The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood

    From BelieveTheSign
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    William Branham often misquoted scripture to allow it to align with his teaching.

    How he changed the ordering of 1 John 5:8 is a good example of this:

    And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.[1]

    But William Branham always referred to "water, blood, spirit" in that order and not "'the spirit, and the water, and the blood" as they are ordered in scripture.

    The problem of the added passage

    It should be noted that the King James Version adds a section to this passage that does not appear in the original Greek manuscripts. This is clearly illustrated when comparing the KJV passage above with that of a modern translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV).

    For there are three that testify:  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.[2]

    Note the difference between the two passages. The portion that is missing from all modern translations is referred to as the “Johannine Comma.” If you are interested in learning about this issue, please read our article on 1 John 5:7. However, it is important to recognize that the modern version delete the extra words that were added into the KJV.

    Why did William Branham change the order of the words?

    When we interpret scripture, it is important to look at context. William Branham often took a verse from scripture out of context, in addition to misquoting it, which allowed its meaning to change. Let us take a close look at the entire passage, 1 John 5:6-9, in the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The NASB is a formal equivalence or "word for word" translation from the original Greek.

    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.[3]


    Quotes of William Branham

    There’s three elements that came from the body of Christ, to make up the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that? Water, Blood, Spirit, that’s just what come out of His body. Is that true? Well, that’s just exactly the elements it takes to go through to get into His body, the elements that…?… That constitutes the new birth, three elements: water, blood, spirit.[4]

    What come from Jesus’ body when He died? What the… What does the natural birth consist of? (Excuse me, sisters, and you, young ladies. I beg you’ll forgive me, but I want to make a statement.) When a baby is born a natural birth, what’s the first thing? Water; second thing, Blood; third thing, spirit. What come out of the body of Jesus? Water, Blood, Spirit! Amen. When a baby’s born, and it never cries, it never moves, there’s something wrong with it; it’s what’s called a stillbirth. It’s dead when it’s born. What happens? The doctor picks him up by the heels and shakes him, and gives him a few little spanks, and a scream comes out, and life comes in.[5]

    Now, we find out, like the natural body, here’s the natural body, and the body was made to reproduce itself, which was children. And now the natural body, in the natural birth of a baby, we find out the first thing comes forth is water, then blood, and then life. We find out in the spiritual body of Christ, the first thing is water, and Blood, and Life; justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Ghost. See how it reflects, all the natural things reflecting the spiritual things. The natural birth.[6]

    When they killed Jesus at the cross, the substance come from His body, to make up the new…to make up the—the Birth. They struck His side, Blood and water came out, and, “Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.” What came from His body was water, Blood, Spirit. 172 Now, First John 5:7 tells you about that, “There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word (which is Christ,) and the Holy Ghost.” And these three agree in one; they’re not one, but they agree in one. And there are three that bear record… Or, “They are one,” I mean. I’m mistaken there. “And the three that bear record in earth, is the water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.” You can be sanctified without being justified. And you can be justified without being sanctified. You can be sanctified without receiving the Holy Ghost.[7]

    Notice like this. When a baby is born, there is three things that constitutes its birth. The first thing in normal birth…You adults listen close now; the young children will never catch it. But, let’s see, the first thing in a normal birth is water, then blood, then life. See? Now that’s the same thing that constitutes the new birth; water, Blood, Spirit. The elements that came from His body is what makes His Body. See? It come from His body, is the material that takes to—to make His Bride. Because, Adam had his bride taken from his body. Christ has His Bride taken from the body. And when Christ died, there was three elements that came from His body; water, Blood, Spirit; justification through believing, water; sanctification through the Blood; the baptism of the Holy Spirit.[8]

    Now, in First John 5:7, I believe it is, if I’m not mistaken, It said, “There are three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; these three are One. There are three that bear record in earth, that’s water, Blood, and Spirit, and they agree in one.” Now notice. The first three are One. The second three are earthly, which agree in one. Cannot have the Father without the Son; you cannot have the Son without having the Holy Ghost. But you can have the water without the Blood, and the Blood without the Spirit. I think, through our ages, has proved this to be true; water, Blood, Spirit; justification, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That types, or makes the… or, and an antitype, which takes away from the natural birth. Look when a—a woman or anything in travail, for birth. The first thing comes to pass, the breaking of the water, a normal birth; second thing is the blood; and then comes life. Water, blood, spirit; and that constitutes the normal, natural birth. And so is it in the spiritual realm. It’s water; justification by faith, believing on God, receiving Him as your personal Saviour, and being baptized. Second, is sanctification of the spirit, that God cleanses the spirit from all elements of the world, and the desire of the world. And then the Holy Spirit comes in and gives new Birth and fills up that sanctified vessel.[9]

    Now, the world, how did He redeem the world? The first, what He did, when it sinned, He washed it off in water baptism. That’s right. Then He dropped His Blood upon it, from the cross, and sanctified it and called it His Own. And then what does He do? As He tore all the world out of you, and renovated the whole thing by the fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost, He also will renovate the world. And it’ll be burnt over with Fire, and cleanse every germ, for millions of miles high, every thing will be cleaned off. And then there is a New Heaven and a New Earth, just like you are a new creature in Christ Jesus when the Holy Spirit takes a hold of you. See, there you are, the whole thing is just as plain as it can be. Everything is in three. The natural birth is in three. What’s the first thing happens to the woman having a baby? What breaks first? Water. What breaks next? Blood. What’s the next process? Life. Water, blood, spirit.[10]


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Jn 5:7–9
    2. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Jn 5:7–9
    3. ↑ New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Jn 5:6–9.
    4. ↑ William Branham, 52-0713A - Early Spiritual Experiences, para. 7
    5. ↑ William Branham, 60-0709 - God's Provided Way Of Approach To Fellowship, para. 54
    6. ↑ William Branham, 62-0909M - Countdown, para. 34
    7. ↑ William Branham, 63-0320 - The Third Seal, para. 171-173
    8. ↑ William Branham, 63-1113 - The Sign Of This Time, para. 115-116
    9. ↑ William Branham, 65-0124 - Birth Pains, para. 46-49
    10. ↑ William Branham, 65-0221E - Who Is This Melchisedec?, para. 114-115


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