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3 John 1

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Salutation and Prayer for Gaius 1–4

1
The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. ​
2
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ​
3
For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
4
Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. ​

Gaius Commended for Faithful Hospitality 5–8

5
Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
6
who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
7
because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. ​
8
We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth. ​

The Opposition of Diotrephes 9–11

9
I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. ​
10
Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church. ​
11
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God. ​

Commendation of Demetrius and Conclusion 12–14

12
Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true. ​
13
I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
14
but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 3 John 1

Verse 1

The elder — Presbyteros, an older man, and also the title of those who oversee a church; Peter uses it of himself, 'who am also an elder' (1 Pet 5:1). John uses it in 2 John 1 with the same words, 'whom I love in the truth'. The name Gaius occurs also in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Rom 16:23; 1 Cor 1:14, and the letter does not say whether this is one of those men.

Verse 2

I wish above all things — Euchomai is to pray or to wish, and 'prosper' is euodoo, to go well on the way; Paul uses it of 'a prosperous journey' (Rom 1:10). 'Be in health' is hygiaino, to be sound. The standard set for the body and affairs is the soul: 'even as thy soul prospereth'.

Verse 4

no greater joy — 'Walk in truth' (peripateo) is the phrase of 2 John 4, 'I found of thy children walking in truth'. 'My children' (teknon) are those John has taught. 'Truth' is the thread of this short letter (vv.1, 3, 4, 8, 12), and the joy is in hearing that it is lived.

Verse 7

for his name's sake — 'His name' is Christ's, as when the apostles rejoiced to suffer shame 'for his name' (Acts 5:41). Those who 'went forth' (exerchomai) were the brethren travelling for the gospel (vv.5–6). They took 'nothing of the Gentiles' (ethnos), the unconverted nations, though 'they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel' (1 Cor 9:14).

Verse 8

fellowhelpers to the truth — Synergos, one who works together; Paul uses it of Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16:3) and of Timothy (Rom 16:21). 'Ought' is opheilo, to owe (cf. 1 John 4:11). Receiving the brothers who travel for the name makes the church a partner in the work they do.

Verse 9

loveth to have the preeminence — Philoproteuo is one word in Greek and occurs only here in the New Testament: to love being first. It is the opposite of Christ's rule, 'he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger' (Luke 22:26). 'Receiveth' (epidechomai) is found only in vv.9–10, and Diotrephes does not receive 'us'.

Verse 10

prating against us — Phlyareo, to talk nonsense against, occurs only here. 'Malicious' is poneros, evil. 'Remember' (hypomimnesko) is to bring to mind, so John will bring his deeds forward when he comes. 'Casteth them out of the church' uses ekballo, the verb of John 9:34, 'And they cast him out'.

Verse 11

follow not that which is evil — 'Follow' is mimeomai, to imitate; it occurs also in 2 Thess 3:7, 9 and Heb 13:7. 'Doeth good' (agathopoieo) and 'doeth evil' (kakopoieo) are paired as the two ways. The last clause echoes 1 John 3:6, 'whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him'.

Verse 12

Demetrius hath good report — Martyreo, to bear witness: he is witnessed to by 'all men' and by 'the truth itself'. The name occurs elsewhere only of the silversmith of Ephesus (Acts 19:24, 38), and Scripture does not link the two. 'We also bear record; and ye know that our record is true' has the shape of John 21:24, 'we know that his testimony is true'.