3 John 1:11

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. FOLLOW NOT THAT WHICH IS EVIL - as Diotrephes. BUT ... GOOD - as Demetrius (). IS OF GOD - born of God, who is good. HATH NOT SEEN GOD - spiritually....

9-12 Both the heart and mouth must be watched. The temper and spirit of Diotrephes was full of pride and ambition. It is bad not to do good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would do good. Those cautions and counsels are most likely to be accepted, which are seasoned with love. Follow that which is good, for he that doeth good, as delighting therein, is born of God. Evil-workers vainly pretend or boast acquaintance with God. Let us not follow that which is proud, selfish, and of bad design, though the example may be given by persons of rank and power; but let us be followers of God, and walk in love, after the example of our Lord....

Verse 3 John 1:11. _FOLLOW NOT THAT WHICH IS EVIL_] Μμ μιμου το κακον· _Do not imitate that wicked man_, i.e., the conduct of Diotrephes; be merciful, loving, and kind. For whatever profession any man may make, it will ever appear that _he who doeth good is of God_ - he alone is the person who uses rightly the grace received from God, and he alone shall enjoy the Divine approbation; While _HE THAT DOETH EVIL_] He who is unfeeling, unmerciful, unkind, _hath not seen God_ - has no proper knowledge of that God whose NAME is _mercy_, and whose NATURE is _love_....

BELOVED, FOLLOW NOT THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD - There can be no doubt that in this exhortation the writer had Diotrephes particularly in his eye, and that he means to exhort Gaius not to imitate his example. He was a man of influence in the church, and though Gaius had shown that he was disposed to act in an independent manner, yet it was not improper to exhort him not to be influenced by the example of any one who did wrong. John wished to excite him to acts of liberal and generous hospitality. HE THAT DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD - He shows that he resembles God, for God continually does good. See the sentiment explained in the notes at 1 John 3:7. HE THAT DOETH EVIL HATH NOT SEEN GOD - See the notes at...

BELOVED, FOLLOW NOT THAT WHICH IS EVIL,.... Follow not evil in general, it being hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will, and bad in itself, as well as pernicious in its consequences; and particularly follow not, or do not imitate the particular evil or evils in Diotrephes; as his pride, ambition, love of preeminence, and tyrannical government in the church, and especially his hard heartedness, cruelty, and inhospitality to the poor saints; and so the Arabic version reads, "do not imitate him in evil"; the examples of persons in office and authority have great influence, especially in cases of charity, when men can be excused thereby, and save their money, or be freed from an expense: BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD; follow and imitate that, be a follower of God, imitate him in acts of kindness and beneficence, be merciful as he is; copy the deeds of Jesus Christ, who went about doing go...

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE THE THIRD EPISTLE The Third Epistle is addressed by the elder, the aged Apostle John, to a brother by name of Gaius. A Gaius is mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14. It is impossible to say whether this is the same. John calls him well-beloved, whom he loved in the truth. Thus he emphasizes the truth once more as he had done before. He wishes that he might prosper in his body, in health, as even his soul prospered. He had heard from the brethren who testified of the truth in him and that he walked in the truth. He rejoiced in this and declares “I have no great

3 JOHN 1:12. COMMENDATION OF DEMETRIUS. He was probably the bearer of this letter and one of the evangelists. The name was so common that any identification with the Demetrius of Acts 19:24 is improbable. 3 JOHN 1:13. CONCLUSION. The writer adds no more because he hopes soon to visit Gaius. He sends greetings from himself and others. 3 John 1:14. the friends: this is almost a technical expression denoting an inner circle in the churches to which the writer and Gaius belonged. Those constituting each group were drawn together by moral affinities and love of the truth. Here the friends at Ephesus send a greeting to Gaius an

THE TEACHER'S JOY (3 John 1:1-4)...

FOLLOW. See 2 Thessalonians 3:7. EVIL. App-128. DOETH GOOD. Greek. _agathopoieo._ See Acts 14:17. OF. App-104. GOD. App-98. DOETH EVIL. Greek. _kakopoieo._ See Mark 3:4. SEEN. App-133....

_Beloved_ The address again marks transition to a new subject, but without any abrupt change. The behaviour of Diotrephes will at least serve as a warning. _follow not that which is evil, but that which is good_ More simply, IMITATE _not_ THE ILL, _but_ THE GOOD. The word for -evil" or -ill" is not that used in the previous verse (πονηρός), but a word, which, though one of the most common in the Greek language to express the idea of -bad," is rarely used by S. John (κακός). Elsewhere only John 18:23; Revelation 2:2; Revelation 16:2: in Revelation 16:2 both words occur. Perhaps -ill" is hardl