The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Sin Unto Death

Side Note: There is a textual variant in the last phrase: "...and there is a sin not unto death." which would strongly suggest that the word not should not be there so that the text would then read, "...and there is a sin unto death." If taken in this way, I think the passage reads far better to my understanding of what John is saying, i.e., all unrighteousness is sin [which one can be forgiven of by repentance and faith in Christ but if one continues in such sin], there is a sin that ultimately leads to [eternal] death. The Gnostics of course denied that the soul was negatively effected by sin; only the body suffered. Thus one was not to concern himself about sin since the body was going to be eliminated at death anyway.