SIL Translator’s Notes on 3 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:1

Section 1–4

Greetings

Read 1–4 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: As in 2 John 1–3, these verses contain the formal parts of the introduction to a Greek letter, that is, a description of the writer and the person he is writing to, and then a blessing (verse 2). John then goes on to encourage the person he is writing to (Gaius) by saying how pleased he was by the good reports he had heard about Gaius.

1a–b

The elder, To: (Discourse Feature) As in 2 John 1, this is a typical beginning for a Greek letter of John’s time. However in many languages the writer of a letter introduces himself in the first person singular, “I, the elder, am writing to….” In translation the natural form for starting a letter should be used.

the beloved: (Meaning) This represents the Greek word which is translated by Berean Standard Bible as “beloved” in 1 John 2:7 and other places in 1 John. It is closely related to the Greek word for “love” and means “dear ones” or “you who I love.”

Gaius: (New Participant) This is the same name as in Acts 19:29, 20:4, Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14, but probably a different person. Gaius was a very common name in the Roman Empire.

in the truth: (Alternative Interpretations) This is the same phrase as in 2 John 1. As in that verse, there are two different interpretations of what it means:

(1) It probably means “truly/really.” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It may mean “because we all believe in God’s truth.”

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:2

2 (Focus)

The focus of this verse is John’s wish that all may be well with Gaius in his physical health and in his daily business. He then says that he knows that Gaius’ spiritual life is going well.

I pray that: (Multiple Senses) This verb can be used both in the sense of praying to God and in the sense of wishing or hoping for something. It is probably being used in this second sense here. See The Jerusalem Bible.

soul: (Figure of Speech) This word is used here as a figure of speech referring to Gaius’ spiritual life, his relationship with God.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:3

the brothers: (Multiple Senses) This is used here in the sense of “fellow Christians.”

testified about: (Lexical Problem) John does not mention here who they told this to. However in verse 6 he mentions that these brothers spoke about Gaius to the whole church in the place where John was.

your devotion to the truth: (Meaning) This means Gaius was putting into practice in his daily life the truth about how God wants us to live.

in which you continue to walk: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views about whether the last clause of this verse is part of what the brothers reported or whether it is John’s comment on their report:

(1) It is probably John’s comment confirming that Gaius really does live according to God’s truth. (Good News Translation, New English Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some think that it is a second part to the brothers’ report, emphasizing that Gaius continually puts God’s truth into practice. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), The Jerusalem Bible, Living Bible)

you continue to walk: (Metaphor) As in 2 John 4, this is a Greek metaphor meaning, “you continue to put into practice in your life the truth which God has revealed about how he wants you to live.”

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:4

4 (Logical Connection)

This verse is giving the reason why the reports about Gaius made John so happy.

I have no greater joy: (Figure of Speech) John is here using exaggeration to emphasize that such reports make him very happy.

my children: (Cross-cultural Difference) John uses this term here as he does in 1 John to refer to Christians in churches for which he is responsible. See the note on “My little children” in 1 John 2:1.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:5

Section 5–12

It is good to help those who teach the truth

Read 5–12 carefully.

Section Theme: This section contains the main points John is writing to Gaius about. He praises Gaius for helping the traveling Christian preachers and encourages him to follow the good example of Demetrius rather than the bad example of Diotrephes.

Paragraph 5–8

Read 5–8 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John praises Gaius for helping the traveling preachers. He explains that Christians should help these people because they are serving Christ and relying on fellow Christians to supply all they need.

you are faithful: (Focus) John is not simply praising Gaius for being faithful. He is saying that the help which Gaius gives to the brothers proves that he is faithful.

faithful: (Lexical Problem) In your translation you may need to state who Gaius is faithful to John probably means that Gaius is faithful to God or Jesus.

what you are doing: (Translation) John does not state exactly what Gaius did, but from the rest of the letter it is clear that he welcomed the brothers into his house and provided them with what they needed.

are doing: (Tense) This probably refers both to what Gaius has done in the past for some brothers and to what he is still doing for those who come to him.

strangers: (Meaning) The meaning here is that some of the brothers were not previously known to Gaius (they probably came from distant towns or provinces). But he nevertheless helped them just because they were Christians.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:6

They: (Pronoun Reference) In the previous verse John referred to the traveling Christian preachers as “brothers.” This pronoun They refers to some of these brothers, who have come to John after Gaius has helped them.

the church: (Multiple Senses) Here this means the group of Christians in the place where John was.

love: (Event Idea) In some languages this may be expressed by a verb. You may need to indicate that it refers to Gaius’ love for the brothers or all fellow Christians.

You will do well: (Emotive Impact) This is John’s way of requesting Gaius to continue helping the traveling preachers. In translation it must be made clear that this is a request, not just a statement.

send them on their way: (Meaning) This means Gaius should help them and give them whatever they need when they are ready to leave his home and continue their travels.

them: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to any traveling Christian preachers who come to Gaius in future, whether they are the same ones who reported about him to John or others like them.

in a manner worthy of God: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different ideas about what this means:

(1) It probably means Gaius should help them in the way that God wants his people to help each other. (Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Some think it means he should honour them because they are God’s representatives.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:7

For: (Logical Connection) This verse is giving the reason why John requests Gaius to help the brothers.

they went out: (Lexical Problem) This refers to their making a journey to preach the gospel in different places. It does not refer to leaving any specific place.

the Name: (Special Biblical Term) This is a way of referring to Jesus Christ. This phrase is used a few times in the New Testament. See Good News Translation, New English Bible.

accepting nothing: (Meaning) As Christian preachers they did not ask for help from unbelievers. John is showing that they were different from teachers of other religions who traveled around at that time. The teachers of other religions used to require payment from the people they instructed and converted.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:8

we: (Pronoun Reference) John is referring to himself and Gaius and all other Christians. See Good News Translation.

support such men: (Meaning) This means Christians should help these people by welcoming them to stay in their homes and giving them whatever they need to continue their work for Christ.

that we may be fellow workers: (Pronoun Reference) John means that by helping these brothers, he and Gaius and all other Christians will be sharing in their work.

for the truth: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different ideas about the meaning of the Greek phrase used here:

(1) It probably refers to working with the traveling preachers in spreading God’s truth to other people. (Good News Translation, Berean Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible)

(2) Some think it refers to working together with God’s truth as it spreads among people. (King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:2

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:3

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:5

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:8

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society