Annotations for 3 John

2 mayest prosper and be in health. John’s greeting may imply that Gaius was physically weak though spiritually strong. More probably John is simply following the pattern of greetings common to Greek letters.

4 my children. This is a description Paul uses of those he has led to saving faith in Christ (1 Cor. 4:14–17) and may indicate that Gaius was one of John’s converts. It may also be a term John uses to describe those under his pastoral care as reflected in 1 John 2:1, 12, 18; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21.

5–12 thou doest faithfully. In these verses, John affirms Gaius’s responsibility to assist Demetrius despite the opposition of Diotrephes and his expulsion of those who receive traveling missionaries.

7 Gentiles. In this case the term refers to unbelievers, not to Gentile Christians. The majority of Christians in the churches of Asia Minor were Gentile converts rather than Jewish.

11 hath not seen God. Our sin is a result of a faulty vision of God. Therefore, the Scriptures encourage us to look at Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:16–18; Heb. 12:2–3), for the day when we see Him perfectly will be the day that we will be like Him (1 John 3:2–3).

12 of the truth itself. Demetrius’ life measured up to the teaching of Scripture and Christ’s commands. His conduct matched his theology.