3 John 1:3

3 John 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
• New International Version (NIV)It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

Context of 3 John 1:3

1The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the beloved and esteemed Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth. 4I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth. 5Beloved, you are acting faithfully in what you are providing for the brothers, and especially when they are strangers;

3 John 1:3 word by word

ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• I rejoicedχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• greatlyλίανlian · greatlyG3029
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• testified ofμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• the truthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• even asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• walkestπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 3 John 1:3

• 3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.
• 2 John 1:4I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.
• Philippians 1:4always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you,
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For who is [the object of] our hope or joy or our victor’s wreath of triumphant celebration [when we stand] in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?
• Romans 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world.
• 2 Corinthians 7:6But God, who comforts and encourages the depressed and the disquieted, comforted us by the arrival of Titus.
• Ephesians 1:15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
• Colossians 1:7You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf
• 1 Thessalonians 3:6But now that Timothy has come back to us from [his visit with] you, and has brought us good news of your [steadfast] faith and [the warmth of your] love, and [reported] that you always think kindly of us and treasure your memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you,
• 2 John 1:2because of the truth which lives in our hearts and will be with us forever:
• Psalms 119:11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Commentaries on 3 John 1:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3When the brethren came - Probably the same of whom he speaks in the fifth ( 3 John 1:5;) and following verses, and who appear to have been itinerant evangelists. The truth that is in thee - The soundness of thy faith and the depth of thy religion.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came - Who these were is not certainly known. They may have been members of the same church with Gaius, who, for some reason, had visited the writer of this Epistle; or they may have been the “brethren” who had gone from him with a letter of commendation to the church, 3 John 1:9, and had been rejected by the church through the influence of Diotrephes, and who, after having been hospitably entertained by Gaius, had…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The traveling teachers (literally brothers) were probably John's messengers. They traveled between churches, teaching the good news about Jesus and encouraging Christians (see 1:5, 10). your devotion to the truth: Gaius remained faithful to the message about Jesus Christ that the apostles taught. The false teachers denied that Jesus truly came in the flesh or that his death was a real sacrifice (compare 1 John 4:1–3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. testified of the truth that is in thee--Greek, "of" (or 'to') thy truth": thy share of that truth in which thou walkest [Alford]. even as thou--in contrast to Diotrephes (3Jo 9).Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• joy, joyful, rejoice, glad

Commentaries on 3 John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings