Third Epistle of John
1 See the note on 2 John 1.
2 Above all things is better translated "in all respects." Gaius was clearly a dear friend of John. His physical health is
as important to John as his spiritual health.
3 John looks back to a time prior to writing this letter when he heard of Gaius's steadfastness and rejoiced as a
result.
4 Children here refers to those whom John has in some way helped lead to Christ.
5 In 2 John, mention is made of hospitality to traveling Christian workers. This was of crucial importance in the early
church. See Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9.
6 Some of those who Gaius had helped along had evidently brought word back to John of Gaius's exemplary
labors. To bring forward would entail the full range of financial, travel, and other assistance necessary to host and
then send along a visiting Christian leader whose only support was the generosity of other believers.
7 Literally, "for the name they went out," that is, the name of Jesus. They took nothing from the Gentiles (i.e the
unconverted), lest they appear to be hawking the gospel for personal gain. See Jesus' command, Matthew 10:8,
and Paul's example, 1 Corinthians 9:6-15.
8 To help missionaries and similar workers to continue in their calling is to share in their work. Christians are
obligated (we...ought) to bear their share of the burden of such work.
9 The letter of which John speaks is lost, as it does not seem to have been 1 or 2 John. The church is probably the
fellowship of which Gaius was a member. What the elder has written up to this point seems to serve as a prologue
for his major concern, which he takes up now.
10 To prate is to indulge in idle or trivial chatter. John characterizes Diotrephes' talk as meaningless gossip.
Diotrephes opposes John's teaching, either John's stress on Christ's nature or the need for Christians to
demonstrate love at all times. He also opposes the exercise of hospitality such as earned high praise for Gaius from
the elder.
11 This is John's way of saying that faith which does not result in works is no faith at all. Salvation is not by works,
but it does produce them. See Ephesians 2:8-10.
12 Demetrius probably delivered the letter to Gaius. He was known to the elder; perhaps he was one of the
brethren whom Diotrephes had cast out (verse 10). The elder's warm remarks would reassure Gaius that he could
take Demetrius in and show him the favor he usually accorded visitors who were serving the truth.
13, 14 John excuses the brevity of his remarks, He expects to visit Gaius soon. Friends are Christian brethren.
Some texts and translations make the words beginning with peace into a fifteenth verse.