II. Substance of the Letter.
The substance of the letter is, first, a tribute to the character and work of Gaius, especially his hospitality to Christ's servants, with exhortation to continue this fidelity; then follows the special offence of Diotrephes, the contrast of his conduct with that of Demetrius, and an exhortation to Gaius in relation to both.
Verse 3 John 1:3. _WHEN THE BRETHREN CAME_] Probably the same of whom he speaks in the fifth 3 John 1:5 and following verses, and who appear to have been itinerant evangelists. _THE TRUTH THAT IS IN...
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 Ep...
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, Ro...
COMMENDATION OF GAIUS. John expresses his delight at the witness borne to the moral integrity of Gaius by some who had visited the apostle. He prays that Gaius may have prosperity and health commensur...
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 improba...
The Elder to Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you, and that you are in good health of body, as it goes well with your soul. It gave me grea...
THE TEACHER'S JOY (3 John 1:1-4)...
REJOICED GREATLY. See 2 John 1:4. THE. Omit. TESTIFIED. Greek. _martureo._ See p. 1511. THE TRUTH, &C. Literally thy truth....
_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...
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...
[939], Vulgate, and Thebaic omit ΓΆΡ. [939] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. 3. ἘΧΆΡΗΝ ΓᾺΡ ΛΊ...
PERSONAL GOOD WISHES AND SENTIMENTS...
ΈΧΆΡΗΝ _aor. ind. pass. (dep.) от_ ΧΑΊΡΩ (G844) быть счастливым, ликовать, радоваться. Гл. часто встречается в письмах того времени (Klauck). ΕΡΧΟΜΈΝΩΝ _praes. med. (dep.) part. от_ ΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G2064) п...
TESTIFIED OF THE TRUTH— _Testified concerning the truth_ (σου τη αληθεια), _as thou walkest in the truth,_ and adornest the gospel by an exemplary behaviour....
E. _Translation and Comments_ 1. Gaius The Beloved. 3 John 1:1-8 (1) The old one to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. (3 John 1:2) Beloved, concerning everything I pray (for) you to prosper...
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. TESTIFIED OF THE TRUTH THAT IS IN THEE - `to thy truth:' thy share of tha...
VERSE 3. FOR I REJOICED GREATLY. John now gives Gaius a view of how the reports the brethren brought him of the conduct and conversation of Gaius affected him. He was overjoyed to learn that Gaius ex...
2 The prosperity of the soul must not be confounded with spiritual prosperity. Like the salvation of the soul (1Pe_1:9), it refers to that physical enjoyment and satisfaction which will be fully known...
1:3 truth, (g-17) Lit. 'to thy truth.'...
THOU] In the Gk., emphatic; in contrast with others, like Diotrephes, of whom this could not be said....
ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DO GOOD WORK 3 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER 1 THE WRITER The author of this letter was the *apostle John. He also wrote 1 John and 2 John. He called himself ‘the *e...
(2 _a._) (2) BELOVED. — St. John’s affection is founded on the high merits of Caius as a Christian. ABOVE ALL THINGS. — This may mean “_in_ all things.” BE IN HEALTH. — An ascetic would be surprised...
ἐχάρην, see note on 2 John 1:4. ἐρχομένων, repeatedly, not on one particular occasion (ἐλθόντων). The itinerant brethren (_die reisenden Brüder_) were always at work, going out from Ephesus on their m...
Address and Commendation. “The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in Truth. Beloved, in all respects I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I was excee...
THE APOSTLE'S JOY 3 John 1:1 Again we meet the words _love_ and _truth_. Transparency of speech and life is an essential condition of soul health. It would not be desirable to express the wish of 3 J...
GAIUS Just as he did at the beginning of 2 John, the apostle describes himself as aged in addressing this personal letter to Gaius, whom he loved. The term here for beloved suggests a very close rela...
Contents After his usual salutation, the Apostle tells his beloved Gaius of his desires, both for his temporal and spiritual prosperity. He commends him for his kindness to the brethren. He remarks o...
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. Next to the health of the soul, the health of the body is the greatest blessing. And, among the promises of God in Chri...
The Third Epistle encourages the believer to the exercise of hospitality, whether towards the known brethren or strangers, and to all benevolent care in furthering their journey when departing, provid...
FOR I REJOICED GREATLY WHEN THE BRETHREN CAME,.... From the place where Gaius lived, to that where John now resided; these brethren seem to be preachers of the word, who travelled from place to place...
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. Ver. 3. _Testified of the truth_] This was their ingenuity, thus, at leas...
_Beloved, I wish_ Or, _I pray_, as ευχομαι is translated by Beza, Estius, Erasmus, Schmidius, Doddridge, and others. _Above all things_ Or, _with respect to all things_, as περι παντων rather signifie...
FOR I REJOICED GREATLY WHEN THE BRETHREN CAME AND TESTIFIED OF THE TRUTH THAT IS IN THEE, EVEN AS THOU WALKEST IN THE TRUTH....
Address and commendation of Gaius:...
1-8 Those who are beloved of Christ, will love the brethren for his sake. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health....
Ver. 3,4. THE TRUTH is familiarly used to signify the pure doctrine of Christianity, which in its principal design aims at correspondent practice. That his _children, _ i.e. such as had been converted...
3 John 1:3 For G1063 rejoiced G5463 (G5644) greatly G3029 brethren G80 came G2064 (G5740) and G2532 testified...
‘For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, even as you walk in truth. Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.' But his greatest...
I REJOICED GREATLY (εχαρην λιαν). As in 2 John 1:4; Philippians 4:10, not epistolary aorist, but reference to his emotions at the good tidings about Gaius.WHEN BRETHREN CAME (ερχομενων αδελφων). G...
CONTENTS: Exhortation concerning ministering brethren. The domineering Diotrephes and the good Demetrius. CHARACTERS: John, Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. CONCLUSION: Ministers of Christ should aboun...
I WAS SO HAPPY. "I know your spirit is in good health, because of the report some brothers brought back to me!" The Greek implies it was a _continuous good report_ that was coming to John. These are b...
_I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee._ Beautiful is the picture presented in this verse. Here we have brethren engaging in Christian intercourse, asce...
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:1 Greeting: The Elder’s Joy at Gaius’s Faithfulness. John’s opening tone is affectionate and positive. ⇐...
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:3 THE BROTHERS CAME. Apparently Christians from Gaius’s church had visited John. They told John of Gaius’s faithful Christian life. TRUTH. Faithfulness to Christ and his comman...
PERSONAL CONFIDENCES AND KINDLY WARNINGS _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ 3 John 1:1. THE ELDER.—It cannot be decided whether this was a recognised official title, or an allusion by St. John to his gr...
So the third epistle of John is now again, John addresses himself as The elder [the presbyturos] unto the wellbeloved Gaius (3 John 1:1), Probably not the Gaius mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Co...
1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 7:6;...
Rejoiced greatly. See on 2 John 1:4. Brethren came [ε ρ χ ο μ ε ν ω ν α δ ε λ φ ω ν]. Lit., coming. The present participle denotes coming from time to time, and not coming on a single occasion, which...
For — I know thou usest all thy talents to his glory. The truth that is in thee — The true faith and love....
Observe here, 1. The commendable testimony which the brethren that came from Gaius have to St. John concerning his holy and unblamable conversation, according to the direction of the gospel. THE BRETH...