TG
Everything TrueGospel offers, in one place.

Study

Bible Reader Scripture Search Word Study & Lexicon Bible Study Builder Reading Plans Verse Chains

Reference

The Reference Library Topical Index

Learn

True Gospel Institute

Grow & Share

Blog Q&A Sermon Notes Bible Studies Podcast

Community

Community Student Dashboard

About

About Us Support Us Contact Log In Create Free Account
BSB
← Prev Next →

3 John 1

BSB·14 verses ·New Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1TheHo — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → elderπρεσβύτεροςpresbyteros — An elder; one who is older or senior in authorityG4245 — Full Word Study →, To theτῷtō — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → belovedἀγαπητῷagapētō — Beloved, dearly loved oneG27 — Full Word Study → GaiusΓαΐῳGaiō — The Lord is my strengthG1050 — Full Word Study →, whomὃνhon — who, which, thatG3739 — Full Word Study → Iἐγὼegō — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → loveἀγαπῶagapō — to love deeply; to cherish with affectionG25 — Full Word Study → inἐνen — in, on, among, at, by means ofG1722 — Full Word Study → the truth: 2BelovedἈγαπητέAgapēte — Beloved, dearly loved oneG27 — Full Word Study →, I pray thatεὔχομαίeuchomai — to pray or wish for earnestlyG2172 — Full Word Study → inπερὶperi — about, concerning, around, on behalf ofG4012 — Full Word Study → every wayπάντωνpantōn — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study → youσεse — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → may prosperεὐοδοῦσθαιeuodousthai — to prosper, to succeed, to have a prosperous journeyG2137 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → enjoy good healthὑγιαίνεινhygiainein — to be healthy; to be sound or wholeG5198 — Full Word Study →, asκαθὼςkathōs — just as; in the manner that; according toG2531 — Full Word Study → yourσουsou — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → soul also prospersεὐοδοῦταίeuodoutai — to prosper, to succeed, to have a prosperous journeyG2137 — Full Word Study →. 3Forγὰρgar — for, because, since (causal/explanatory conjunction)G1063 — Full Word Study → I was overjoyedἐχάρηνecharēn — To rejoice, be glad, or greet with joyG5463 — Full Word Study → when the brothers cameἐρχομένωνerchomenōn — to come, go, arrive, or appearG2064 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → testifiedμαρτυρούντωνmartyrountōn — To testify, bear witness, give testimonyG3140 — Full Word Study → about yourσουsou — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → devotion to the truthἀληθείᾳalētheia — Truth; reality; authenticityG225 — Full Word Study →, inἐνen — in, on, among, at, by means ofG1722 — Full Word Study → which youσὺsy — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → continue to walkπεριπατεῖςperipateis — to walk, to conduct oneself, to liveG4043 — Full Word Study →. 4I haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → noοὐκouk — No, not, negation particleG3756 — Full Word Study → greaterμειζοτέρανmeizoteran — Great in size, power, or intensityG3173 — Full Word Study → joyχαράνcharan — Joy, gladness, delightG5479 — Full Word Study → thanτούτωνtoutōn — This one; he, she, it; that person or thingG3778 — Full Word Study → toἵναhina — in order that; so that; to the intent thatG2443 — Full Word Study → hear that myἐμὰema — my, mine, belonging to meG1699 — Full Word Study → childrenτέκναtekna — child; offspring; son or daughterG5043 — Full Word Study → are walkingπεριπατοῦνταperipatounta — to walk, to conduct oneself, to liveG4043 — Full Word Study → inἐνen — in, on, among, at, by means ofG1722 — Full Word Study → theτῇtē — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → truthἀληθείᾳalētheia — Truth; reality; authenticityG225 — Full Word Study →. 5BelovedἈγαπητέAgapēte — Beloved, dearly loved oneG27 — Full Word Study →, you areποιεῖςpoieis — to do, make, perform, or accomplishG4160 — Full Word Study → faithfulπιστὸνpiston — Faithful, trustworthy, reliableG4103 — Full Word Study → in whatho — who, which, thatG3739 — Full Word Study → you are doingἐργάσῃergasē — to work, labor, or perform actionG2038 — Full Word Study → forεἰςeis — into, toward, untoG1519 — Full Word Study → theτοὺςtous — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → brothersἀδελφοὺςadelphous — brother; male sibling or fellow believerG80 — Full Word Study →, and especially since they areτοῦτοtouto — This one; he, she, it; that person or thingG3778 — Full Word Study → strangers to you. 6They have testifiedἐμαρτύρησάνemartyrēsan — To testify, bear witness, give testimonyG3140 — Full Word Study → toἐνώπιονenōpion — in the presence of, before, in front ofG1799 — Full Word Study → the church about yourσουsou — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → loveἀγάπῃagapē — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study →. You will doποιήσειςpoiēseis — to do, make, perform, or accomplishG4160 — Full Word Study → wellκαλῶςkalōs — well, rightly, properlyG2573 — Full Word Study → to send them on their wayπροπέμψαςpropempsas — To send forward, escort, or help on one's wayG4311 — Full Word Study → in a manner worthyἀξίωςaxiōs — in a manner worthy of, appropriately, befittinglyG516 — Full Word Study → of GodΘεοῦTheou — God, the Divine BeingG2316 — Full Word Study →. 7Forγὰρgar — for, because, since (causal/explanatory conjunction)G1063 — Full Word Study → they went outἐξῆλθον*exēlthon — to go out, exit, or departG1831 — Full Word Study → on behalfὑπὲρhyper — on behalf of, for the sake of, above, beyondG5228 — Full Word Study → of theτοῦtou — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → NameὈνόματοςOnomatos — name, reputation, or authorityG3686 — Full Word Study →, acceptingλαμβάνοντεςlambanontes — to take, receive, or obtainG2983 — Full Word Study → nothingμηδὲνmēden — no one, nothing, not anyG3367 — Full Word Study → fromἀπὸapo — from, away from, out ofG575 — Full Word Study → theτῶνtōn — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → Gentilesἐθνικῶνethnikōn — gentile-like, heathen, paganG1482 — Full Word Study →. 8Thereforeοὖνoun — therefore, then, so, thusG3767 — Full Word Study → weἡμεῖςhēmeis — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → oughtὀφείλομενopheilomen — to owe; to be obligated or indebtedG3784 — Full Word Study → to supportὑπολαμβάνεινhypolambanein — to suppose, assume, or take upG5274 — Full Word Study → such men, so thatἵναhina — in order that; so that; to the intent thatG2443 — Full Word Study → we may beγινώμεθαginōmetha — to become, come into being, happenG1096 — Full Word Study → fellow workersσυνεργοὶsynergoi — Fellow worker; collaborative laborer in ministryG4904 — Full Word Study → for theτῇtē — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → truthἀληθείᾳalētheia — Truth; reality; authenticityG225 — Full Word Study →. 9I have writtenἜγραψάEgrapsa — to write or compose in written formG1125 — Full Word Study → to theτῇtē — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → churchἐκκλησίᾳekklēsia — Assembly of called-out believers; the churchG1577 — Full Word Study → about this, butἀλλ’all’ — but, yet, rather, on the other handG235 — Full Word Study → DiotrephesΔιοτρεφὴςDiotrephēs — Nourished by ZeusG1361 — Full Word Study →, whoho — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → loves to be firstφιλοπρωτεύωνphiloprōteuōn — to seek or love preeminence; to desire first placeG5383 — Full Word Study →, will not acceptἐπιδέχεταιepidechetai — to welcome or receive favorablyG1926 — Full Word Study → our instruction. 10Soδιὰdia — through; by means of; because ofG1223 — Full Word Study → ifἐὰνean — conditional particle; if, whether, in case thatG1437 — Full Word Study → I comeἔλθωelthō — to come, go, arrive, or appearG2064 — Full Word Study →, I will call attention toὑπομνήσωhypomnēsō — to remind; to bring to remembranceG5279 — Full Word Study → his maliciousπονηροῖςponērois — Evil, wicked, morally badG4190 — Full Word Study → slanderφλυαρῶνphlyarōn — to talk foolishly or gossip idlyG5396 — Full Word Study → against us. Andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → unsatisfiedἀρκούμενοςarkoumenos — to be sufficient, adequate, or enoughG714 — Full Word Study → withἐπὶepi — upon, on, over, againstG1909 — Full Word Study → thatτούτοιςtoutois — This one; he, she, it; that person or thingG3778 — Full Word Study →, he refuses to welcomeἐπιδέχεταιepidechetai — to welcome or receive favorablyG1926 — Full Word Study → theτοὺςtous — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → brothersἀδελφοὺςadelphous — brother; male sibling or fellow believerG80 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → forbidsκωλύειkōlyei — to prevent, hinder, or forbidG2967 — Full Word Study → those whoτοὺςtous — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → want to do soβουλομένουςboulomenous — to desire, wish, or intend; to exercise one's willG1014 — Full Word Study →, evenκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → putting them out ofἐκek — out from, out of, from withinG1537 — Full Word Study → theτῆςtēs — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → churchἐκκλησίαςekklēsias — Assembly of called-out believers; the churchG1577 — Full Word Study →. 11BelovedἈγαπητέAgapēte — Beloved, dearly loved oneG27 — Full Word Study →, do not imitateμιμοῦmimou — to imitate or mimic; to follow as an exampleG3401 — Full Word Study → what is evilκακὸνkakon — evil, wicked, bad, morally corruptG2556 — Full Word Study →, butἀλλὰalla — but, yet, rather, on the other handG235 — Full Word Study → what is goodἀγαθόνagathon — good, beneficial, morally excellentG18 — Full Word Study →. The one who does goodἀγαθοποιῶνagathopoiōn — to do good; to perform beneficial actionsG15 — Full Word Study → isἐστινestin — to exist, to be, am/is/areG1510 — Full Word Study → ofἐκek — out from, out of, from withinG1537 — Full Word Study → GodΘεοῦTheou — God, the Divine BeingG2316 — Full Word Study →; the one who does evilκακοποιῶνkakopoiōn — to do evil; to harm or injureG2554 — Full Word Study → has not seenἑώρακενheōraken — To see, perceive, or observe with the eyes or mindG3708 — Full Word Study → GodΘεόνTheon — God, the Divine BeingG2316 — Full Word Study →. 12DemetriusΔημητρίῳDēmētriō — Devoted to DemeterG1216 — Full Word Study → has received a good testimonyμεμαρτύρηταιmemartyrētai — To testify, bear witness, give testimonyG3140 — Full Word Study → fromὑπὸhypo — under; by; from the agency ofG5259 — Full Word Study → everyoneπάντωνpantōn — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study →, andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → fromὑπὸhypo — under; by; from the agency ofG5259 — Full Word Study → theτῆςtēs — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → truthἀληθείαςalētheias — Truth; reality; authenticityG225 — Full Word Study → itselfαὐτῆςautēs — he, she, it, self; third-person pronounG846 — Full Word Study →. Weἡμεῖςhēmeis — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → alsoδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → testify for him, andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → you knowοἶδαςoidas — to see, perceive, understand, knowG1492 — Full Word Study → thatὅτιhoti — that; because; since; introducing clauses of reason or contentG3754 — Full Word Study → ourἡμῶνhēmōn — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → testimonyμαρτυρίαmartyria — Formal testimony or witness givenG3141 — Full Word Study → isἐστινestin — to exist, to be, am/is/areG1510 — Full Word Study → trueἀληθήςalēthēs — genuine, true, authentic, realG227 — Full Word Study →. 13I haveεἶχονeichon — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → many thingsΠολλὰPolla — much, many, great in quantity or degreeG4183 — Full Word Study → to writeγράψαιgrapsai — to write or compose in written formG1125 — Full Word Study → to youσοιsoi — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study →, butἀλλ’all’ — but, yet, rather, on the other handG235 — Full Word Study → I would preferθέλωthelō — to desire, wish, or will; to be inclined towardG2309 — Full Word Study → notοὐou — No, not, negation particleG3756 — Full Word Study → to do so withδιὰdia — through; by means of; because ofG1223 — Full Word Study → penκαλάμουkalamou — Reed, cane stalk, or writing penG2563 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → inkμέλανοςmelanos — ink; writing fluidG3188 — Full Word Study →. 14Insteadδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study →, I hopeἐλπίζωelpizō — To hope for, expect, or trust inG1679 — Full Word Study → to seeἰδεῖνidein — To see, perceive, or observe with the eyes or mindG3708 — Full Word Study → youσεse — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study → soonεὐθέωςeutheōs — immediately, at once, without delayG2112 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → speak with you face toπρὸςpros — toward, to, with, in relation toG4314 — Full Word Study → face. PeaceΕἰρήνηEirēnē — Peace; absence of conflict; inner tranquilityG1515 — Full Word Study → to youσοιsoi — You (singular or plural pronoun)G4771 — Full Word Study →. Theοἱhoi — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → friends here send you greetingsἈσπάζονταίAspazontai — to greet, embrace, or pay respects to someoneG782 — Full Word Study →. GreetἈσπάζουAspazou — to greet, embrace, or pay respects to someoneG782 — Full Word Study → each of our friends there byκατ’kat’ — according to, down along, againstG2596 — Full Word Study → nameὄνομαonoma — name, reputation, or authorityG3686 — Full Word Study →.
Scripture Explorer
Original Language
Notes & Doctrine
Chapter Commentary
Cross-Refs
Highlight
My Note
Original Hebrew / Greek
Loading…
Translation Notes & Doctrine — This Verse
Loading…
Chapter Commentary — 3 John 1
Chapter Overview

Overview

Third John is a brief but powerful letter about Christian hospitality, truth-walking, and the contrast between humble service and prideful ambition in church leadership. Written by the apostle John to a faithful believer named Gaius, it commends his generous support of traveling missionaries while warning against Diotrephes, whose love of prominence and controlling behavior threatens the health of the local church. This epistle reminds us that true Christian leadership is marked by humility, generosity, and allegiance to God's truth rather than personal power or reputation.

Verses 1–4: A Commendation of Truth-Walking

John opens his letter with warmth and affection, identifying himself as "the elder" (v. 1)—a title reflecting his apostolic authority and age—and addressing Gaius as "wellbeloved," a term reserved for those dear to his heart. The phrase "whom I love in the truth" (v. 1) is not sentimental; it speaks of love grounded in genuine Christian faith, not mere sentiment.

In verse 2, John's pastoral heart shines through: he wishes Gaius physical health and material prosperity aligned with his spiritual prosperity. This is not prosperity theology; rather, it reflects the biblical principle that our bodies and circumstances matter to God, and we may rightly pray for wholeness when it serves God's purposes.

Verses 3–4 reveal what moves John most deeply: he has heard testimony that Gaius consistently walks in truth. The Greek word here suggests not merely knowing truth intellectually, but ordering one's life according to it. John's greatest joy is not his apostolic authority or miraculous gifts, but hearing that his spiritual children live out the faith. This sets the standard: genuine Christian maturity shows itself in conduct, not credentials.

Verses 5–8: The Ministry of Hospitality

John now specifically commends Gaius for his faithful hospitality to traveling missionaries (v. 5). These were likely itinerant preachers who traveled from church to church spreading the gospel. Verse 7 clarifies their sacrifice: they went forth "for his name's sake," accepting no financial support from pagan hosts, relying entirely on the generosity of believers.

By providing hospitality "after a godly sort" (v. 6)—meaning in a manner honoring to God—Gaius becomes a partner with these missionaries in spreading the gospel. Verse 8 captures the principle: when we receive and support those laboring for Christ's kingdom, we become "fellowhelpers to the truth." Hospitality is not optional kindness; it is spiritual partnership. This applies not only to missionaries but to all who labor for Christ's name.

Verses 9–11: The Warning Against Diotrephes

The letter's tone shifts sharply. Diotrephes, apparently a church leader, refuses John's authority and forbids others from showing hospitality to traveling workers (v. 9–10). His sin is twofold: pride ("loveth to have the preeminence") and control (silencing those who would help). He even "casteth them out of the church" (v. 10)—excommunicating faithful believers who disagreed with him.

Verse 11 offers crucial wisdom: our actions reveal our spiritual condition. "He that doeth good is of God; but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." This doesn't mean Diotrephes was unsaved, but that his behavior contradicted genuine knowledge of God's character.

Verses 12–14: Demetrius and Final Greetings

Demetrius appears to be another faithful missionary, whose character is vouched for by the church, by truth itself, and by John personally. This positive example stands in sharp relief to Diotrephes. John closes tenderly, promising a personal visit and requesting individual greetings among the church members—a reminder of ministry's personal, relational nature.

Application for Today

Third John challenges us to examine our priorities: Are we walking in truth and supporting those who labor for the gospel? Do we resist prideful, controlling leadership in our churches and instead champion humble, generous service? May we, like Gaius, be known as faithful partners in God's kingdom work, and may we reject the Diotrephes spirit of self-promotion that grieves the Spirit and harms the body of Christ.

Cross References
Loading…
Highlight This Verse
My Note