3 For G1063 I rejoiced G5463 greatly, G3029 when the brethren G80 came G2064 and G2532 testified G3140 of the truth G225 that is in thee, G4675 even as G2531 thou G4771 walkest G4043 in G1722 the truth. G225
Wherefore G1223 G5124 I also, G2504 after I heard G191 of G2596 your G5209 faith G4102 in G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 love G26 unto G1519 all G3956 the saints, G40 Cease G3973 not G3756 to give thanks G2168 for G5228 you, G5216 making G4160 mention G3417 of you G5216 in G1909 my G3450 prayers; G4335
First, G4412 G3303 I thank G2168 my G3450 God G2316 through G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 for G5228 you G5216 all, G3956 that G3754 your G5216 faith G4102 is spoken G2605 of throughout G1722 the whole G3650 world. G2889 For G1063 God G2316 is G2076 my G3450 witness, G3144 whom G3739 I serve G3000 with G1722 my G3450 spirit G4151 in G1722 the gospel G2098 of his G846 Son, G5207 that G5613 without ceasing G89 I make G4160 mention G3417 of you G5216 always G3842 in G1909 my G3450 prayers; G4335
Nevertheless G235 God, G2316 that comforteth G3870 those that are cast down, G5011 comforted G3870 us G2248 by G1722 the coming G3952 of Titus; G5103 And G1161 not G3756 by G1722 his G846 coming G3952 only, G3440 but G235 G2532 by G1722 the consolation G3874 wherewith G3739 he was comforted G3870 in G1909 you, G5213 when he told G312 us G2254 your G5216 earnest desire, G1972 your G5216 mourning, G3602 your G5216 fervent mind G2205 toward G5228 me; G1700 so G5620 that I G3165 rejoiced G5463 the more. G3123
As G2531 ye G3129 also G2532 learned G3129 of G575 Epaphras G1889 our G2257 dear G27 fellowservant, G4889 who G3739 is G2076 for G5228 you G5216 a faithful G4103 minister G1249 of Christ; G5547 Who G3588 also G2532 declared G1213 unto us G2254 your G5216 love G26 in G1722 the Spirit. G4151
But G1161 now G737 when Timotheus G5095 came G2064 from G575 you G5216 unto G4314 us, G2248 and G2532 brought G2097 us G2254 good tidings G2097 of your G5216 faith G4102 and G2532 charity, G26 and G2532 that G3754 ye have G2192 good G18 remembrance G3417 of us G2257 always, G3842 desiring greatly G1971 to see G1492 us, G2248 as G2509 we G2249 also G2532 to see you: G5209 Therefore, G1223 G5124 brethren, G80 we were comforted G3870 over G1909 you G5213 in G1909 all G3956 our G2257 affliction G2347 and G2532 distress G318 by G1223 your G5216 faith: G4102 For G3754 now G3568 we live, G2198 if G1437 ye G5210 stand fast G4739 in G1722 the Lord. G2962 For G1063 what G5101 thanks G2169 can we G1410 render G467 to God G2316 again G467 for G4012 you, G5216 for G1909 all G3956 the joy G5479 wherewith G3739 we joy G5463 for G1223 your sakes G5209 before G1715 our G2257 God; G2316
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 3 John 1
Commentary on 3 John 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
3Jo 1-14. Address: Wish for Gaius' Prosperity: Joy at His Walking in the Truth. Hospitality to the Brethren and Strangers the Fruit of Love. Diotrephes' Opposition and Ambition. Praise of Demetrius. Conclusion.
1. I—emphatical. I personally, for my part. On Gaius or Caius, see my Introduction before Second Epistle.
love in the truth—(2Jo 1). "Beloved" is repeated often in this Epistle, indicating strong affection (3Jo 1, 2, 5, 11).
2. above all things—Greek, "concerning all things": so Alford: in all respects. But Wahl justifies English Version (compare 1Pe 4:8). Of course, since his soul's prosperity is presupposed, "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. I know you are prospering in the concerns of your soul. I wish you similar prosperity in your body. Perhaps John had heard from the brethren (3Jo 3) that Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways (3Jo 10), to which the wish, 3Jo 2, refers.
prosper—in general.
be in health—in particular.
3. testified of the truth that is in thee—Greek, "of" (or 'to') thy truth": thy share of that truth in which thou walkest [Alford].
even as thou—in contrast to Diotrephes (3Jo 9).
4. my children—members of the Church: confirming the view that the "elect lady" is a Church.
5. faithfully—an act becoming a faithful man.
whatsoever thou doest—a distinct Greek word from the former "doest": translate, "workest": whatsoever work, or labor of love, thou dost perform. So Mt 26:10, "She hath wrought a good work upon me."
and to strangers—The oldest manuscripts, "and that (that is, and those brethren) strangers." The fact of the brethren whom thou didst entertain being "strangers," enhances the love manifested in the act.
6. borne witness of thy charity before the church—to stimulate others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Gaius were missionary evangelists (3Jo 7); and, probably, in the course of narrating their missionary labors for the edification of the Church where John then was, incidentally mentioned the loving hospitality shown them by Gaius.
bring forward on their journey—"If thou (continue to) forward on their journey" by giving them provisions for the way.
after a godly sort—Greek, "in a manner worthy of God," whose ambassadors they are, and whose servant thou art. He who honors God's missionary servants (3Jo 7), honors God.
7. his name's sake—Christ's.
went forth—as missionaries.
taking nothing—refusing to receive aught by way of pay, or maintenance, though justly entitled to it, as Paul at Corinth and at Thessalonica.
Gentiles—the Christians just gathered out by their labors from among the heathen. As Gaius himself was a Gentile convert, "the Gentiles" here must mean the converts just made from the heathen, the Gentiles to whom they had gone forth. It would have been inexpedient to have taken aught (the Greek "meden" implies, not that they got nothing, though they had desired it, but that it was of their own choice they took nothing) from the infant churches among the heathen: the case was different in receiving hospitality from Gaius.
8. We—in contradistinction to "the Gentiles" or "heathen" referred to, 3Jo 7.
therefore—as they take nothing from the Gentiles or heathen.
receive—The oldest manuscripts read, "take up." As they "take" nothing from the Gentiles, we ought to take them up so as to support them.
fellow helpers—with them.
to the truth—that is, to promote the truth.
9. I wrote—The oldest manuscripts add "something": a communication, probably, on the subject of receiving the brethren with brotherly love (3Jo 8, 10). That Epistle was not designed by the Spirit for the universal Church, or else it would have been preserved.
unto the church—of which Gaius is a member.
loveth … pre-eminence—through ambition. Evidently occupying a high place in the Church where Gaius was (3Jo 10).
among them—over the members of the Church.
receiveth us not—virtually, namely, by not receiving with love the brethren whom we recommended to be received (3Jo 8, 10; compare Mt 10:40).
10. if I come—(3Jo 14).
I will remember—literally, "I will bring to mind" before all by stigmatizing and punishing.
prating—with mere silly tattle.
neither doth he … receive the brethren—with hospitality. "The brethren" are the missionaries on their journey.
forbiddeth them that would—receive them.
casteth them—those that would receive the brethren, by excommunication from the Church, which his influence, as a leading man (3Jo 9) in it, enabled him to do. Neander thinks that the missionaries were Jews by birth, whence it is said in their praise they took nothing from THE Gentiles: in contrast to other Jewish missionaries who abused ministers' right of maintenance elsewhere, as Paul tells us, 2Co 11:22; Php 3:2, 5, 19. Now in the Gentile churches there existed an ultra-Pauline party of anti-Jewish tendency, the forerunners of Marcion: Diotrephes possibly stood at the head of this party, which fact, as well as this domineering spirit, may account for his hostility to the missionaries, and to the apostle John, who had, by the power of love, tried to harmonize the various elements in the Asiatic churches. At a later period, Marcion, we know, attached himself to Paul alone, and paid no deference to the authority of John.
11. follow not that which is evil—as manifested in Diotrephes (3Jo 9, 10).
but … good—as manifested in Demetrius (3Jo 12).
is of God—is born of God, who is good.
hath not seen God—spiritually, not literally.
12. of all men—who have had opportunity of knowing his character.
of the truth itself—The Gospel standard of truth bears witness to him that he walks conformably to it, in acts of real love, hospitality to the brethren (in contrast to Diotrephes), &c. Compare Joh 3:21 "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God."
we also—besides the testimony of "all men," and "of the truth itself."
ye know—The oldest manuscripts read, "thou knowest."
13. I will not—rather as Greek, "I wish not … to write" more.
14. face to face—Greek, "mouth to mouth."
Peace—peace inward of conscience, peace fraternal of friendship, peace supernal of glory [Lyra].
friends—a title seldom used in the New Testament, as it is absorbed in the higher titles of "brother, brethren." Still Christ recognizes the relation of friend also, based on the highest grounds, obedience to Him from love, and entailing the highest privileges, admission to the intimacy of the holy and glorious God, and sympathizing Saviour; so Christians have "friends" in Christ. Here in a friendly letter, mention of "friends" appropriately occurs.
by name—not less than if their names were written [Bengel].