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 context - We mentioned last week of the ambiguity of meaning
between "water" and "blood" which precedes and influences today’s
text. (1) Water = Christian baptism, blood = eucharist (Jn 6:53-56); (2) Water =
Jesus’ own baptism, blood = Jesus’ crucifixion; (3) Water and blood collectively
= the death of Jesus, from whose side water flowed. Such are "testimonies" that
God has given about his Son. [1]
theology-in-formation - Today’s interpreter would wish a fully
developed christology from this epistle, but 1st John reflects theology in formation. What
the writer does appeal to is the Spirit who is at work within the church and the need for
the Spirit’s testimony to be coordinated with other resources for Christian judgment.
"In 1 John the essential criteria are adherence to the character of Jesus as he was
remembered in Johannine tradition (1 John 1:1-3; 2:5b-6, 22-24; 3:23; 4:2-3, 5:5-6),
obedience to God’s nurturing commands (1 John 2:3, 7-8; 3:22-24; 4:21; 5:2-3), and
practical love for one another (1 John 3:11, 18, 23; 4:7, 11-12)." [2]
ancient interpreters - "whoever believes in God also believes in
the Son:" This means that whoever believes in the Son in such a way as to do what the
Son commands has the witness of God in him and may be counted among the children of God .
. . for whoever refuses to honor the Son refuses honor to the Father too. [3]
 What corroborating evidence
("testimonies" in our lesson’s language) do you rely on most heavily to
confirm your faith relationship with God?
What is "eternal life?" Do you see eternal life as more qualitative? Or
perhaps primarily quantitative? Maybe it’s a mishmash of both? Is eternal life a
time/space concept or is it something else to you?
 Be honest with
the ambiguity of the text - This is not an easy passage to speak from and certainly not
with the kind of confidence that many proclaimers prefer. The text’s meaning is
unclear and thus, commentaries will reflect the ambiguity of interpretation.
Move to the "three witnesses" (vs. 6-8) and refer to the various
interpretations that such words have generated throughout Christian history (you may find
Raymond Brown’s Community of the Beloved Disciple, a useful resource to read behind
the text to this early community’s need/insistence on "testimonies");
Raise the question on how our Christian communities of today go about
"coordinating" various testimonies within the church. What role do we assign the
Spirit in the coordinating process of selecting leadership, managing committees, rolling
out programs, or launching missions?
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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible XII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), page 440.
[2] Ibid, page 440.
[3] Venerable Bede in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture XI (InterVarsity, 2000),
page 224.
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