This brief Epistle, written to a Christian whose name was Gaius, of whom nothing more is known (compare the notes at 3 John 1:1), and in respect to which the time and place of writing it are equally unknown, embraces the following subjects: I. The address, with an expression of tender attachment, a... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS - Margin, “pray.” The word used here commonly means in the New Testament to pray; but it is also employed to express a strong and earnest desire for anything, Acts 27:29; Rom 9:3; 2 Corinthians 13:9. This is probably all that is implied here. The phrase rendered “abo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I REJOICED GREATLY WHEN THE BRETHREN CAME - Who these were is not certainly known. They may have been members of the same church with Gaius, who, for some reason, had visited the writer of this Epistle; or they may have been the “brethren” who had gone from him with a letter of commendation to t... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN TRUTH - That they adhere steadfastly to the truth, and that they live in accordance with it. This is such language as would be used by an aged apostle when speaking of those who had been converted by his instrumentality, and who looked up t... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, THOU DOEST FAITHFULLY - In the previous verses the writer had commended Gaius for his attachment to truth, and his general correctness in his Christian life. He now speaks more particularly of his acts of generous hospitality, and says that he had fully, in that respect, done his duty as a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAVE BORNE WITNESS OF THY CHARITY BEFORE THE CHURCH - It would seem that they had returned to John, and borne honorable testimony to the love manifested to them by Gaius. Before what church they had borne this testimony is unknown. Perhaps it was the church in Ephesus. WHOM IF THOU BRING FORWA... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THAT FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE - The word “his” here refers to God; and the idea is, that they had undertaken this journey not on their own account, but in the cause of religion. THEY WENT FORTH - Or, “they have gone forth” - ἐξῆλθον exēlthon - referring to the journey which they had then unde... [ Continue Reading ]
WE THEREFORE OUGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH - All of us ought hospitably to entertain and help such persons. The work in which they are engaged is one of pure benevolence. They have no selfish aims and ends in it. They do not even look for the supplies of their own needs among the people to whom they go to m... [ Continue Reading ]
I WROTE UNTO THE CHURCH - That is on the former occasion when they went forth. At that time, John naturally commended them to the kind attentions of the church, not doubting but that aid would be rendered them in prosecuting their benevolent work among the Gentiles. The Epistle which was written on... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, IF I COME - He was evidently expecting soon to make a visit to Gaius, and to the church, 3 John 1:14. I WILL REMEMBER HIS DEEDS WHICH HE DOETH - That is, he would punish his arrogance and presumption; would take measures that he should be dealt with in a proper manner. There is no evidenc... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
DEMETRIUS HATH GOOD REPORT OF ALL MEN - Little is known of Demetrius. Lucke supposes that he resided near the place where the author of this Epistle lived, and was connected with the church there, and was probably the bearer of this Epistle. It is impossible to determine with certainty on this point... [ Continue Reading ]
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 expose... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I TRUST I SHALL SHORTLY SEE THEE ... - Notes at 2 John 1:12. OUR FRIENDS SALUTE THEE - That is, your friends and mine. This would seem rather to refer to private friends of John and Gaius than to Christians as such. They had, doubtless, their warm personal friends in both places. GREET THE FRI... [ Continue Reading ]