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Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

3 John 1:12

Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Testimony;   Truth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Diotrephes;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Demetrius ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Demetrius;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But, everyone I've seen speaks well of Demetrius. The truth speaks for itself, but it's nice to hear from others about the good things some people are doing.
Bible in Basic English
Demetrius has the approval of all men and of what is true: and we give the same witness, and you are certain that our witness is true.
Darby Translation
Demetrius has witness borne to him by all, and by the truth itself; and *we* also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.
World English Bible
Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Demetrius hath a good testimony from all men, and from the truth itself: yea, we also bear testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.
Weymouth's New Testament
The character of Demetrius has the approval of all men, and of the truth itself. We also express our approval of it, and you know that we only give our approval to that which is true.
King James Version (1611)
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the trueth it selfe: yea, and we also beare record, and ye know that our record is true.
Literal Translation
Witness has been borne to Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Demetrius hath good reporte of all men, and of the trueth: yee and we oure selues also beare recorde, and ye knowe that oure recorde is true.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Demetrius has the applauses of all men, and the testimony of his own virtue: we likewise certify in his behalf, and you know that our testimonial deserves credit.
THE MESSAGE
Everyone has a good word for Demetrius—the Truth itself stands up for Demetrius! We concur, and you know we don't hand out endorsements lightly.
Amplified Bible
Demetrius has received a good testimony and commendation from everyone—and from the truth [the standard of God's word] itself; and we add our testimony and speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
American Standard Version
Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.
Revised Standard Version
Deme'trius has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Demetrius hath good reporte of all men and of the trueth: ye and we oure selves also beare recorde and ye knowe that oure recorde is true.
Update Bible Version
Demetrius has the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yes, we also bear witness: and you know that our witness is true.
Webster's Bible Translation
Demetrius hath good report by all [men], and by the truth itself: and we [also] bear testimony; and ye know that our testimony is true.
Young's Literal Translation
to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also -- we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.
New Century Version
Everyone says good things about Demetrius, and the truth agrees with what they say. We also speak well of him, and you know what we say is true.
New English Translation
Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Berean Standard Bible
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Contemporary English Version
Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the true message that he teaches. I also speak well of him, and you know what I say is true.
Complete Jewish Bible
Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We vouch for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
English Standard Version
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Demetrius hath good report of al men, and of the trueth it selfe: yea, and wee our selues beare recorde, and ye know that our record is true.
George Lamsa Translation
De-me''tri-us has good report of all men, and of the church, and of the truth itself: yea, we also testify for him; and we know that our testimony is true.
Christian Standard Bible®
Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Hebrew Names Version
Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
International Standard Version
Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this, and you know that our testimony is true.[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Concerning Demetrios is a testimony from every man, and from the church, and from the truth itself. But we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
Murdock Translation
12 Of Demetrius, there is good testimony from every one, and from the church, and from the truth itself: and we also bear [fn] testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.
New King James Version
Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
New Life Bible
Everyone speaks good things about Demetrius. The truth itself speaks for him. We say the same thing also and you know we are speaking the truth.
English Revised Version
Demetrius hath the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.
New Revised Standard
Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Unto Demetrius, hath witness been borne by all and by the truth itself; howbeit, we also, bear witness, and thou knowest that, our witness, is, true.
Douay-Rheims Bible
To Demetrius, testimony is given by all, and by the truth itself: yea and we also give testimony. And thou knowest that our testimony is true.
King James Version
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
Lexham English Bible
Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. And we also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the trueth it selfe: Yea, and we our selues also beare recorde, and ye knowe that our recorde is true.
Easy-to-Read Version
Everyone says good things about Demetrius, and the truth agrees with what they say. Also, we say good about him. And you know that what we say is true.
New American Standard Bible
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we testify too, and you know that our testimony is true.
Good News Translation
Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Witnessing is yoldun to Demetrie of alle men, and of treuthe it silf; but also we beren witnessing, and thou knowist, that oure witnessing is trewe.

Contextual Overview

12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. 13 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."
Isaiah 61:11
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.
Mark 4:28
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
Luke 6:44
A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
2 Corinthians 9:10
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Galatians 6:7
Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Demetrius hath good report of all [men], This man was of a quite different cast from Diotrephes, and therefore the apostle makes mention of him to Gaius, to be followed by him, and not the other; he was either the same with Demas, which is a contraction of this name, or the person that John sent from Ephesus with this letter: we read of an Ephesian of this name, Acts 19:24; though not the same person; or else one that also was a member of the same church with Gaius and Diotrephes; and he being kind and beneficent, obtained a good report of the generality of men, not only of the brethren, but of those that were without; for a liberal man is universally respected. The Syriac version adds, "and of the church itself"; as distinct from all men, or the generality of the men of the world:

and of the truth itself; that is, whoever speaks truth must give him a good character, for this cannot be understood with any propriety of the Gospel, nor of Jesus Christ:

yea, and we also bear record; or a testimony to the character of Demetrius; that is, I, John, the apostle, and the saints at Ephesus:

and ye know that our record is true; faithful, and to be depended upon. The Alexandrian copy, and several others, read, "thou knowest", as does also the Vulgate Latin version, which seems most agreeable, since this epistle is directed to a single person; compare this with John 19:35; and it will give a further proof of this epistle being the Apostle John's.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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, but there is one circumstance which seems to make it probable that he was a member of the same church with Gaius, and had united with him in showing Christian hospitality to these strangers. It is the use of the phrase “hath good report of all,” implying that some testimony was borne to his character beyond what the writer personally knew. It is possible, indeed, that the writer would have used this term respecting him if he lived in the same place with himself, as expressing the fact that he bore a good character, but it is a phrase which would be more appropriately used if we suppose that he was a member of the same church with Gaius, and that John means to say than an honorable testimony was borne of his character by all those brethren, and by all others as far as he knew.

And of the truth itself - Not only by men, who might possibly be deceived in the estimate of character, but by fact. It was not merely a reputation founded on what “appeared” in his conduct, but in truth and reality. His deportment, his life, his deeds of benevolence, all concurred with the testimony which was borne by men to the excellency of his character. There is, perhaps, particular reference here to his kind and hospitable treatment of those brethren.

Yea, and we also bear record - John himself had personally known him. He had evidently visited the place where he resided on some former occasion, and could now add his own testimony, which no one would call in question, to his excellent character.

And ye know that our record is true - This is in the manner of John, who always spoke of himself as having such character for truth that no one who knew him would call it in question. Every Christian should have such a character; every man might if he would. Compare the notes at John 19:35; John 21:24.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 3 John 1:12. Demetrius hath good report — Perhaps another member of the Church where Caius was; or he might have been one of those whom the apostle recommends to Caius; or, possibly, the bearer of this letter from John to Caius. He seems to have been an excellent person: all testified of his righteousness; the truth - Christianity, itself bore testimony to him; and the apostles themselves added theirs also.


 
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