3 John 1:13
“Commendation of Demetrius and Conclusion”3 John 1:12–14
Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible · Public domain
Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain
Bible text: World English Bible, Messianic edition · Public domain
Bible text: Geneva Bible (1599) · Public domain
Bible text: Young's Literal Translation · Public domain
- ΠολλὰPollaMany thingsG4183A-APNAdjective Accusative Plural Neuter
- εἶχονeichonI hadG2192V-IAI-1SVerb Imperfect Active Indicative 1st Singular
- γράψαιgrapsaito writeG1125V-AANVerb Aorist Active Infinitive
- ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235CONJConjunction
- οὐounotG3756PRT-NNegative Particle Negative
- θέλωthelōI desireG2309V-PAI-1SVerb Present Active Indicative 1st Singular
- διὰdiawithG1223PREPPreposition
- μέλανοςmelanosinkG3188N-GSNNoun Genitive Singular Neuter
- καὶkaiandG2532CONJConjunction
- καλάμουkalamoupenG2563N-GSMNoun Genitive Singular Masculine
- σοιsoito youG4771P-2DSPersonal pronoun Dative 2nd Singular
- γράφειν·grapheinto writeG1125V-PANVerb Present Active Infinitive
English is a literal word-by-word gloss of the Greek, not the KJV's wording. Why?
This is the original text the KJV's translators worked from — each Greek word with its own literal English meaning in this verse, prepared by scholars at Tyndale House, Cambridge. The KJV translates whole sentences, not word by word, so its wording differs: one Greek word can become several English words, and the KJV may choose “charity” where the gloss reads “love”. Both are faithful — they answer different questions. For the KJV's own rendering, switch to the KJV text.
Words in [ ] are added by the English.
Details
Study this verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry wrote on whole passages, and this entry covers 3 John 1:12–14.
I.Demetrius, on the other hand, has a good report from all and of the truth itself.
John and others also bear witness to his character, and Gaius can trust this testimony. Demetrius was likely well known to both John’s church and Gaius's. II. John closes the letter expressing a desire to see Gaius soon and wishing him peace. He also sends greetings from mutual friends and instructs Gaius to greet their friends by name, indicating a personal connection.
Historical interpretation
Historical reception
1 surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
I had many things to write, but I do not want to write to you with ink and pen. However, I hope to see you soon, and we will speak in person. Peace be with you. Your friends greet you. Greet your friends by name.
Similar things have been said and interpreted at the end of the preceding letter; therefore, it would be unnecessary to repeat the same things again.
The end, with divine assistance favoring, of the third Catholic letter of John.
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Summary
John is ending his letter to Gaius by saying he has much more to tell him, and that he would rather say it in person than write it down. The sentence finishes in the next verse: “But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face.” We are not told what the many things were.
What Is Happening Here
John had trouble to deal with. A man named Diotrephes was speaking against him and “casteth them out of the church” for welcoming travelling brethren (3 John 1:10). Gaius had welcomed these same travellers (3 John 1:5-8), and John had just vouched for a man named Demetrius (3 John 1:12). So when John says he has more to say, it is reasonable to guess that some of it concerned Diotrephes, further encouragement for Gaius, or how to care for the travelling workers. John had already said “if I come, I will remember his deeds”, and a visit would let him deal with this directly. Those are good guesses, and the letter does not confirm them.
“I will not” here means John chose not to, and the verb (thélō, G2309) is about what he wished. He could have kept writing, and he decided a visit was better.
Who This Is
The writer calls himself only “the elder” (3 John 1:1). Christians from early times have received this letter as the work of the apostle John, the writer of the Gospel, and that tradition fits its language. “Ye know that our record is true” sounds much like the close of John’s Gospel (John 21:24).
Gaius was a dear friend of the writer, a believer known for walking in the truth and for his welcome to travelling brethren and strangers (3 John 1:3-6). The New Testament mentions other men named Gaius (Acts 19:29, Romans 16:23), but it was a common name and nothing shows that this is one of them.
Why It Matters
This short note shows the human side of the early church. Its leaders were real friends who looked forward to seeing one another, and some matters waited for a visit. It may also help you with a modern choice, since a hard conversation or a word of deep comfort will often go better across a table than by text message, if you can manage it.
FAQ
Why is face to face better than a letter?
John does not list reasons, but the wish is easy to understand, and in 2 John 1:12 he gives one: “that our joy may be full”. In person you can hear a person’s tone, ask a question and get an answer straight away, and sort out misunderstandings on the spot. That matters most with sensitive matters like the trouble in this church. Paul felt the same longing to be with those he wrote to (Romans 1:11-12). None of this makes writing poor or lowers Scripture, since John’s own letter is part of God’s written Word. The Greek of the next verse reads literally mouth to mouth, which the KJV gives in plain English as “face to face”.
How does 2 John 12 compare with this verse?
The two are near twins, which suggests a familiar way this writer had of closing a letter. 2 John 1:12 reads, “Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” The differences are small. That letter speaks to “you” in the plural, to the lady and her children, whom many take to be a church, and it mentions “paper and ink”, while this one speaks to one man as “thee” and mentions “ink and pen”. This one also says he hopes to come “shortly”.
Is some of what the apostles said missing from the Bible?
Yes, in the sense that the apostles said far more than was ever written down, and what John meant to say to Gaius in person may be one of those things. No truth we need has gone missing with it, though. John himself says that Jesus did many things that are not written, and that what is written was given so that you would believe and have life (John 20:30-31). Paul says Scripture makes the servant of God complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God gave us what we need, and we can trust him with the rest.
What was ink and pen in those days?
Ink (mélan, G3188) was usually a black mix of soot and gum thinned with water, and the pen was a cut reed. Writers worked on sheets of papyrus or parchment, and it was slow work, and letters were sometimes written by a helper, as Tertius did for Paul (Romans 16:22).
Why is this tiny letter in the Bible?
It is here because it speaks about things every church faces. It praises those who welcome and support people who go out for Christ’s name, warns against a leader who loves being first (3 John 1:9), and gives the plain counsel to “follow not that which is evil, but that which is good”. It is the shortest book in the New Testament by its count of Greek words, and it is enough to show that God cares about how Christians treat one another, even in one small church and one household.
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