1 He commends Gaius for his piety,
5 and hospitality,
7 to true preachers;
9 complaining of the unkind dealing of ambitious Diotrephes on the contrary side;
11 whose evil example is not to be followed;
12 and gives special testimony to the good report of Demetrius.

A. D. 90. A. M. 4094.
elder. See on 2Jo 1:1

the well-beloved. Ac 19:29 20:4 Ro 16:23 1Co 1:14

whom. 1Jo 3:18

See on 2Jo 1:1

in the truth. or, truly.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

wish. or, pray. above. Jas 5:12 1Pe 4:8

that. Ps 20:1-5 Php 2:4,27

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

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

I. 4

See on 2Jo 1:4 Php 1:4 1Th 2:19,20

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

the truth.
See on 2Jo 1:2,4 Ps 119:11

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

have. Pr 23:24

that. Isa 8:18 1Co 4:15 Ga 4:19 Phm 1:10

walk. 1Ki 2:4 3:6 2Ki 20:3 Ps 26:1-3 Isa 38:3 Joh 12:35,36 Ga 2:14

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

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

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

have borne witness of thy charity. 12 Phm 1:5-7

whom. Ac 15:3 21:5 Ro 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 [axios tou theos ;] 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. Ge 4:7 Jon 4:4 Mt 25:21-23 Ac 15:29 Php 4:14 1Pe 2:20

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

that. Ac 8:4 9:16 2Co 4:5 Col 1:24 Re 2:3

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

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

to receive. 10 Mt 10:14,40 Lu 11:7 2Co 7:2,3

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

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

who loveth. [Ho Philoproteuon] '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.

Mt 20:20-28 23:4-8 Mr 9:34 10:35-45 Lu 22:24-27 Ro 12:10 Php 2:3-5 Tit 1:7-16

receiveth. See on ver. 8 Mt 10:40-42 Mr 9:37 Lu 9:48

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

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

prating. Pr 10:8,10

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

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

Beloved. Beloved, [agapetos <27>,] is in the vocative singular, and therefore refers to Gaius.

follow. Rather, imitate [mimou.] Ex 23:2 Ps 37:27 Pr 12:11 Isa 1:16,17 Joh 10:27 12:26 1Co 4:16 11:1 Eph 5:1 Php 3:17 1Th 1:6 2:14 2Ti 3:10 *marg: Heb 6:12 1Pe 3:13

He that doeth good. 1Pe 3:11

See on 1Jo 2:29 3:6-9

he that doeth evil. joh 3:20

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

good. Ac 10:22 22:12 1Th 4:12 1Ti 3:7

and we. Joh 19:35 21:24

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

see on 2Jo 1:12

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

face to face. Gr. mouth to mouth. Peace. Ge 43:23 Da 4:1 Ga 5:16 Eph 6:23 1Pe 5:14

Our. Ro 16:10,11 *marg:

friends. Instead of [philoi] and [philous,] friends, an appellation used no where else as a mutual address among Christians, several MSS. read [adelphos <80> and [adelphotes <81>,] brethren.

Greet. See on Ro 16:1-16