A Trail of Evidence
But during this same time, we find mention of 1 John 5:7, from about 200 AD through the 1500s. Here is a useful timeline of references to this verse:
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[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]200 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Tertullian wrote "which three are one" based on the verse in his
Against Praxeas, chapter 25.[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]250 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Cyprian of Carthage, wrote, "And again, of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost it is written: "And the three are One" in his
On The Lapsed, On the Novatians, (
see note for Old Latin)[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]350 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Priscillian referred to it [Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Academia Litterarum Vindobonensis, vol. xviii, p. 6.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]350 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Idacius Clarus referred to it [Patrilogiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina by Migne, vol. 62, col. 359.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]350 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Athanasius referred to it in his
De Incarnatione[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]398 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Aurelius Augustine used it to defend Trinitarianism in
De Trinitateagainst the heresy of Sabellianism[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]415 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Council of Carthage appealed to 1 John 5:7 when debating the Arian belief (Arians didn't believe in the deity of Jesus Christ)[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]450-530 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Several orthodox African writers quoted the verse when defending the doctrine of the Trinity against the gainsaying of the Vandals. These writers are:
A) Vigilius Tapensis in
"Three Witnesses in Heaven"
B) Victor Vitensis in his
Historia persecutionis [Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Academia Litterarum Vindobonensis, vol. vii, p. 60.]
C) Fulgentius in
"The Three Heavenly Witnesses" [Patrilogiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina by Migne, vol. 65, col. 500.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]500 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Cassiodorus cited it [Patrilogiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina by Migne, vol. 70, col. 1373.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]550 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]
Old Latin ms r has it[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]550 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]The "Speculum" has it [The Speculum is a treatise that contains some good Old Latin scriptures.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]750 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Wianburgensis referred to it[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]800 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Jerome's Vulgate has it [It was not in Jerome's original Vulgate, but was brought in about 800 AD from good Old Latin manuscripts.][/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]1000s AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]miniscule 635 has it[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]1150 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]minuscule ms 88 in the margin[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]1300s AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]miniscule 629 has it[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]157-1400 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Waldensian (that is, Vaudois) Bibles have the verse[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][SIZE=-1]1500 AD[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]ms 61 has the verse[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100"][/TD]
[TD="width: 400"][SIZE=-1]Even Nestle's 26th edition Greek New Testament, based upon the corrupt Alexandrian text, admits that these and other important manuscripts have the verse: 221 v.l.; 2318 Vulgate [Claromontanus]; 629; 61; 88; 429 v.l.; 636 v.l.; 918; l; r.[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
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