Bible Commentaries
3 John 1

Introduction

Overview

3 John 1:1, He commends Gaius for his piety, 3 John 1:5, and hospitality, 3 John 1:7, to true preachers; 3 John 1:9, complaining of the unkind dealing of ambitious Diotrephes on the contrary side; 3 John 1:11, whose evil example is not to be followed; 3 John 1:12, and gives special testimony to the good report of Demetrius.

Verse 1

ad 90, am 4094

elder: 2 John 1:1

the wellbeloved: Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14

whom: 1 John 3:18, 2 John 1:1

in the truth: or, truly

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:2 - John Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 14:23 - elders Acts 20:17 - the elders Romans 16:5 - my 1 Timothy 5:1 - an elder Titus 3:15 - love 1 Peter 5:1 - who

Verse 2

wish: or, pray

above: James 5:12, 1 Peter 4:8

that: Psalms 20:1-5, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:27

even: 3 John 1:3-6, Colossians 1:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:20, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Philemon 1:5-7, 2 Peter 1:3-9, 2 Peter 3:18, Revelation 2:9

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:40 - quicken 2 Corinthians 7:6 - comforted

Verse 3

I: 3 John 1:4, 2 John 1:4, Philippians 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:20

when: Romans 1:8, Romans 1:9, 2 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Corinthians 7:7, Ephesians 1:15, Ephesians 1:16, Colossians 1:7, Colossians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-9

the truth: 2 John 1:2, 2 John 1:4, Psalms 119:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 26:3 - and Psalms 86:11 - I will Proverbs 20:7 - just Proverbs 23:15 - if Romans 1:12 - that I may Romans 6:17 - But 1 Corinthians 13:6 - rejoiceth Philippians 1:27 - I may Philippians 2:19 - that I Colossians 1:4 - we Philemon 1:7 - great joy 1 John 1:8 - the truth 1 John 2:14 - the word 1 John 2:24 - abide 3 John 1:2 - even

Verse 4

have: Proverbs 23:24

that: Isaiah 8:18, 1 Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 4:19, Philemon 1:10

walk: 1 Kings 2:4, 1 Kings 3:6, 2 Kings 20:3, Psalms 26:1-3, Isaiah 38:3, John 12:35, John 12:36, Galatians 2:14

Reciprocal: Psalms 26:3 - and Psalms 86:11 - I will Proverbs 17:21 - hath Proverbs 20:7 - just Proverbs 23:15 - if Acts 11:23 - seen Romans 1:12 - that I may 1 Corinthians 16:18 - they 2 Corinthians 6:13 - I speak Philippians 1:27 - I may Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil Philippians 2:19 - that I Colossians 1:4 - we Philemon 1:20 - let me 1 John 1:7 - If we 2 John 1:4 - rejoiced 3 John 1:3 - I

Verse 5

Matthew 24:45, Luke 12:42, Luke 16:10-12, 2 Corinthians 4:1-3, Colossians 3:17, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 4:11

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 12:15 - for they dealt 2 Kings 22:7 - they dealt faithfully 2 Chronicles 31:20 - wrought Matthew 10:41 - that receiveth a prophet Matthew 25:16 - went Matthew 25:35 - I was a Luke 10:7 - for Acts 16:15 - If Romans 16:2 - ye receive Galatians 6:10 - especially Philippians 4:14 - ye have

Verse 6

have borne witness of thy charity: 3 John 1:12, Philemon 1:5-7

whom: Acts 15:3, Acts 21:5, Romans 15:24, 2 Corinthians 1:16, Titus 3:13

after a godly sort: or, worthy of God, This is a literal and proper rendering of the original במישע [Strong's G516], פןץ [Strong's G5120], וןץ [Strong's G2316], by which the antecedent to the possessive pronoun his, in the next verse, becomes immediately apparent. "In a manner worthy of God, and of your relations and obligations to Him, and such as He can approve." 1 Thessalonians 2:12

do well: Genesis 4:7, Jonah 4:4, Matthew 25:21-23, Acts 15:29, Philippians 4:14, 1 Peter 2:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:16 - to bring Judges 8:5 - loaves Ezra 1:4 - let the men Acts 13:3 - they sent Acts 14:26 - recommended Acts 28:15 - when 1 Corinthians 16:6 - that ye 1 Corinthians 16:11 - but 2 Peter 1:19 - ye do

Verse 7

that: Acts 8:4, Acts 9:16, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Colossians 1:24, Revelation 2:3

taking: 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 5:16, 2 Kings 5:20-27, 1 Corinthians 9:12-15, 1 Corinthians 9:18, 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, 2 Corinthians 12:13

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:11 - inquire Matthew 19:29 - my John 21:17 - Feed Acts 21:17 - the brethren 1 Corinthians 16:6 - that ye

Verse 8

to receive: 3 John 1:10, Matthew 10:14, Matthew 10:40, Luke 11:7, 2 Corinthians 7:2, 2 Corinthians 7:3

fellowhelpers: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 1 Corinthians 16:11, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 8:23, Philippians 4:3, Colossians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, Philemon 1:2, Philemon 1:24

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 22:17 - all the princes Psalms 94:16 - rise up Matthew 10:11 - inquire John 21:17 - Feed Acts 13:3 - they sent Acts 15:4 - received Acts 16:15 - come Acts 18:27 - exhorting Acts 21:17 - the brethren Romans 14:1 - receive 1 Corinthians 3:9 - we 1 Corinthians 16:16 - helpeth 3 John 1:9 - receiveth

Verse 9

who loveth:  ציכןנסשפוץשם "who loveth the presidency," or chief place, doubtless in the church, of which Diotrephes was most probably an officer; and being one, magnified himself in his office: he loved such pre-eminence, and behaved haughtily in it. Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 23:4-8, Mark 9:34, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 22:24-27, Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:3-5, Titus 1:7-16

receiveth: 3 John 1:8, Matthew 10:40-42, Mark 9:37, Luke 9:48

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:10 - and seek Ezra 4:3 - Ye have nothing Proverbs 6:19 - that soweth Proverbs 13:10 - Only Matthew 18:17 - tell Matthew 20:26 - it Matthew 23:6 - General Matthew 24:49 - to smite Mark 12:38 - which Luke 9:46 - General Luke 9:49 - we saw Luke 11:43 - for Luke 12:45 - to beat Luke 14:7 - they Luke 20:46 - which Luke 22:26 - General John 9:34 - And they Acts 8:19 - General Romans 12:3 - not to Romans 12:16 - Mind 1 Peter 5:3 - as

Verse 10

I will: 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 2 Corinthians 10:1-11, 2 Corinthians 13:2

prating: Proverbs 10:8, Proverbs 10:10

and casteth: Isaiah 66:5, Luke 6:22, John 9:22, John 9:34, John 9:35

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:3 - Ye have nothing Proverbs 6:19 - that soweth Proverbs 13:10 - Only Matthew 18:17 - tell Matthew 20:26 - it Matthew 24:49 - to smite Luke 9:49 - we saw Luke 12:45 - to beat Luke 22:26 - General 2 Corinthians 10:6 - in Philippians 2:29 - Receive 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - that ye James 3:6 - a world 1 Peter 5:3 - as 3 John 1:8 - to receive

Verse 11

Beloved: Beloved, בדבנחפו [Strong's G27], is in the vocative singular, and therefore refers to Gaius.

follow: Rather, imitate לילןץ. Exodus 23:2, Psalms 37:27, Proverbs 12:11, Isaiah 1:16, Isaiah 1:17, John 10:27, John 12:26, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Timothy 3:10, *marg. Hebrews 6:12, 1 Peter 3:13

He that doeth good: 1 Peter 3:11, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:6-9

he that doeth evil: John 3:20

Reciprocal: Ezra 1:5 - whose spirit Psalms 15:3 - doeth Psalms 26:3 - For Psalms 34:14 - do Psalms 53:3 - none Proverbs 2:20 - General Proverbs 12:28 - General Amos 5:15 - Hate Luke 6:27 - do Luke 8:21 - which John 3:21 - they are John 8:47 - General 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Follow 1 Corinthians 16:18 - therefore Galatians 6:10 - do good Ephesians 5:9 - goodness 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - ever 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - but 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - that ye 1 Timothy 6:18 - they do 2 Timothy 2:22 - follow Hebrews 12:14 - and holiness Hebrews 13:16 - to do James 1:22 - be 1 John 3:10 - is

Verse 12

good: Acts 10:22, Acts 22:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, 1 Timothy 3:7

and we: John 19:35, John 21:24

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 2:24 - no good 1 Samuel 12:4 - General Acts 6:3 - honest 1 Corinthians 16:18 - therefore 2 Corinthians 6:8 - evil 1 Thessalonians 1:8 - in every 1 Timothy 5:10 - reported 1 Peter 5:12 - testifying 1 John 5:11 - this 3 John 1:6 - have borne witness of thy charity Revelation 1:2 - bare

Verse 13

2 John 1:12

Reciprocal: Acts 15:27 - who

Verse 14

face to face: Gr. mouth to mouth

Peace: Genesis 43:23, Daniel 4:1, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 6:23, 1 Peter 5:14

Our: Romans 16:10, Romans 16:11, *marg.

friends: Instead of ציכןי and ציכןץע, friends, an appellation used no where else as a mutual address among Christians, several manuscripts read בהוכצןי [Strong's G80], and בהוכצןץע [Strong's G81], brethren.

Greet: Romans 16:1-16

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:12 - salute it Acts 15:23 - greeting Acts 23:26 - greeting 2 Corinthians 13:13 - General Philippians 2:24 - General Philippians 4:22 - the 1 Timothy 3:14 - hoping 2 Timothy 4:21 - and all Philemon 1:22 - for I trust