Bible Commentary


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1 The elder to the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do to the brothers, and to strangers;

6 Which have borne witness of your charity before the church: whom if you bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, you shall do well:

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.

9 I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.

10 Why, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yes, and we also bear record; and you know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to you:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see you, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. Our friends salute you. Greet the friends by name.


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elder: 2Jn 1:1

the wellbeloved: Act 19:29, Act 20:4, Rom 16:23, 1Co 1:14

whom: 1Jn 3:18, 2Jn 1:1

in the truth: or, truly

Reciprocal: Mat 10:2 - John Act 1:13 - Peter Act 14:23 - elders Act 20:17 - the elders Rom 16:5 - my 1Ti 5:1 - an elder Tit 3:15 - love 1Pe 5:1 - who

wish: or, pray

above: Jas 5:12, 1Pe 4:8

that: Psa 20:1-5, Php 2:4, Php 2:27

even: 3Jn 1:3-6, Col 1:4-6, 1Th 1:3-10, 1Th 2:13, 1Th 2:14, 1Th 2:19, 1Th 2:20, 1Th 3:6-9, 2Th 1:3, 2Th 2:13, Phm 1:5-7, 2Pe 1:3-9, 2Pe 3:18, Rev 2:9

Reciprocal: Psa 119:40 - quicken 2Co 7:6 - comforted

I: 3Jn 1:4, 2Jn 1:4, Php 1:4, 1Th 2:19, 1Th 2:20

when: Rom 1:8, Rom 1:9, 2Co 7:6, 2Co 7:7, Eph 1:15, Eph 1:16, Col 1:7, Col 1:8, 1Th 3:6-9

the truth: 2Jn 1:2, 2Jn 1:4, Psa 119:11

Reciprocal: Psa 26:3 - and Psa 86:11 - I will Pro 20:7 - just Pro 23:15 - if Rom 1:12 - that I may Rom 6:17 - But 1Co 13:6 - rejoiceth Php 1:27 - I may Php 2:19 - that I Col 1:4 - we Phm 1:7 - great joy 1Jn 1:8 - the truth 1Jn 2:14 - the word 1Jn 2:24 - abide 3Jn 1:2 - even

have: Pro 23:24

that: Isa 8:18, 1Co 4:15, Gal 4:19, Phm 1:10

walk: 1Ki 2:4, 1Ki 3:6, 2Ki 20:3, Psa 26:1-3, Isa 38:3, Joh 12:35, Joh 12:36, Gal 2:14

Reciprocal: Psa 26:3 - and Psa 86:11 - I will Pro 17:21 - hath Pro 20:7 - just Pro 23:15 - if Act 11:23 - seen Rom 1:12 - that I may 1Co 16:18 - they 2Co 6:13 - I speak Php 1:27 - I may Php 2:2 - Fulfil Php 2:19 - that I Col 1:4 - we Phm 1:20 - let me 1Jn 1:7 - If we 2Jn 1:4 - rejoiced 3Jn 1:3 - I

Mat 24:45, Luk 12:42, Luk 16:10-12, 2Co 4:1-3, Col 3:17, 1Pe 4:10, 1Pe 4:11

Reciprocal: 2Ki 12:15 - for they dealt 2Ki 22:7 - they dealt faithfully 2Ch 31:20 - wrought Mat 10:41 - that receiveth a prophet Mat 25:16 - went Mat 25:35 - I was a Luk 10:7 - for Act 16:15 - If Rom 16:2 - ye receive Gal 6:10 - especially Php 4:14 - ye have

have borne witness of thy charity: 3Jn 1:12, Phm 1:5-7

whom: Act 15:3, Act 21:5, Rom 15:24, 2Co 1:16, Tit 3:13

after a godly sort: or, worthy of God, This is a literal and proper rendering of the original αξιως [Strong’s G516], του [Strong’s G5120], Θεου [Strong’s G2316], by which the antecedent to the possessive pronoun his, in the next verse, becomes immediately apparent. "In a manner worthy of God, and of your relations and obligations to Him, and such as He can approve." 1Th 2:12

do well: Gen 4:7, Jon 4:4, Mat 25:21-23, Act 15:29, Php 4:14, 1Pe 2:20

Reciprocal: Gen 18:16 - to bring Jdg 8:5 - loaves Ezr 1:4 - let the men Act 13:3 - they sent Act 14:26 - recommended Act 28:15 - when 1Co 16:6 - that ye 1Co 16:11 - but 2Pe 1:19 - ye do

that: Act 8:4, Act 9:16, 2Co 4:5, Col 1:24, Rev 2:3

taking: 2Ki 5:15, 2Ki 5:16, 2Ki 5:20-27, 1Co 9:12-15, 1Co 9:18, 2Co 11:7-9, 2Co 12:13

Reciprocal: Mat 10:11 - inquire Mat 19:29 - my Joh 21:17 - Feed Act 21:17 - the brethren 1Co 16:6 - that ye

to receive: 3Jn 1:10, Mat 10:14, Mat 10:40, Luk 11:7, 2Co 7:2, 2Co 7:3

fellowhelpers: 1Co 3:5-9, 1Co 16:10, 1Co 16:11, 2Co 6:1, 2Co 8:23, Php 4:3, Col 4:11, 1Th 3:2, Phm 1:2, Phm 1:24

Reciprocal: 1Ch 22:17 - all the princes Psa 94:16 - rise up Mat 10:11 - inquire Joh 21:17 - Feed Act 13:3 - they sent Act 15:4 - received Act 16:15 - come Act 18:27 - exhorting Act 21:17 - the brethren Rom 14:1 - receive 1Co 3:9 - we 1Co 16:16 - helpeth 3Jn 1:9 - receiveth

who loveth: Ο φιλοπρωτευων "who loveth the presidency," or chief place, doubtless in the church, of which Diotrephes was most probably an officer; and being one, magnified himself in his office: he loved such pre-eminence, and behaved haughtily in it. Mat 20:20-28, Mat 23:4-8, Mar 9:34, Mar 10:35-45, Luk 22:24-27, Rom 12:10, Php 2:3-5, Tit 1:7-16

receiveth: 3Jn 1:8, Mat 10:40-42, Mar 9:37, Luk 9:48

Reciprocal: Num 16:10 - and seek Ezr 4:3 - Ye have nothing Pro 6:19 - that soweth Pro 13:10 - Only Mat 18:17 - tell Mat 20:26 - it Mat 23:6 - General Mat 24:49 - to smite Mar 12:38 - which Luk 9:46 - General Luk 9:49 - we saw Luk 11:43 - for Luk 12:45 - to beat Luk 14:7 - they Luk 20:46 - which Luk 22:26 - General Joh 9:34 - And they Act 8:19 - General Rom 12:3 - not to Rom 12:16 - Mind 1Pe 5:3 - as

I will: 1Co 5:1-5, 2Co 10:1-11, 2Co 13:2

prating: Pro 10:8, Pro 10:10

and casteth: Isa 66:5, Luk 6:22, Joh 9:22, Joh 9:34, Joh 9:35

Reciprocal: Ezr 4:3 - Ye have nothing Pro 6:19 - that soweth Pro 13:10 - Only Mat 18:17 - tell Mat 20:26 - it Mat 24:49 - to smite Luk 9:49 - we saw Luk 12:45 - to beat Luk 22:26 - General 2Co 10:6 - in Php 2:29 - Receive 2Th 3:6 - that ye Jas 3:6 - a world 1Pe 5:3 - as 3Jn 1:8 - to receive

Beloved: Beloved, αγαπητε [Strong’s G27], is in the vocative singular, and therefore refers to Gaius.

follow: Rather, imitate μιμου. Exo 23:2, Psa 37:27, Pro 12:11, Isa 1:16, Isa 1:17, Joh 10:27, Joh 12:26, 1Co 4:16, 1Co 11:1, Eph 5:1, Php 3:17, 1Th 1:6, 1Th 2:14, 2Ti 3:10, *marg. Heb 6:12, 1Pe 3:13

He that doeth good: 1Pe 3:11, 1Jn 2:29, 1Jn 3:6-9

he that doeth evil: Joh 3:20

Reciprocal: Ezr 1:5 - whose spirit Psa 15:3 - doeth Psa 26:3 - For Psa 34:14 - do Psa 53:3 - none Pro 2:20 - General Pro 12:28 - General Amo 5:15 - Hate Luk 6:27 - do Luk 8:21 - which Joh 3:21 - they are Joh 8:47 - General 1Co 14:1 - Follow 1Co 16:18 - therefore Gal 6:10 - do good Eph 5:9 - goodness 1Th 5:15 - ever 2Th 2:12 - but 2Th 3:6 - that ye 1Ti 6:18 - they do 2Ti 2:22 - follow Heb 12:14 - and holiness Heb 13:16 - to do Jas 1:22 - be 1Jn 3:10 - is

good: Act 10:22, Act 22:12, 1Th 4:12, 1Ti 3:7

and we: Joh 19:35, Joh 21:24

Reciprocal: 1Sa 2:24 - no good 1Sa 12:4 - General Act 6:3 - honest 1Co 16:18 - therefore 2Co 6:8 - evil 1Th 1:8 - in every 1Ti 5:10 - reported 1Pe 5:12 - testifying 1Jn 5:11 - this 3Jn 1:6 - have borne witness of thy charity Rev 1:2 - bare

2Jn 1:12

Reciprocal: Act 15:27 - who

face to face: Gr. mouth to mouth

Peace: Gen 43:23, Dan 4:1, Gal 5:16, Eph 6:23, 1Pe 5:14

Our: Rom 16:10, Rom 16:11, *marg.

friends: Instead of φιλοι and φιλους, friends, an appellation used no where else as a mutual address among Christians, several manuscripts read αδελφοι [Strong’s G80], and αδελφους [Strong’s G81], brethren.

Greet: Rom 16:1-16

Reciprocal: Mat 10:12 - salute it Act 15:23 - greeting Act 23:26 - greeting 2Co 13:13 - General Php 2:24 - General Php 4:22 - the 1Ti 3:14 - hoping 2Ti 4:21 - and all Phm 1:22 - for I trust