3JN front intro kwv9 0 # Introduction to 3 John<br><br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of 3 John<br><br>1. Introduction (1:1)<br>1. Encouragement and instructions to show hospitality (1:2-8)<br>1. Diotrephes and Demetrius (1:9-12)<br>1. Conclusion (1:13-14)<br><br>### Who wrote the Book of 3 John?<br><br>The letter does not give the name of the author. The author only identified himself as **The elder** (1:1). The letter was probably written by the Apostle John near the end of his life.<br><br>### What is the Book of 3 John about?<br><br>John wrote this letter to a believer named Gaius. He instructed Gaius to be hospitable to fellow believers who were traveling through his area.<br><br>### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “3 John” or “Third John”. Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “The Third Letter from John” or “The Third Letter John Wrote”. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>### What is hospitality?<br><br>Hospitality was an important concept in the ancient Near East. It was important to be friendly towards foreigners or outsiders and provide help to them if they needed it. In 2 John, John discouraged Christians from showing hospitality to false teachers. In 3 John, John encouraged Christians to show hospitality to faithful teachers.<br><br>## Part 3: Important Translation Issues<br><br>### How does the author use family relationships in his letter?<br><br>The author used the terms **brother** and **children** in a way that can be confusing. The scriptures often used the term **brothers** to refer to Jews. But in this letter, John used the word to refer to Christians. Also, John called some believers his **children**. These are believers he taught to obey Christ.<br><br>John also used the term **Gentile** in a way that could be confusing. The scriptures often used the term **Gentile** to refer to people who are not Jews. But in this letter, John used the word to refer to those who did not believe in Jesus.
3JN 1 1 rni7 figs-you 0 General Information: This is a personal letter from John to Gaius. All instances of **you** and **your** refer to Gaius and are singular. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
3JN 1 1 w99t figs-explicit ὁ πρεσβύτερος 1 The elder This refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as **elder** either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church. The name of the author can be made explicit: “I, John the elder, am writing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
3JN 1 1 lls6 translate-names Γαΐῳ 1 Gaius This is a fellow believer to whom John is writing this letter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
3JN 1 3 y7q3 figs-metaphor σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς 1 you are walking in truth Walking on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. Alternate translation: “you are living your life according to God’s truth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
3JN 1 4 w79m figs-metaphor τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα 1 my children John speaks of those he taught to believe in Jesus as though they were his children. This emphasizes his love and concern for them. It could also be that he himself led them to the Lord. Alternate translation: “my spiritual children” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
3JN 1 5 vl13 0 Connecting Statement: John’s purpose in writing this letter is to commend Gaius for taking care of people who are traveling to serve God; then he talks about two people, one evil and one good.
3JN 1 5 tmh1 ἀγαπητέ 1 Beloved Here **Beloved** is used as a term of endearment for Gaius as a fellow believer. Use a term here for a dear friend in your language.
3JN 1 5 g4gz ὃ, ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους 1 whenever you work for the brothers, and this for strangers “when you help fellow believers, especially those whom you do not know”
3JN 1 6 wzf6 οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας 1 who have borne witness of your love in the presence of the church These words describe the **strangers** (verse 5). “strangers who have told the believers in the church about how you have loved them”
3JN 1 6 pb64 καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας 1 You do well to send them on their journey John is commending Gaius for his normal practice of helping believers who are traveling. Translate this in a way that shows that this is something that Gaius does continually.
3JN 1 7 d8y1 figs-metonymy γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον 1 because they went out for the sake of the name Here **the name** refers to Jesus. This could mean: (1) that they left where they were in order to tell others about Jesus, or (2) that they left where they were because others forced them to leave because of their belief in Jesus, or (3) both of these things. Alternate translation: “since they have gone out to tell people about Jesus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
3JN 1 7 yzc8 μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες 1 receiving nothing This could mean that (1) unbelievers have not helped them by giving them anything or (2) they did not accept any help or gifts from unbelievers.
3JN 1 7 hk3p τῶν ἐθνικῶν 1 the Gentiles Here **Gentiles** does not just mean people who are not Jewish. It refers to any people who do not trust in Jesus.
3JN 1 8 d2l7 ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ 1 so that we become fellow workers for the truth “so that we will cooperate with them in announcing God’s truth to people”
3JN 1 8 ab01 figs-personification τῇ ἀληθείᾳ 1 for the truth “The truth” is spoken of here as though it were a person that John, Gaius, and others worked for. It could mean (1) “the true message from God” as in the UST, or it could mean (2) “God, who is Truth.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
3JN 1 9 s82w ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν 1 who loves to be first among them “who loves to be the most important one among them” or “who loves to act as though he’s their leader”
3JN 1 9 dp1v figs-exclusive ἡμᾶς 1 us The word **us** is exclusive; it refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. It may also be a polite way for John to refer to himself. See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])
3JN 1 9 rrgg figs-metonymy Διοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς 1 Diotrophes does not receive us Saying **Diotrephes…does not accept us** does not mean that he has physically rejected John and those with John, but it is a shorter way of saying that he does not accept John’s authority or the instructions that John gives. See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
3JN 1 10 it7p figs-ellipsis τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει 1 stops those who are willing There are words left out but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “he stops those who want to welcome the believers” See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
3JN 1 11 a3z8 ἀγαπητέ 1 Beloved Here **Beloved** is used as a term of endearment for Gaius as a fellow believer. See how you translated this in [3 John 1:5](../01/05.md).
3JN 1 11 sz2h figs-ellipsis ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν 1 but what is good There are words left out but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “but imitate the good things that people do.” See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
3JN 1 11 zan2 figs-metaphor οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν 1 has not seen God “Seeing” here is a metaphor that stands for knowing or understanding. Alternate translation: “has not experienced God” or “has not believed in God” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
3JN 1 12 pl7i figs-activepassive Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων 1 Demetrius is borne witness to by all This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “All who know Demetrius bear witness of him” or “Every believer who knows Demetrius speaks well of him.” See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
3JN 1 12 m22h translate-names Δημητρίῳ 1 Demetrius This is probably a man whom John wants Gaius and the congregation to welcome when he comes to visit. He may be the person delivering this letter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
3JN 1 12 rad4 figs-personification ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας 1 by the truth itself “the truth itself speaks well of him.” Here **truth** is described as though it were a person speaking. **Truth** here refers to “the true message from God.” Alternate translation: “everyone who knows the truth knows that he is a good person.” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
3JN 1 12 mftm figs-ellipsis καὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας 1 and by the truth itself There are words left out of this clause but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “and he is borne witness to by the truth itself.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
3JN 1 12 s712 figs-explicit καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν 1 And we also bear witness What John is confirming is implied and can be made explicit here. Alternate translation: “And we also speak well of Demetrius.” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
3JN 1 12 a16a figs-exclusive ἡμεῖς 1 we Here **we** refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])
3JN 1 13 v27c 0 General Information: This is the end of John’s letter to Gaius. In this section, he mentions coming to see him and closes with a greeting.
3JN 1 13 am6k figs-doublet οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν 1 I do not wish to write them to you with ink and pen This is a doublet, because **ink and pen** stand for the process of writing that was already mentioned. John is not saying that he would write them with something other than ink and pen. He is saying that he does not wish to write these other things at all. Alternate translation: “I do not want to write about them to you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
3JN 1 14 r8i4 figs-idiom στόμα πρὸς στόμα 1 mouth to mouth Here **mouth to mouth** is an idiom, meaning “in person”. Alternate translation: “in person” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3JN 1 15 v8yj εἰρήνη σοι 1 Peace to you “May God give you peace”
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