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Introduction to 3 John

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of 3 John

  1. Introduction (1:1)
  2. Encouragement and instructions to show hospitality (1:2-8)
  3. Diotrephes and Demetrius (1:9-12)
  4. 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: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

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.

31:1rni7rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you0

This is a personal letter from John to Gaius. All instances of you and your refer to Gaius and are singular. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

41:1w99trc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitὁ πρεσβύτερος1

This 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

51:1lls6rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-namesΓαΐῳ1

This is a fellow believer to whom John is writing this letter. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

61:1mp9wὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ1

“whom I truly love”

71:2v6dvπερὶ πάντων & σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν1

“you may do well in all things and be healthy”

81:2i269καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή1

“just as you are doing well spiritually”

91:3b4zhἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν1

“when fellow believers came” These people were probably all male.

101:3y7q3rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphorσὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς1

Walking on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. Alternate translation: “you are living your life according to Gods truth” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

111:4w79mrc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphorτὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα1

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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

121:5vl130

Johns 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.

131:5tmh1ἀγαπητέ1

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.

141:5gs6xπιστὸν ποιεῖς1

“you are doing what is faithful to God” or “you are being loyal to God”

151:5g4gzὃ, ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους1

“when you help fellow believers, especially those whom you do not know”

161:6wzf6οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας1

These words describe the strangers (verse 5). “strangers who have told the believers in the church about how you have loved them”

171:6pb64καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας1

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.

181:7d8y1rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymyγὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον1

Here, the name refers to Jesus. This could mean: (1) that they left where they were in order to tell others about Jesus, or (2) that they left where they were because others forced them to leave because of their belief in Jesus, or (3) both of these things. Alternate translation: “since they have gone out to tell people about Jesus” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

191:7yzc8μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες1

This could mean that (1) unbelievers have not helped them by giving them anything or (2) they did not accept any help or gifts from unbelievers.

201:7hk3pτῶν ἐθνικῶν1

Here, Gentiles does not just mean people who are not Jewish. It refers to any people who do not trust in Jesus.

211:8d2l7ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ1

“so that we will cooperate with them in announcing Gods truth to people”

221:8ab01rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personificationτῇ ἀληθείᾳ1

“The truth” is spoken of here as though it were a person that John, Gaius, and others worked for. It could mean: (1) “the true message from God” as in the UST, or it could mean (2) “God, who is Truth.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

231:9tm9qτῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ1

The church refers to Gaius and the group of believers who met together to worship God.

241:9cz9drc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-namesΔιοτρέφης1

He was a member of the congregation. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

251:9s82wὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν1

“who loves to be the most important one among them” or “who loves to act as though he is their leader”

261:9dp1vrc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusiveἡμᾶς1

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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])

271:9rrggrc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymyΔιοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς1

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 Johns authority or the instructions that John gives. See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

281:10f6qjλόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς1

“that is, that he says evil things about us that certainly are not true”

291:10wi6aαὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς1

“does not welcome the fellow believers”

301:10it7prc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsisτοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει1

There are words left out but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “he stops those who want to welcome the believers” See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])

311:10g98bἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει1

“he forces them to leave the group of believers”

321:11a3z8ἀγαπητέ1

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.

331:11pv24μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν1

“do not copy the evil things that people do”

341:11sz2hrc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsisἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν1

There are words left out but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “but imitate the good things that people do” See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])

351:11cm8tἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν1

“comes from God”

361:11zan2rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphorοὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν1

“Seeing” here is a metaphor that stands for knowing or understanding. Alternate translation: “has not experienced God” or “has not believed in God” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

371:12pl7irc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassiveΔημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων1

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “all who know Demetrius bear witness of him” or “every believer who knows Demetrius speaks well of him” See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

381:12m22hrc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-namesΔημητρίῳ1

This 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

391:12rad4rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personificationὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας1

“the truth itself speaks well of him” 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” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

401:12mftmrc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsisκαὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας1

There are words left out of this clause but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “and he is borne witness to by the truth itself” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])

411:12s712rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicitκαὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν1

What John is confirming is implied and can be made explicit here. Alternate translation: “and we also speak well of Demetrius” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

421:12a16arc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusiveἡμεῖς1

Here, we refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])

431:13v27c0

This is the end of Johns letter to Gaius. In this section, he mentions coming to see him and closes with a greeting.

441:13am6krc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doubletοὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν1

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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])

451:14r8i4rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiomστόμα πρὸς στόμα1

Here, mouth to mouth is an idiom meaning “in person.” Alternate translation: “in person” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

461:15v8yjεἰρήνη σοι1

“may God give you peace”

471:15mhs1ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι1

“the believers here greet you”

481:15lq8rἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα1

“greet each of the believers there for me”