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

1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. 2Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 5Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you.

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 could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
• 2 John 1:4How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.
• Philippians 1:4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!
• Romans 1:8Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.
• 2 Corinthians 7:6But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
• Ephesians 1:15Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,
• Colossians 1:7You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:6But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
• 2 John 1:2because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.
• Psalms 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might 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