The beloved Gaius refers to the addressee, not a group as in 2 John 1, but one individual.

For beloved see comments on 1 John 2.7; the next phrase, whom I love in the truth, shows that the use of this word may be more than a matter of merely traditional kindness or politeness.

Some renderings of the phrase used are “To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love” (Good News Translation), ‘To Gaius, my friend (or brother), who is very dear to me’; or in two sentences, ‘to Gaius whom I love. I love him/you with all my heart.’

The phrase does not contain a respectful term such as “lady” in 2 John 1. This implies that the level of language to be chosen may be of a more informal or intimate type than in John’s second Letter.

Gaius was a very common name. Consequently there is no reason to identify him with others of the name mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 19.29; 20.4; 1 Cor 1.14, compare Rom 16.23). He is presented in the Letter as a good friend of John’s. He was probably the center of a group of Christian friends, not necessarily an elder of a congregation.

For the other details in this verse, see comments on 2 John 1, which has the same function in the Letter.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The first two clauses are formulas which occur often in letter writing, but the third is a characteristic addition made by the writer.

I pray: in the New Testament the Greek verb usually indicates prayer to God, but in letters of the time it was used in the nonreligious sense of “to wish,” “to hope.” In this passage it most likely has the latter meaning.

That all may go well with you, or ‘that you may be well in all respects (or in every way),’ ‘that good may always happen to you.’ The reference is to well-being in general. The Greek verb used has the literal meaning of “to be-led-along-a-good-road,” then, “to get along well,” “to succeed.”

That you may be in health, or ‘that you may be healthy,’ ‘that your body may be strong,’ ‘that you may be always new,’ ‘that you may not be sick (literally may be not-dying).’ The receptor language may prefer to mention the specific before the more generic. In such cases the present clause, which specifies an aspect of being well, has to be placed first.

I know that it is well with your soul, literally “as your soul is well.” The first clause, which uttered a wish, is now driven home by a reference to a fact. Therefore several versions have added ‘I know,’ or ‘surely.’

The verb “to be well” is the same as that in the first clause, but now the reference is not to the bodily and material aspect of man. To make this clear the writer has added with your soul, in which soul refers to the spiritual aspect of the human personality. Compare such renderings of the clause as “you are well in spirit” (Good News Translation), ‘your innermost remains as good as that,’ ‘as you are well in your head-heart.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Verses 3 and 4, linked to what precedes by the connective For, give the reason why the writer is confident that all is well with Gaius’ soul. Accordingly the verses are to be taken as belonging to the opening part of the Letter.

For I greatly rejoiced see comments on 2 John 4.

When some of the brethren arrived: the verb form is in the present tense, showing that the reference is to repeated visits, as brought out by ‘every time when some of our brothers came here,’ ‘that again and again some brothers arrived.’ The brothers mentioned probably were preachers who had been sent out by the congregation of “the elder,” had visited the congregation of Gaius, and on their return had reported to the home church.

The brethren, or “the brothers,” is used also in verses 5 and 10. For the translation of “brother” see comments on 1 John 2.9.

Testified to the truth of your life: for the verb testified, compare comments on 1 John 1.2; it means that they spoke of what they had seen, heard, and experienced of Gaius. In this context it can often be simply rendered as ‘told about.’

The truth of your life is in the Greek literally “your truth” (paralleling “your love” in verse 6). The noun truth refers to a behavior that is in accordance with God’s will, and to a life that is lived in close relationship with God; compare comments on 1 John 1.6. Some other possible renderings are ‘that you are truly devoted to God,’ ‘your being a man who is straight-hearted,’ or “how faithful you are to the truth” (Good News Translation).

As indeed you do follow the truth: the Greek connective used may serve to introduce an indirect discourse. Then the clause is to be taken as giving the contents of what the returning brothers had said, “namely, that you follow the truth.”

Another meaning of the connective is that it indicates reason and serves to reinforce the preceding statement. To bring this out Revised Standard Version has added indeed. Then the clause parallels verse 2b and states that the testimony John received was in accordance with what he knew about Gaius.

You is emphatic. It serves to bring out a contrast between the behavior of Gaius and that of Diotrephes (verses 9-10). For “to follow the truth,” in the Greek literally “to walk in truth,” see comments on 2 John 4.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

This verse further develops “I greatly rejoiced.”

No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that … may have to be restructured; for example, “nothing makes me happier than to hear that…” (Good News Translation), ‘the greatest joy I can have is to hear that…,’ or in two sentences, ‘I always rejoice when I hear that…; there is nothing else I rejoice over so much (or this is the greatest joy I ever have).’ For joy see 1 John 1.4.

For to hear that, or ‘to be told that,’ ‘to learn that,’ compare also comments on 1 John 2.7. The connection with the next clause may have to be specified; for example, ‘to hear a report that,’ ‘to hear (other) people tell that.’

For my children, or ‘those who are to me like children,’ ‘those who belong to (or follow) me,’ ‘my followers/disciples,’ compare also comments on the diminutive form, “my little children,” in 1 John 2.1.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

It is a loyal thing you do, or ‘you are acting loyally (or as a loyal man).’ “Loyal,” or “faithful,” is said of behavior that is in accordance with what a person is expected to do.

When renders a Greek construction (the relative neuter pronoun made indefinite by the following particle ean) which is used to introduce generally occurring circumstances. The present tense of do shows that the reference is to repeated action, regardless of the time element. Accordingly when has here the force of “whenever,” “each time that.”

To render any service to, or ‘to do anything on behalf of,’ ‘to help.’

To the brethren, especially to strangers: the reference is to traveling Christian preachers, coming from the congregations other than the one Gaius belongs to. Especially (literally, “and that”) serves to introduce a more specific qualification. Versions often use a concessive connective here; compare “strangers though they are to you” (New English Bible), “even when they are strangers” (Good News Translation).

“Strangers,” or ‘people that are strange to you,’ ‘people you do not know,’ or ‘people you have never seen before.’ Other renderings start from the situation of the strangers; for example, ‘people (coming) from far away,’ ‘people from another place,’ or simply ‘people who come/enter’ (as some Indonesian languages have it). One should avoid a term that refers specifically or exclusively to people from foreign countries or nations.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The relative clause is often better rendered as a new sentence; for example, ‘It is they who have testified…,’ or ‘Those men have testified….’

Who have testified to your love before the church: for the verb see comments on 3 John 1.3. Your love may have to be rendered by a verb clause; for example, ‘how you have loved them.’

The term love refers here to behavior showing a loving disposition rather than that disposition or emotion itself. Some versions therefore shift to such renderings as ‘your generosity,’ ‘that you have really practiced showing-kindness (to them).’

Before the church, or ‘in the presence (or hearing) of the church,’ refers to those to whom the testimony was given.

Adjustments along the lines of the preceding remarks may result in a rendering of the clause such as ‘those men have told the church how kindly you helped them,’ or, with a further shift, ‘the church has heard them tell how you showed your love towards them.’

The church is originally a term for any kind of assembly; the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, used it in reference to the Israelites when they assembled for religious purposes. In the New Testament the term can refer to the universal Church, or to the congregation in a particular city or house which forms a representative part of the universal Church. In the present verse it is used in the latter meaning. Which congregation is meant is not specified, but the most probable guess is the elder’s own congregation. It may be necessary to make this explicit, ‘the church/congregation here.’

The term has been rendered by such descriptive phrases as ‘the gathering of the believers,’ ‘the (gathering of the) people of God,’ ‘those who gather to worship God,’ ‘the family/clan of Christ.’

You will do well to send them … is in the Greek a relative clause going with who have testified. A rendering as a new, independent sentence is found in all versions investigated.

The expression do well to is often used in letters to introduce a wish, or to express an exhortation or a command in a polite manner. The clause may be rendered here ‘to be so kind as to send them…,’ ‘please send them….’ The future tense is used because Gaius should continue to act as he is acting now.

To send them on their journey renders a Greek verb meaning “to send forth,” “to escort,” then “to help on one’s journey” (with food, money, by making necessary arrangements, and so forth). The latter is the meaning the verb has here, and also in Acts 15.3; Rom 15.24; 1 Cor 16.6; Titus 3.13; hence “help them to continue their trip” (Good News Translation), ‘give them what they need on the way,’ or quite explicitly, ‘help them when they leave your house (or your town, or your congregation) so they can go on to another.’

The reference of the pronouns is not restricted to the preachers who have visited Gaius already but covers the group of traveling preachers in general. Some versions, wanting to make this explicit, render them as ‘such people.’

As befits God’s service qualifies the preceding verb, stating how Gaius should send the preachers on their journey.

The Greek expression, literally “worthy of God,” has been rendered in various ways; for example, “in a way that will please God” (Good News Translation), “in a manner worthy of the God we (or you) serve” (New English Bible, Translators’ Translation). In some cases a construction that is attributive to a person is preferable. Then one may take the phrase with the preachers; for example, ‘as people who are doing God’s work’; or one may take it as a new sentence, ‘Thus we should help those who are doing God’s work.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

They have set out, or ‘they started on their trip,’ ‘they left their homes.’ The Greek verb is in the aorist. This tense may serve here either to emphasize the particular case, or to state the general rule, of preachers being sent out.

For his sake, literally “for-the-sake-of the name.” “The name” may stand for the person of Christ (see comments on 1 John 3.23); hence ‘for the sake of Christ,’ or ‘in the service (or as servants) of Christ,’ ‘in order to do the work of Christ.’ But one may also emphasize a special aspect of the activity of the preachers, namely, to confess and proclaim the name of Christ (as Lord, compare for example Rom 10.9; 1 Cor 12.3; Phil 2.9-11), which is the essence of any Christian activity. Therefore the phrase may also be rendered ‘to make known the name of Christ,’ ‘to proclaim the words of Jesus Christ.’

Have accepted nothing is in the present tense in the Greek, indicating habitual practice. The clause refers to their not accepting money, food, or other help.

The heathen: compare comments on “Gentiles” in A Translator’s Handbook on the Gospel of Luke, on 2.32. The usual rendering of heathen may refer exclusively or primarily to foreign people, or to non-Jews, or it may have an insulting connotation. In languages in which it may be insulting, it is better to render the term as ‘the non-Christians,’ or ‘those who do not believe in Christ.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

In So we ought to support, the particle So introduces the conclusion based on what precedes. The same is the case in verse 10.

We is emphatic and contrasts with the heathen. The intention is “if the preachers accept nothing from the heathen, it is clearly our duty to provide for them”; hence “we Christians” (Good News Translation). For ought see comments on 1 John 2.6.

To support: the Greek verb means “to welcome as guests,” then generally “to support,” “to give help and assistance to.” Both meanings are defensible here, but the second fits best because of verse 6b.

That may refer here either to purpose, “in order that,” or to expected result, “so that.”

We may be fellow workers in the truth: the Greek noun rendered fellow workers literally means “those-who-are-working-together,” “those-who-are cooperating (or helping/assisting).” This word is followed here by the noun truth. In the Greek this noun is in a form that here serves to mark the person with whom one is cooperating. This implies that the truth (in the sense of “God’s truthfulness,” compare comments on 1 John 1.8) functions here as a personified quality of God, with which the traveling preachers are working together. sunergos.

In the opinion of the present authors, this interpretation best fits the construction used in the Greek. It is represented in such renderings of the clause as ‘we may be cooperating with (or be helpers of) the truth,’ ‘we may work together with (or join in the work of) the truthful One.’

Many versions, however, perhaps even the majority, follow another interpretation. They take truth in the sense of “the cause of truth” or “the true cause,” indicating the field in which, or the aim for which, we are to work. Then the persons with whom they are to cooperate are the traveling preachers and must be understood from the context.

This interpretation has led to renderings like “we may share in their (that is, the preachers’) work for the truth” (Good News Translation, compare also Bible de Jérusalem), ‘we may unite with them as they proclaim the truth,’ ‘we as well as they may spread the true work,’ ‘we will help them in (their work of) teaching true things.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .