_The Third Epistle of John_ This title, like that of the Gospel and of the other two Epistles, is not original, and is found in various forms, the most ancient being the simplest, 1. _Of John_T; 2. _Third Epistle of John 3. Third Catholic Epistle of John 4. Third Catholic Epistle of the Apostle John... [ Continue Reading ]
The Address This Epistle, like the Second, and most others in N.T., has a definite address, but of a very short and simple kind: comp. James 1:1. It has no greeting, properly so called, the prayer expressed in 3 John 1:2 taking its place. _The Elder_ See on 2 John 1:1. From the Apostle's using thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Personal Good Wishes and Sentiments 2. _I wish above all things that_ Rather, I PRAY THAT IN ALL RESPECTS; literally, _concerning all things_. It might well surprise us to find S. John placing health and prosperity _above_all things; and though the Greek phrase (περὶ πάντων) has that meaning someti... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ -I know that thy soul is in a prosperous condition, _for_I have it on good authority." _I rejoiced greatly_ See on 2 John 1:4. This cannot so well be the epistolary aorist, but rather refers to the definite occasions when information was brought. Of course if -rejoiced" becomes present as epi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have no greater joy_ In the Greek -greater" is put first for emphasis, and this is worth preserving; GREATER JOY HAVE I NONE THAN THIS. -Joy" should perhaps rather be grace (χάριν) i.e. favour from God. The Greek for -greater" is a double comparative (μειζοτέραν), like -lesser" in English. In Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
Gaius praised for his Hospitality: Its special Value 5. _Beloved_ The affectionate address marks a new section (comp. 3 John 1:3_; 3 John 1:11_), but here again the fresh subject grows quite naturally out of what precedes, without any abrupt transition. The good report, which caused the Apostle suc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which have borne witness of thy charity_ Rather, as R.V., WHO HARE WITNESS TO THY LOVE. There is no need here to turn the aorist into the perfect; and certainly in S. John's writings (whatever may be our view of 1 Corinthians 13) ἀγάπη must always be rendered -love." In a text like this, moreover,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because that for his Name's sake_ Much more forcibly the true text (א ABCKL), FOR _for the sake of_ THE _Name_: the -His" is a weak amplification in several versions. A similar weakening is found in Acts 5:41, which should run, -Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for _the_N... [ Continue Reading ]
_We therefore_ -We" is in emphatic contrast to the heathen just mentioned. The Apostle softens the injunction by including himself: comp. 1 John 2:1. _ought to receive such_ Or, _ought to_ SUPPORT _such_, to _undertake_for them: the verb (ὑπολαμβάνειν not ἀπολαμβάνειν) occurs elsewhere in N.T. only... [ Continue Reading ]
_I wrote unto the Church_ The best authorities give _I wrote_ SOMEWHAT _to the Church_; i.e. -I wrote a short letter, a something on which I do not lay much stress". There is yet another reading; _I would have written to the Church_: but this is an obvious corruption to avoid the unwelcome conclusio... [ Continue Reading ]
Diotrephes condemned for his Arrogance and Hostility This is the most surprising part of the letter; and of the internal evidence this is the item which seems to weigh most heavily against the Apostolic authorship. That any Christian should be found to act in this manner towards the last surviving... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore_ Or, FOR THIS CAUSE: see on 1 John 3:1. _I will remember_ I will direct public attention to the matter, -will bear witness of it before the Church" (3 John 1:6). It is the word used in John 14:26, -He shall bring all things to your remembrance." _his deeds which he doeth_ Or, _his_ WORK... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
The Moral This is the main portion of the Epistle. In it the Apostle bids Gaius beware of imitating such conduct. And if an example of Christian conduct is needed there is Demetrius.... [ Continue Reading ]
While Diotrephes sets an example to be abhorred, Demetrius sets one to be imitated. We know of him, as of Diotrephes, just what is told us here and no more. Perhaps he was the bearer of this letter. That Demetrius is the silversmith of Ephesus who once made silver shrines for Artemis (Acts 19:24) is... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
Conclusion The marked similarity to the Conclusion of the Second Epistle is strong evidence that the two letters were written about the same time. See notes on 2 John 1:12-13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But I trust I shall shortly see thee_ More closely, _but_ I HOPE IMMEDIATELY _to see thee_. The punctuation of this passage should be assimilated to the parallel passage in the Second Epistle. There is no reason for placing a comma before -but I hope" in the one case, and a full stop in the other.... [ Continue Reading ]