3 John
3 John front
Introduction to 3 John
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of the Book of 3 John
- Introduction (1:1)
- Encouragement and instructions to show hospitality (1:2–8)
- Diotrephes and Demetrius (1:9–12)
- Conclusion (1:13–14)
Who wrote the Book of 3 John?
The letter does not give the name of the author. The author only identified himself as The elder (1:1). The letter was probably written by the apostle John near the end of his life.
What is the Book of 3 John about?
John wrote this letter to a believer named Gaius. He instructed Gaius to be hospitable to fellow believers who were traveling through his area.
How should the title of this book be translated?
Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “3 John” or “Third John.” Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “The Third Letter from John” or “The Third Letter John Wrote”. (See: Как переводить имена и названия)
Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
What is hospitality?
Hospitality was an important concept in the ancient Near East. It was important to be friendly towards foreigners or outsiders and provide help to them if they needed it. In 2 John, John discouraged Christians from showing hospitality to false teachers. In 3 John, John encouraged Christians to show hospitality to faithful teachers.
Part 3: Important Translation Issues
How does the author use family relationships in his letter?
The author used the terms brother and children in a way that can be confusing. The scriptures often used the term brothers to refer to Jews. But in this letter, John used the word to refer to Christians. Also, John called some believers his children. These were believers he taught to obey Christ.
John also used the term Gentile in a way that could be confusing. The scriptures often used the term Gentile to refer to people who are not Jews. But in this letter, John used the word to refer to those who did not believe in Jesus.
3 John 1
3 John 1:1
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-youGeneral Information:
This is a personal letter from John to Gaius. All instances of you and your refer to Gaius and are singular.
The elder
Quote: ὁ πρεσβύτερος (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit
The elder refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as the elder either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church. The name of the author can be made explicit: “I, John the elder, am writing”
to … Gaius
Quote: Γαΐῳ (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names
Gaius is a fellow believer to whom John is writing this letter.
whom I love in truth
Quote: ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ (1)Alternate translation: “whom I truly love”
3 John 1:2
I pray concerning everything {for} you to prosper and to be healthy
Quote: περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν (1)Alternate translation: “I pray that you may do well in all things and be healthy”
just as your soul prospers
Quote: καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή (1)Alternate translation: “just as you are doing well spiritually”
3 John 1:3
at the coming of the brothers
Quote: ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν (1)These brothers were probably all male. Alternate translation: “when fellow believers came”
you are walking in truth
Quote: σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor
Here, walking on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. Alternate translation: “you are living your life according to God’s truth”
3 John 1:4
my children
Quote: τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor
John speaks of those he taught to believe in Jesus as though they were his children. This emphasizes his love and concern for them. It could also be that he himself led them to the Lord. Alternate translation: “my spiritual children”
3 John 1:5
[GL Quote Not Found!]
Quote: Connecting Statement: (0)Connecting Statement:
John’s purpose in writing this letter is to commend Gaius for taking care of people who are traveling to serve God; then he talks about two people, one evil and one good.
Beloved
Quote: ἀγαπητέ (1)Here, Beloved is used as a term of endearment for Gaius as a fellow believer. Use a term here for a dear friend in your language.
you are doing a faithful thing
Quote: πιστὸν ποιεῖς (1)Alternate translation: “you are doing what is faithful to God” or “you are being loyal to God”
whenever you might work for the brothers, and this {for} strangers
Quote: ὃ, ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους (1)Alternate translation: “when you help fellow believers, especially those whom you do not know”
3 John 1:6
the ones having borne witness to your love in the presence of the church
Quote: οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας (1)These words describe the “strangers” (verse 5). Alternate translation: “the strangers who have told the believers in the church about how you have loved them”
You will do well to send them on {their journey
Quote: οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας (1)John is commending Gaius for his normal practice of helping believers who are traveling. Translate this in a way that shows that this is something that Gaius does continually.
3 John 1:7
because they went out for the sake of the name
Quote: ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy
Here, the name refers to Jesus. This could mean: (1) they left where they were in order to tell others about Jesus. (2) they left where they were because others forced them to leave because of their belief in Jesus. (3) both of these things. Alternate translation: “since they have gone out to tell people about Jesus”
receiving nothing
Quote: μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες (1)This could mean: (1) unbelievers have not helped them by giving them anything. (2) they did not accept any help or gifts from unbelievers.
the Gentiles
Quote: τῶν ἐθνικῶν (1)Here, Gentiles does not just mean people who are not Jewish. It refers to any people who do not trust in Jesus.
3 John 1:8
so that we become fellow workers for the truth
Quote: ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ (1)Alternate translation: “so that we will cooperate with them in announcing God’s truth to people”
for the truth
Quote: τῇ ἀληθείᾳ (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification
Here, the truth is spoken of here as though it were a person that John, Gaius, and others worked for. This could refer to: (1) “the true message from God” as in the UST. (2) “God, who is Truth.”
3 John 1:9
to the church
Quote: τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ (1)Here, the church refers to Gaius and the group of believers who met together to worship God.
Diotrephes
Quote: Διοτρέφης (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names
Diotrephes was a member of the congregation.
the one loving to be first among them
Quote: ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν (1)Alternate translation: “who loves to be the most important one among them” or “who loves to act as though he is their leader”
us
Quote: ἡμᾶς (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive
The word us is exclusive; it refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. It may also be a polite way for John to refer to himself. See the UST.
Diotrephes, … does not accept us
Quote: Διοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy
Saying Diotrephes … does not accept us does not mean that he has physically rejected John and those with John, but it is a shorter way of saying that he does not accept John’s authority or the instructions that John gives. See the UST.
3 John 1:10
accusing us with evil words
Quote: λόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς (1)Alternate translation: “that is, that he says evil things about us that certainly are not true”
he does not receive the brothers
Quote: οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς (1)Alternate translation: “he does not welcome the fellow believers”
he stops the ones willing
Quote: τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis
John leaves out words that are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “he stops those who want to welcome the believers”
puts {them} out of the church
Quote: ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει (1)Alternate translation: “forces them to leave the group of believers”
3 John 1:11
Beloved
Quote: ἀγαπητέ (1)Here, Beloved is used as a term of endearment for Gaius as a fellow believer. See how you translated this in 3 John 1:5.
do not imitate what {is} evil
Quote: μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν (1)Alternate translation: “do not copy the evil things that people do”
but what {is} good
Quote: ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis
John leaves out words that are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “but imitate the good things that people do”
is from God
Quote: ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν (1)Alternate translation: “comes from God”
has not seen God
Quote: οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor
“Seeing” here is a metaphor that stands for knowing or understanding. Alternate translation: “has not experienced God” or “has not believed in God”
3 John 1:12
Demetrius has been borne witness to by all
Quote: Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive
If your language does not use this passive form, you can state this in active form. Alternate translation: “All who know Demetrius bear witness of him” or “Every believer who knows Demetrius speaks well of him”
Demetrius
Quote: Δημητρίῳ (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names
Demetrius is probably a man whom John wants Gaius and the congregation to welcome when he comes to visit. He may be the person delivering this letter.
by the truth itself
Quote: ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification
Here, truth is described as though it were a person speaking. Here, truth refers to “the true message from God.” Alternate translation: “everyone who knows the truth knows that he is a good person”
by the truth itself
Quote: ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis
John leaves out words that are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “he is borne witness to by the truth itself”
And we also bear witness
Quote: καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit
What John is confirming is implied and can be made explicit here. Alternate translation: “we also speak well of Demetrius”
we
Quote: ἡμεῖς (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive
Here, we refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius.
3 John 1:13
General Information:
This is the end of John’s letter to Gaius. In this section, he mentions coming to see him and closes with a greeting.
I am not wishing to write them to you with ink and pen
Quote: οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet
This is a doublet, because ink and pen stand for the process of writing that was already mentioned. John is not saying that he would write them with something other than ink and pen. He is saying that he does not wish to write these other things at all. Alternate translation: “I do not want to write about them to you”
3 John 1:14
mouth to mouth
Quote: στόμα πρὸς στόμα (1)Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom
Here, mouth to mouth is an idiom meaning “in person.” Alternate translation: “in person”
3 John 1:15
Peace to you
Quote: εἰρήνη σοι (1)Alternate translation: “May God give you peace”
The friends greet you
Quote: ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι (1)Alternate translation: “The believers here greet you”
Greet the friends by name
Quote: ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα (1)Alternate translation: “Greet each of the believers there for me”