3 John 1
3 John 1:1-14 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, before Second Epistle.
love in the truth--( 2 John 1:1 this Epistle, indicating strong affection ( 3 John 1:1 3 John 1:2 3 John 1:5 3 John 1:11
2. above all things--Greek, "concerning all things": so ALFORD: in all respects. But WAHL justifies English Version (compare 1 Peter 4:8 "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 ( 3 John 1:3 in bad health, and was tried in other ways ( 3 John 1:10 the wish, 3 John 1:2
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 ( 3 John 1:9
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 Matthew 26:10 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 ( 3 John 1:7 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 ( 3 John 1:7
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, 3 John 1:7
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.