The Blue Collar Scholar

Sermon: How To Handle Strange & Difficult Bible Verses (1 John 5:7-8 & 16-17)

September 13, 2026·45 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

The 5th chapter of John has a couple of passages that are a challenge for Bible translators. In one passage, the Greek text seems clear, but a short clause seems to have been added by a Medieval commentator (the "Johannine Comma" of 1 John 5:7-8) and translators have to decide whether to keep in a passage that is very likely not written by John, but if they translators leave the passage out, it will be controversial. Leaving out the Johannine will lead to accusations of deleting the Trinity, but in this sermon, I have demonstrated that all reputable English translations have many other Trinitarian passages intact. In the other strange and difficult verse - 1 John 5:16-17 - John seems to indicate that some sins lead to death and some do not. I wrestle with this verse and try to come to a reasonable analysis.

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