There are testimonies of truth and likewise, of error, myth, lies, self-promotion.
It has been noted John in 1 John uses the word "know" some 27 times in this letter to the churches.
He uses the term "truth" and derivatives about 9 times.
The entire letter is a response to gnostic un-truth but it is full of wider, deeper concepts. Another major issue he raises is what believers call assurance of salvation.
With these things as overviews, threads within his treatise of God's love, our love to Him all wrapped in our faith-walk with Jesus, consider chapter five, verse nine:
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. -NASB
If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.
-AMP
John uses the word "testimony" 6 times, "testify" 3 times, "speak" once and "proclaim" 3 times, "write" once and "writing" 6 times in throughout his letter. The idea of communicating is obvious some 20 times. The clear, deep focus is on Jesus Christ and His Gospel, nothing more or less.
John argues for professing followers of God to not only believe but profess, testify as he himself does throughout his writing.
So what is the context of 5.9? Here it is:
1 John 5:
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
It isn't hard to imagine that plenty of people think about all this in the negative -in particular as one considers verses 10 through 12.
We are so prone to believe ourselves over God and those who walk with Jesus as Risen Savior in faith. We are also likely to only trust those who already think and act as we do. This second matter is not only true of pre or unbelievers but of Christians. Note verse 10 in relation to this. Him
In essence, we have more faith in ourselves and in others who are quite like we are than we do in the testimony of God Himself -and I now mean this regarding His Word (Bible) and that of the Spirit of Truth (a phrase for Him both Jesus and John use).
So we think, speak and act out our "faith" -His way or another and the "another" according to John and many other "witnesses" (another word akin to one's life, words and other communication as testimony) is false, a lie -using a Bonhoeffer term: a wish-dream.
So exactly WHAT is my and your testimony? What does our individual life leave as a statement of faith, both actions and words?
I ponder these things daily as I have most of my lifetime. I think I ponder them for incredibly good reason. So-
As always, thanks for stopping by my site and considering! -Glenn
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