone.
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