THE title, like that of the Gospel and of the other two Epistles, is not original, and is found in various forms, the most ancient being the simplest. Ἰωάννου or Ἰωάνου γ̅ ([934][935]). Ἰωάννου ἐπιστολὴ γ̅ ([936]). ἘΠΙΣΤΟΛῊ ΤΡΊΤΗ ΤΟΥ͂ ἉΓΊΟΥ� ([937]). As in the Second Epistle, the title in [938] is m... [ Continue Reading ]
1. THE ADDRESS 1. This Epistle, like the Second, and most others in N.T., has a definite address, but of a very short and simple kind: comp. James 1:1. It has no greeting, properly so called, the prayer expressed in 3 John 1:2 taking its place. Ὁ ΠΡΕΣΒΎΤΕΡΟΣ. See on 2 John 1:1. From the Apostle’s... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΡῚ ΠΆΝΤΩΝ ΕΥ̓́ΧΟΜΑΙ. I PRAY THAT IN ALL RESPECTS; literally, _concerning all things_. It might well surprise us to find S. John placing health and prosperity _above_ all things, as A.V. has it; and though περὶ πάντων has that meaning sometimes in Homer (_Il._ I. 287), yet no parallel use of it has... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSONAL GOOD WISHES AND SENTIMENTS... [ Continue Reading ]
[939], Vulgate, and Thebaic omit ΓΆΡ. [939] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. 3. ἘΧΆΡΗΝ ΓᾺΡ ΛΊΑΝ. The γάρ has been omitted in some important authorities, perhaps under the influence of 2 John 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Before ἈΛΗΘΕΊΑΙ insert ΤΗ͂Ι with [940] [941][942]1 against [943][944][945]. For ΧΑΡΆΝ ([946][947][948][949][950], Thebaic) [951], Vulgate, and Memphitic have χάριν, which is very likely right. [940] 5th century. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, from Alexandria, and afterwards pre... [ Continue Reading ]
For εἰς τούς ([952][953]) read ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ([954][955][956][957] and Versions). [952] 9th century. All three Epistles. [953] 9th century. All three Epistles. [954] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [9... [ Continue Reading ]
GAIUS PRAISED FOR HIS HOSPITALITY: ITS SPECIAL VALUE... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἻ ἘΜΑΡΤΎΡΗΣΆΝ ΣΟΥ ΤΗ͂Ι�. As R.V., WHO BARE WITNESS TO THY LOVE. There is no sufficient reason here for rendering the aorist as the perfect; and certainly in S. John’s writings (whatever may be our view of 1 Corinthians 13) ἀγάπη must always be rendered ‘love.’ In a text like this, moreover, ‘charit... [ Continue Reading ]
For ἐθνῶν ([958][959]) read ἘΘΝΙΚΩ͂Ν ([960][961][962][963]). [958] 9th century. All three Epistles. [959] 9th century. All three Epistles. [960] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [961] 5th centur... [ Continue Reading ]
For ἀπολαμβάνειν ([964][965]) read ὙΠΟΛΑΜΒΆΝΕΙΝ ([966][967][968][969]1). For ἈΛΗΘΕΊΑΙ ([970][971][972]) [973]1[974] have ἐκκλησίᾳ. [964] 9th century. All three Epistles. [965] 9th century. All three Epistles. [966] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mo... [ Continue Reading ]
After ἜΓΡΑΨΑ insert ΤΙ with [975]1[976][977][978] against [979][980]. For ἜΓΡΑΨΑ [981] has ἔγραψας. For τι [982]3 and Vulgate have ἄν. In the Vulgate _forsitan_ is an obvious attempt to give a separate word to translate ἄν. See on 1 John 2:19. [975] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at... [ Continue Reading ]
9, 10. DIOTREPHES CONDEMNED FOR HIS ARROGANCE AND HOSTILITY This is the most surprising part of the letter; and of the internal evidence this is the item which seems to weigh most heavily against the Apostolic authorship. That any Christian should be found to act in this manner towards the last surv... [ Continue Reading ]
For ΒΟΥΛΟΜΈΝΟΥΣ ([983][984][985] and most Versions) [986] and Thebaic have ἐπιδεχομένους. [983] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [984] 5th century. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constanti... [ Continue Reading ]
Before ΚΑΚΟΠΟΙΩ͂Ν omit δέ with [987][988][989][990][991] against [992]. [987] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [988] 5th century. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, from Alexan... [ Continue Reading ]
11, 12. THE MORAL 11, 12. This is the main portion of the Epistle. In it the Apostle bids Gaius beware of imitating such conduct. And if an example of Christian conduct is needed there is Demetrius.... [ Continue Reading ]
For οἴδατε ([993][994][995]) read ΟἾΔΑΣ ([996][997][998][999]). [993] 9th century. All three Epistles. [994] 9th century. All three Epistles. [995] 9th century. A palimpsest. All three Epistles excepting 1 John 3:19 to 1 John 5:1. There is a facsimile of a portion in Hammond’s _Outlines of Textual... [ Continue Reading ]
For γράφειν ([1000][1001]) read ΓΡΆΨΑΙ ΣΟΙ ([1002][1003][1004][1005]): γράφειν is from 2 John 1:12. Similarly [1006] and the Vulgate substitute ἐβουλήθην from 2 John 1:12 for ΘΈΛΩ. For γράψαι ([1007][1008]) read ΓΡΆΦΕΙΝ ([1009][1010][1011][1012]). [1000] 9th century. All three Epistles. [1001] 9th c... [ Continue Reading ]
13, 14. CONCLUSION 13, 14. The marked similarity to the Conclusion of the Second Epistle is strong evidence that the two letters were written about the same time. See notes on 2 John 1:12-13.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ἰδεῖν σε ([1013][1014][1015]) read ΣΕ ἸΔΕΙ͂Ν ([1016][1017][1018]). [1013] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [1014] 9th century. All three Epistles. [1015] 9th century. All three Epistles. [10... [ Continue Reading ]