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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-youGeneral Information:0

General Information:

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

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

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

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

61:1mp9wὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ1

Alternate translation: “whom I truly love”

71:2v6dvπερὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν1

Alternate translation: “I pray that you may do well in all things and be healthy”

81:2i269καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή1

Alternate translation: “just as you are doing well spiritually”

91:3b4zhἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν1

These brothers were probably all male. Alternate translation: “when fellow believers came”

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

Here, 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]])

121:5vl13Connecting Statement:0

Connecting Statement:

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

Alternate translation: “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

Alternate translation: “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). Alternate translation: “the strangers who have told the believers in the church about how you have loved them”

171:6pb64οὓς καλῶς 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-metonymyὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον1

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

191:7yzc8μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες1

This could mean: (1) unbelievers have not helped them by giving them anything. (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

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

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

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

231:9tm9qτῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ1

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

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

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

251:9s82wὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν1

Alternate translation: “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

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

291:10wi6aοὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς1

Alternate translation: “he does not welcome the fellow believers”

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

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

311:10g98bἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει1

Alternate translation: “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

Alternate translation: “do not copy the evil things that people do”

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

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

351:11cm8tἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John leaves out words that are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “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: “we also speak well of Demetrius” (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]])

431:13v27cGeneral Information:0

General Information:

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

Alternate translation: “May God give you peace”

471:15mhs1ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι1

Alternate translation: “The believers here greet you”

481:15lq8rἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα1

Alternate translation: “Greet each of the believers there for me”