3 John 1

ADDRESS:

WISH FOR

GAIUS'

PROSPERITY:

JOY AT

HIS

WALKING IN THE

TRUTH.

HOSPITALITY TO THE

BRETHREN AND

STRANGERS THE

FRUIT OF

LOVE.

DIOTREPHES'

OPPOSITION AND

AMBITION.

PRAISE OF

DEMETRIUS.

CONCLUSION.

1. I--emphatical. I personally, for my part. On Gaius or

Caius, see my

Introduction

before Second Epistle.

love in the truth--

(2Jo 1).

"Beloved" is repeated often in this Epistle, indicating strong

affection

(3Jo 1, 2, 5, 11).

2. above all things--Greek, "concerning all

things": so ALFORD: in all respects. But

WAHL justifies English Version (compare

1Pe 4:8).

Of course, since his soul's prosperity is presupposed, "above

all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above

that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next

after spiritual health. I know you are prospering in the concerns

of your soul. I wish you similar prosperity in your body. Perhaps John

had heard from the brethren

(3Jo 3)

that Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways

(3Jo 10),

to which the wish,

3Jo 2,

refers.

prosper--in general.

be in health--in particular.

3. testified of the truth that is in thee--Greek, "of"

(or 'to') thy truth": thy share of that truth in which thou

walkest [ALFORD].

even as thou--in contrast to Diotrephes

(3Jo 9).

4. my children--members of the Church: confirming the view that

the "elect lady" is a Church.

5. faithfully--an act becoming a faithful man.

whatsoever thou doest--a distinct Greek word from the

former "doest": translate, "workest": whatsoever work, or labor of

love, thou dost perform. So

Mt 26:10,

"She hath wrought a good work upon me."

and to strangers--The oldest manuscripts, "and that (that is,

and those brethren) strangers." The fact of the brethren whom thou

didst entertain being "strangers," enhances the love manifested in the

act.

6. borne witness of thy charity before the church--to stimulate

others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Gaius were

missionary evangelists

(3Jo 7);

and, probably, in the course of narrating their missionary labors for

the edification of the Church where John then was, incidentally

mentioned the loving hospitality shown them by Gaius.

bring forward on their journey--"If thou (continue to)

forward on their journey" by giving them provisions for the way.

after a godly sort--Greek, "in a manner worthy of God,"

whose ambassadors they are, and whose servant thou art. He who honors

God's missionary servants

(3Jo 7),

honors God.

7. his name's sake--Christ's.

went forth--as missionaries.

taking nothing--refusing to receive aught by way of pay,

or maintenance, though justly entitled to it, as Paul at Corinth and at

Thessalonica.

Gentiles--the Christians just gathered out by their labors from

among the heathen. As Gaius himself was a Gentile convert, "the

Gentiles" here must mean the converts just made from the

heathen, the Gentiles to whom they had gone forth. It would

have been inexpedient to have taken aught (the Greek

"meden" implies, not that they got nothing, though they

had desired it, but that it was of their own choice they took

nothing) from the infant churches among the heathen: the case was

different in receiving hospitality from Gaius.

8. We--in contradistinction to "the Gentiles" or "heathen"

referred to,

3Jo 7.

therefore--as they take nothing from the Gentiles or heathen.

receive--The oldest manuscripts read, "take up." As they "take"

nothing from the Gentiles, we ought to take them up so as

to support them.

fellow helpers--with them.

to the truth--that is, to promote the truth.

9. I wrote--The oldest manuscripts add "something": a

communication, probably, on the subject of receiving the

brethren with brotherly love

(3Jo 8, 10).

That Epistle was not designed by the Spirit for the universal Church,

or else it would have been preserved.

unto the church--of which Gaius is a member.

loveth . . . pre-eminence--through ambition. Evidently

occupying a high place in the Church where Gaius was

(3Jo 10).

among them--over the members of the Church.

receiveth us not--virtually, namely, by not receiving

with love the brethren whom we recommended to be received

(3Jo 8, 10;

compare

Mt 10:40).

10. if I come--

(3Jo 14).

I will remember--literally, "I will bring to mind" before all by

stigmatizing and punishing.

prating--with mere silly tattle.

neither doth he . . . receive the brethren--with

hospitality. "The brethren" are the missionaries on their journey.

forbiddeth them that would--receive them.

casteth them--those that would receive the brethren, by

excommunication from the Church, which his influence, as a leading man

(3Jo 9)

in it, enabled him to do. NEANDER thinks that the

missionaries were JEWS by birth, whence it is said

in their praise they took nothing from THE

GENTILES: in contrast to other Jewish missionaries

who abused ministers' right of maintenance elsewhere, as Paul tells us,

2Co 11:22;

Php 3:2, 5, 19.

Now in the Gentile churches there existed an ultra-Pauline party of

anti-Jewish tendency, the forerunners of Marcion: Diotrephes possibly

stood at the head of this party, which fact, as well as this

domineering spirit, may account for his hostility to the missionaries,

and to the apostle John, who had, by the power of love, tried to

harmonize the various elements in the Asiatic churches. At a later

period, Marcion, we know, attached himself to Paul alone, and paid no

deference to the authority of John.

11. follow not that which is evil--as manifested in Diotrephes

(3Jo 9, 10).

but . . . good--as manifested in Demetrius

(3Jo 12).

is of God--is born of God, who is good.

hath not seen God--spiritually, not literally.

12. of all men--who have had opportunity of knowing his character.

of the truth itself--The Gospel standard of truth bears

witness to him that he walks conformably to it, in acts of real love,

hospitality to the brethren (in contrast to Diotrephes), &c. Compare

Joh 3:21

"He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made

manifest that they are wrought in God."

we also--besides the testimony of "all men," and "of the truth

itself."

ye know--The oldest manuscripts read, "thou knowest."

13. I will not--rather as Greek, "I wish not

. . . to write" more.

14. face to face--Greek, "mouth to mouth."

Peace--peace inward of conscience, peace fraternal of

friendship, peace supernal of glory [LYRA].

friends--a title seldom used in the New Testament, as it is

absorbed in the higher titles of "brother, brethren." Still Christ

recognizes the relation of friend also, based on the highest

grounds, obedience to Him from love, and entailing the highest

privileges, admission to the intimacy of the holy and glorious God, and

sympathizing Saviour; so Christians have "friends" in Christ. Here in a

friendly letter, mention of "friends" appropriately occurs.

[BENGEL].

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