Some Key Words

Water (hudor[5204]):

used of water as the primary element, used of many people, used of water period

Blood (haima[129]):

blood as the basis of life, used to represent life offered as atonement; the seat of life

Bear witness (martureo[3140]):

to testify, bear witness, implying praise or commendation, to confirm; to not keep back testimony, to utter honorable testimony, to give a good report

Believes (pisteuo[4100]):

to believe, have a mental persuasion, be of opinion, have faith; place confidence in, trust in Jesus as able to aid, saving faith

Life (zoe[2222]):

the principle of life in spirit and soul, the highest blessedness of the creature; the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God, life devoted to God, blessed

 

Paraphrase

6 Jesus came physically and spiritually 7 to which truth the Holy Spirit gives evidence 8-9 God's witness is more creditable than man's 10 which witness is that Jesus is the Son of God, which believers believe. Unbelievers take God to be a liar. 11 The full witness of God is to His giving of eternal life to us through His Son, 12 without whom that life is unattainable.

Key Verse

5:11 - the witness is to our being given eternal life in His Son.

Some Parallel Verses

5:6

Jn 19:34 - blood and water came out of Him on the cross.

5:7

Mt 3:16 - He was baptized in water, at which time God testified to His Sonship, as did the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jn 15:26 - the Holy Spirit, which is truth, bears witness to Him, Jn 16:13 - guiding us into all truth, for He speaks only what He hears in heaven.

5:8

Mt 18:16 - by two or three witnesses, a fact is confirmed.

5:9

Jn 5:34 - Jesus' witness is not from man, Jn 5:37 - but from the Father. Jn 8:18 - Jesus and the Father agree in their witness. Mt 3:17 - the voice of heaven testifies to Him as Son. Jn 5:32 - another bears witness along with Jesus (the Father). [NOTE: another numerically but of the same kind [NT: 243]].

5:10

Ro 8:16 - the Spirit also bears witness to our sonship. Gal 4:6 - because of which sonship, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Rev 12:17 - but as His children, we keep His commandments and keep the testimony of Jesus. Jn 3:18 - we who believe in Jesus are not judged, those who don't believe are condemned. Jn 3:33 - those who believe confirm that God is true [by corollary, those who don't, affirm that He is false.]

5:11

Jn 3:36 - belief in the Son gives eternal life, disbelief brings God's wrath to abide. Jn 1:4 - Life is in Jesus.

5:12

Jn 3:15 - belief in the Son gives eternal life, for God sent Him to save the world.

New Thoughts

Still not clear on the significance of the water and blood. Both are symbolic of life in their own way, water as the source of creation - land having been formed out of the waters, so water could point to physical birth. Blood, as symbolic of the essence of life, could be pointing to the fact that He was here in His essence, i.e. in His godhood. This would emphasize His unique nature as God and man, which has been prevalent throughout the book. It could also point to His atoning sacrifice on our behalf. In that case, the idea would be that He came both to live and to die for us, without which combination we'd still be lost. I really want some outside thought on this question.

But, oh the risk for the unbeliever! To have God's wrath abide (dwell, remain, not to depart, not to become different) - this is too much. Who would willingly stand that, recognizing the truth? Nobody. God, open their eyes that they may see! Surely, seeing the truth, they would choose life? Oh, Lord, have mercy. Free them from their bondage. Set them free in Your truth, that they may be truly - once and for all time - free.