1 John 5:6-8

⁶ This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

⁷ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

The threefold witness is about to be given (v.8), but, as a preliminary to this, the Person of the Holy Spirit is mentioned first alone (v.6), as being in the Godhead. The Spirit of God bears witness by His operation in the heart concerning the Person and Work of Christ. On the day of Pentecost and subsequently He bore witness through the Apostles and others. He bears witness through the Holy Scriptures, which are God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), and through testimony in accordance with them the Scriptures constitute the truth because “The Spirit is the truth.”

The Apostle conveys through this latter statement the Deity of the Holy Spirit. “God is true” (Psalm 31:5). Christ is “the truth” (John 14:6), and “the Spirit is the truth (John 14:16).” He is one in Divine nature with the Father and the Son.

The special witness to which this passage refers is the identity of Jesus with the Son of God, and to this great fact the Spirit of truth bears witness. — Vine, page 98.

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John gives three witnesses that Jesus is God (v.6); (1) Water — His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:32-34); (2) Blood — His sacrificial blood (Hebrews 9:12-15); and (3) the Spirit — the Holy Spirit’s witness through the Word (1 John 3:24; 4:13). — Grace, page 2225.

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The seventh verse … is not part of the original. No Greek manuscript earlier than the 14th century contains the passage. No version earlier than the 5th century in any other language contains it. … Moreover, the statement makes a break into the sense of the whole passage. — Vine, page 98.

There are three (v.8) — present tense indicates continuing action.

the Spirit, the water, and the blood (v.8) — The triple witness is a witness concerning life (see v.11, which is to be connected immediately with this verse). The Spirit of God applies to the believer’s heart the realization of the efficacy of the blood of Christ and the ministry of what is set forth by the water. — Vine, page 99.

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The reason the testimony of water was so weighty is because it was a requirement for obedient Jews (Mark 1:4-5). — Grace, page 2225.

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these three agree as one (v.8) — They are united in one witness and have one object and effect. For the point of the witness and its effects, see vs.11-12.