3 John 1
3 John 1 is part of “Greeting” (1:1–2) in the outline of 3 John.
3 John 1 summary
In this epistle the apostle congratulates Gaius upon the prosperity of his soul (Jo3 1:1, Jo3 1:2), upon the fame he had among good Christians (Jo3 1:3, Jo3 1:4), and upon his charity and hospitality to the servants of Christ (Jo3 1:5, Jo3 1:6). He complains of contemptuous treatment by an ambitious Diotrephes (Jo3 1:9, Jo3 1:10), recommends Demetrius (Jo3 1:12), and expresses his hope of visiting Gaius shortly (Jo3 1:13, Jo3 1:14).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in 3 John 1
3 John 1 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Greeting
1The Elder vnto the beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth. 2Beloued, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soule prospereth. 3For I reioyced greatly when the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the trueth. 4I haue no greater ioy then these, that is, to heare that my sonnes walke in veritie.
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5Beloued, thou doest faithfully, whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers, 6Which bare witnesse of thy loue before the Churches. Whom if thou bringest on their iourney as it beseemeth according to God, thou shalt doe well, 7Because that for his Names sake they went forth, and tooke nothing of the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receiue such, that we might be helpers to the trueth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9I wrote vnto the Church: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not. 10Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deedes which he doeth, pratling against vs with malicious wordes, and not therewith content, neither he himselfe receiueth the brethren, but forbiddeth them that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Church. 11Beloued, follow not that which is euill, but that which is good: he that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euill, hath not seene God. 12Demetrius 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.