3 John 1:13

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: I WILL NOT, [ theloo (G2309)] - 'I wish not ... to write' more....

13,14 Here is the character of Demetrius. A name in the gospel, or a good report in the churches, is better than worldly honour. Few are well spoken of by all; and sometimes it is ill to be so. Happy those whose spirit and conduct commend them before God and men. We must be ready to bear our testimony to them; and it is well when those who commend, can appeal to the consciences of such as know most of those who are commended. A personal conversation together often spares time and trouble, and mistakes which rise from letters; and good Christians may well be glad to see one another. The blessing is, Peace be to you; all happiness attend you. Those may well salute and greet one another on earth, who hope to live together in heaven. By associating with and copying the example of such Christians, we shall have peace within, and live at peace with the brethren; our communications with the Lo...

Verse 3 John 1:13. _I HAD MANY THINGS TO WRITE_] That is, I have many things that I might write; but having the hope of seeing thee shortly, I will not commit them to paper. _Ink_ and _pen_ are here mentioned; _paper_ and _ink_ in the preceding epistle....

I HAD MANY THINGS TO WRITE ... - This Epistle closes, as the second does, with a statement that he had many things to say, but that he preferred waiting until he should see him rather than put them on paper. Perhaps there were some things which he wished to say which he would not like to have exposed to the possibility of being seen by the public eye. BUT I WILL NOT WITH INK AND PEN ... - Notes at 2 John 1:12....

I HAVE MANY THINGS TO WRITE,.... With regard to churches, and particular persons, and concerning hospitality to the poor brethren: BUT I WILL NOT WITH INK AND PEN WRITE UNTO THEE; suggesting he should take another method of communicating his mind to him, which he next mentions....

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)...

WILL. App-102. WITH. by means of. App-104. 3 John 1:1. INK. See 2 Corinthians 3:3. PEN. Greek. _kalamos._ Elsewhere translated "reed"....

_I had many things to write_ With R. V., following א ABC and all ancient Versions, we must add TO THEE. -I had" is imperfect: at the time of my writing there were many things which I had to communicate to thee. _but I will not_ -Will" is not the sign of the future tense auxiliary to -write," but the present of the verb -to will:" _but I will not to write to thee; I do not care to write_. See on John 6:67; John 7:17; John 8:44. _with ink and pen_ In the Second Epistle we had -with _paper_and ink." The word for -pen" (κάλαμος) occurs in this sense nowhere else in N. T. It signifies the reed, _calamus_, commonly used for the purpose. In LXX. of...