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3 John 1

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Salutation and Prayer for Gaius 1–4

1
The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. ​
2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ​
3
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. ​

Gaius Commended for Faithful Hospitality 5–8

5
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. ​
8
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. ​

The Opposition of Diotrephes 9–11

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

Commendation of Demetrius and Conclusion 12–14

12
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. ​
13
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · 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'.