3 John 1:10

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 works which he doeth: see on 2 John 1:11.

with malicious words Or, with evil words: it is the same adjective (πονηρός) as is used throughout the First Epistle of -the evil one." The word for -prate" (φλυαρεῖν) occurs nowhere else in N.T. It is frequent in Aristophanes and Demosthenes, and means literally -to talk non-sense." Its construction here with an accusative after it is quite exceptional. -Prates against us," garriens in nos, cannot well be improved: it conveys the idea that the words were not only wicked, but senseless. Comp. -And not only idle, but tattlers(φλύαροι) also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not" (1 Timothy 5:13). Other renderings are -chiding against us" (Wiclif), -jesting on us" (Tyndale and Cranmer), -pratteling against us" (Genevan), -chatting against us" (Rhemish), plaudert wider uns(Luther).

neither doth he himself receive the brethren The same word (ἐπιδέχεται) is used here and at the end of 3 John 1:9. It occurs nowhere else in N.T. but is common in classical Greek. In 3 John 1:9 the meaning probably is -admits not our authority," or -ignores our letter." Here of course it is -refuses hospitality to." But perhaps -closes his doors against" may be the meaning in both places; -us" being S. John's friends. By saying -us" rather than -me", the Apostle avoids the appearance of a personal quarrel.

casteth them out of the Church He excommunicates those who are willing to receive the missionary brethren. The exact meaning of this is uncertain, as we have not sufficient knowledge of the circumstances. The natural meaning is that Diotrephes had sufficient authority or influence in some Christian congregation to exclude from it those who received brethren of whom he did not approve. For the expression comp. John 9:34-35.