1. I--emphatical. I personally, for my
part. On Gaius or Caius, see my Introduction before Second Epistle.
love in the truth--(@2Jo 1:1). "Beloved"
is repeated often in this Epistle, indicating strong affection (@3Jo 1:1,2,5,11).
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 1:3) that
Gaius was in bad health, and was tried in other ways (@3Jo 1:10), to which the wish,
@3Jo 1:2, 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 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 @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 1:7); 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
1:7), 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 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.
9. I wrote--The oldest
manuscripts add "something": a communication, probably, on the subject of
receiving the brethren with brotherly love (@3Jo 1:8,10). 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 1:10).
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 1:8,10; compare @Mt 10:40).
10. if I come--(@3Jo 1:14).
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 1:9) 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 1:9,10).
but . . . good--as manifested in Demetrius
(@3Jo 1:12).
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.
by name--not less than if their names were written
[BENGEL].