3 John 1

THE elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayst prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth This Gaius was well known by the Apostle, not only to be a stedfast Professor of the truly Christian uncorrupted Faith, (which is imply'd in his avowing his Love to him in the Truth, or upon the Christian account) but to be so improv'd, and well-grown a Christian, that he reckons he might well make the prosperous State of his Soul, the measure of all the other Prosperity he could wish unto him..

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

I have no greater joy then to hear that my children i. e. Such as had been converted to Christ by his Ministry, (as 1 Cor. 4.15.) of whom it appears Gaius was one, did walk in the Truth; (an apt Expression of such correspondent Practice) was greatest matter of Joy to this holy Apostle, especially when the godly Lives of such, to whose Conversion he had been instrumental, were so observable, as to gain them a Testimony from all others that knew them, as it was in the present Instance. walk in truth. The Truth is familiarly used to signifie the pure Doctrine of Christianity, which in its principal Design, aiming at correspondent Practice; that his Children,

Beloved, thou dost faithfully Charity to Christians is reckon'd Fidelity to Christ, being shown to them upon the Christian Account, which is intimated to have been done by this pious Person, who so kindly treated the Brethren, and Strangers, i. e. even tho they were Strangers. whatsoever thou dost, to the brethren, and to strangers.

Which have born witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort i. e. After a manner (as the Greek Expression is) worthy of God, viz. as becomes them, who bear the Name of God, as thou dost, or are intent upon his Work, as they are; which latter notion is confirmed by what follows., thou shalt do well.

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

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers of the truth. It thence appears these were Iews, who went out from their own Country to serve the Interest of the Gospel, which therefore he should serve in helping them.

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

Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. This was probably some Church of which Gaius was. Dio rephes, one who had received, or usurped some Office or Authority in it, to so ill a purpose, as when he had no Inclination to be hospitable himself to fellow-Christians, prevented others from being so; and upon pretence of the little differences of these Iewish, from the Gentile Christians, excluded them their Communion.

Beloved follow not: By following here he means Imitation, i. e. the Deformity of evil appearing in the Practice of some, and the Beauty of true Goodness in others, (Examples being given of both sorts, v. 9, and 12.) he exhorts to decline the former, and imitate the other; and enforces the Exhortation by the weightiest Arguments. that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good A Doer of good, one made up of Kind ess and E ignity (as the Context draws the sense to that special kind of Goodness, &, signifie doing well or ill, from a fixed prevailing habit, 1 Iohn 3.7, 8., is of God Is ally'd to Heaven, born of God, his Off-spring.: but he that does evil has not seen God An evil Doer on the other hand, such a one as is a Composition of Spite, Envy, and Malice, is a mere Stranger to him, has not been, or known, or had to do with him..

Demetrius has good report of all men, and of the truth it self: yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. Some eminent Christian, whom he could with confidence recommend as a Pattern.

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write Having much more to say, as 2 Iohn 12. he resolved on a more immediate, grateful, and effectual way of imparting, and even impressing his Sense, as the term, Writing, is used in a greater latitude, Prov. 3.3. and elsewhere. unto thee.

But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face, viz. by oral Conferenc, which he hoped ere long to have opportunity for. He concludes with the usual Christian Salutations.. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.