1 The elder G4245 unto the wellbeloved G27 Gaius, G1050 whom G3739 I G1473 love G25 in G1722 the truth. G225
Gaius G1050 mine G3450 host, G3581 and G2532 of the whole G3650 church, G1577 saluteth G782 you. G5209 Erastus G2037 the chamberlain G3623 of the city G4172 saluteth G782 you, G5209 and G2532 Quartus G2890 a brother. G80
And G2532 the whole G3650 city G4172 was filled G4130 with confusion: G4799 and G5037 having caught G4884 Gaius G1050 and G2532 Aristarchus, G708 men of Macedonia, G3110 Paul's G3972 companions in travel, G4898 they rushed G3729 with one accord G3661 into G1519 the theatre. G2302
And G1161 there accompanied G4902 him G846 into G891 Asia G773 Sopater G4986 of Berea; G961 and G1161 of the Thessalonians, G2331 Aristarchus G708 and G2532 Secundus; G4580 and G2532 Gaius G1050 of Derbe, G1190 and G2532 Timotheus; G5095 and G1161 of Asia, G774 Tychicus G5190 and G2532 Trophimus. G5161
The elder G4245 unto the elect G1588 lady G2959 and G2532 her G846 children, G5043 whom G3739 I G1473 love G25 in G1722 the truth; G225 and G2532 not G3756 I G1473 only, G3441 but G235 also G2532 all G3956 they that have known G1097 the truth; G225 For G1223 the truth's sake, G225 which G3588 dwelleth G3306 in G1722 us, G2254 and G2532 shall be G2071 with G3326 us G2257 for G1519 ever. G165 Grace G5485 be G2071 with G3326 you, G5216 mercy, G1656 and peace, G1515 from G3844 God G2316 the Father, G3962 and G2532 from G3844 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the Son G5207 of the Father, G3962 in G1722 truth G225 and G2532 love. G26 I rejoiced G5463 greatly G3029 that G3754 I found G2147 of G1537 thy G4675 children G5043 walking G4043 in G1722 truth, G225 as G2531 we have received G2983 a commandment G1785 from G3844 the Father. G3962 And G2532 now G3568 I beseech G2065 thee, G4571 lady, G2959 not G3756 as though G5613 I wrote G1125 G1125 a new G2537 commandment G1785 unto thee, G4671 but G235 that which G3739 we had G2192 from G575 the beginning, G746 that G2443 we love G25 one another. G240 And G2532 this G3778 is G2076 love, G26 that G2443 we walk G4043 after G2596 his G846 commandments. G1785 This G3778 is G2076 the commandment, G1785 That, G2443 as G2531 ye have heard G191 from G575 the beginning, G746 ye should walk G4043 in G1722 it. G846 For G3754 many G4183 deceivers G4108 are entered G1525 into G1519 the world, G2889 who G3588 confess G3670 not G3361 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is come G2064 in G1722 the flesh. G4561 This G3778 is G2076 a deceiver G4108 and G2532 an antichrist. G500 Look G991 to yourselves, G1438 that G3363 we lose G622 not G3363 those things which G3739 we have wrought, G2038 but G235 that we receive G618 a full G4134 reward. G3408 Whosoever G3956 transgresseth, G3845 and G2532 abideth G3306 not G3361 in G1722 the doctrine G1322 of Christ, G5547 hath G2192 not G3756 God. G2316 He that abideth G3306 in G1722 the doctrine G1322 of Christ, G5547 he G3778 hath G2192 both G2532 the Father G3962 and G2532 the Son. G5207 If G1536 there come G2064 any G1536 G5100 unto G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 bring G5342 not G3756 this G5026 doctrine, G1322 receive G2983 him G846 not G3361 into G1519 your house, G3614 neither G2532 G3361 bid G3004 him G846 God speed: G5463 For G1063 he that biddeth G3004 him G846 God speed G5463 is partaker G2841 of his G846 evil G4190 deeds. G2041 Having G2192 many things G4183 to write G1125 unto you, G5213 I would G1014 not G3756 write with G1223 paper G5489 and G2532 ink: G3188 but G235 I trust G1679 to come G2064 unto G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 speak G2980 face G4750 to G4314 face, G4750 that G2443 our G2257 joy G5479 may be G5600 full. G4137 The children G5043 of thy G4675 elect G1588 sister G79 greet G782 thee. G4571 Amen. G281
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].