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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

3 John 1:4

To hear that my children— There is no occasion to understand hereby that they were all St. John's own converts: (see 1 John 2:1) he had styled himself the elder; there was therefore a beauty in his calling all those his children, who were under his apostolic care, or paternal inspection; and he rejoiced like a tender father over a wise son. The apostle seems to have alluded to Proverbs 10:1 with which compare Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 19:13. Baxter's note on this verse is, "True ministers rejoice more for the welfare of men's souls, than in preferments, wealth, or worldly honour."

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See also 3 John 1:4 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    VER. 3 JOHN 1:4 ouvk e;cw cara,n {A} Although the reading ca,rin (B 5 57 1891 2143 2298 2492 vg copbo Hilary) may seem to be intrinsically superior, expressing “the divine favour in a concrete form” ...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 3 John 1:4. _TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN_] From this it has been inferred that Caius was one of St. John's converts, and consequently not the Corinthian Caius, who was converted, most probably, by...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN TRUTH - That they adhere steadfastly to the truth, and that they live in accordance with it. This is such language as would be used by an ag...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE THE THIRD EPISTLE The Third Epistle is addressed by the elder, the aged Apostle John, to a brother by name of Gaius. A Gaius is mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, Ro...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    3 JOHN 1:12. COMMENDATION OF DEMETRIUS. He was probably the bearer of this letter and one of the evangelists. The name was so common that any identification with the Demetrius of Acts 19:24 is improba...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    COMMENDATION OF GAIUS. John expresses his delight at the witness borne to the moral integrity of Gaius by some who had visited the apostle. He prays that Gaius may have prosperity and health commensur...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    The Elder to Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you, and that you are in good health of body, as it goes well with your soul. It gave me grea...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE TEACHER'S JOY (3 John 1:1-4)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    NO. not. App-105. JOY. See 1 John 1:4. THAN, &C. Literally than these things, that (Greek. _hina)_. may hear of. MY. mine own. CHILDREN. App-108. WALK. walking. TRUTH. the truth....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I have no greater joy_ In the Greek -greater" is put first for emphasis, and this is worth preserving; GREATER JOY HAVE I NONE THAN THIS. -Joy" should perhaps rather be grace (χάριν) i.e. favour from...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Personal Good Wishes and Sentiments 2. _I wish above all things that_ Rather, I PRAY THAT IN ALL RESPECTS; literally, _concerning all things_. It might well surprise us to find S. John placing health...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    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] 5...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PERSONAL GOOD WISHES AND SENTIMENTS...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΜΕΙΖΟΤΈΡΑΝ (G3186) больше; _сотр. от_ ΜΕΊΖΩΝ от ΜΈΓΑΣ большой, великий. Используется с _gen._, образуя выражение: "больше, чем". В _греч._ койне был ряд новых разговорных образований двойного _сотр._...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2471 A MINISTER’S CHIEF JOY 3 John 1:4. _I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth_. THERE subsists between a minister and his people a relation which may not unfit...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    E. _Translation and Comments_ 1. Gaius The Beloved. 3 John 1:1-8 (1) The old one to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. (3 John 1:2) Beloved, concerning everything I pray (for) you to prosper...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. MY CHILDREN - members of the Church: confirming the view that the elect lady (2 John) is a church....

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 4. I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR. John's life was wrapped up in his desire to have all men learn, and know, and obey the truth. For this he lived; for this he labored; for this he suffered...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    2 The prosperity of the soul must not be confounded with spiritual prosperity. Like the salvation of the soul (1Pe_1:9), it refers to that physical enjoyment and satisfaction which will be fully known...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GREATER] In the Gk., a double comparative, as in English 'betterer' would be. This may indicate that the author was not a classical Greek scholar, or the usage may be intentional, for emphasis, like t...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DO GOOD WORK 3 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER 1 THE WRITER The author of this letter was the *apostle John. He also wrote 1 John and 2 John. He called himself ‘the *e...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (2 _a._) (2) BELOVED. — St. John’s affection is founded on the high merits of Caius as a Christian. ABOVE ALL THINGS. — This may mean “_in_ all things.” BE IN HEALTH. — An ascetic would be surprised...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Cf._ Senec. _Ep._ xxxiv.: “Si agricolam arbor ad fructum perducta delectat, si pastor ex fœtu gregis sui capit voluptatem, si alumnum suum nemo aliter intuetur quam adulescentiam illius suam judicet:...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Address and Commendation. “The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in Truth. Beloved, in all respects I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I was excee...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE APOSTLE'S JOY 3 John 1:1 Again we meet the words _love_ and _truth_. Transparency of speech and life is an essential condition of soul health. It would not be desirable to express the wish of 3 J...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GAIUS Just as he did at the beginning of 2 John, the apostle describes himself as aged in addressing this personal letter to Gaius, whom he loved. The term here for beloved suggests a very close rela...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I have no greater joy than (a) to hear that my children walk in truth. (a) Than these joys....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _No greater grace. That is, nothing that gives me greater joy and satisfaction. (Challoner)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Contents After his usual salutation, the Apostle tells his beloved Gaius of his desires, both for his temporal and spiritual prosperity. He commends him for his kindness to the brethren. He remarks o...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. Next to the health of the soul, the health of the body is the greatest blessing. And, among the promises of God in Chri...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Third Epistle encourages the believer to the exercise of hospitality, whether towards the known brethren or strangers, and to all benevolent care in furthering their journey when departing, provid...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I HAVE NO GREATER JOY,.... Nothing that causes greater joy. The Vulgate Latin version reads "grace" or "thanks"; and then the sense is, that he had nothing to be more thankful for: THAN TO HEAR THAT...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Ver. 4. _I have no greater joy_] _See Trapp on "_ 2Jn 1:4 _"_ Walk in truth] Not walk to the alehouse, walk about with tales to she...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Beloved, I wish_ Or, _I pray_, as ευχομαι is translated by Beza, Estius, Erasmus, Schmidius, Doddridge, and others. _Above all things_ Or, _with respect to all things_, as περι παντων rather signifie...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    MY CHILDREN; Christians, especially those who had been converted through his instrumentality....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Address and commendation of Gaius:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN THE TRUTH. The address, or superscription, of the letter is very brief: The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. The apostle he...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 Those who are beloved of Christ, will love the brethren for his sake. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "3 JOHN 1:3...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    3 John 1:4 have G2192 (G5719) no G3756 greater G3186 G5130 joy G5479 to G2443 hear G191 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, even as you walk in truth. Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.' But his greatest...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    II. _Substance of the Letter._ The substance of the letter is, first, a tribute to the character and work of Gaius, especially his hospitality to Christ's servants, with exhortation to continue this...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    3 John 1:3-4. The commendation of Gaius is first general: the apostle rejoices greatly to hear from brethren testimony to his interior religion, UNTO THY TRUTH, as it was openly shown, EVEN AS THOU WA...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    GREATER (μειζοτεραν). A double comparative with -τερος added to μειζων, like our "lesser" and like μαλλον κρεισσον (more better) in Philippians 1:23. In Ephesians 3:8 we have ελαχιστοτερω, a compara...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Exhortation concerning ministering brethren. The domineering Diotrephes and the good Demetrius. CHARACTERS: John, Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. CONCLUSION: Ministers of Christ should aboun...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER. It makes a preacher happy to know that someone he has helped to _grow in Christ_ is being faithful to the truth....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth._ THE CHRISTIAN WALKING IN THE TRUTH This is little more than a repetition of a declaration made by the apostle in the foregoing ep...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:4 JOY. See 1 John 1:4 and note. MY CHILDREN. His readers are first of all “children of G

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 JOHN 1:1 Greeting: The Elder’s Joy at Gaius’s Faithfulness. John’s opening tone is affectionate and positive. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    PERSONAL CONFIDENCES AND KINDLY WARNINGS _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ 3 John 1:1. THE ELDER.—It cannot be decided whether this was a recognised official title, or an allusion by St. John to his gr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So the third epistle of John is now again, John addresses himself as The elder [the presbyturos] unto the wellbeloved Gaius (3 John 1:1), Probably not the Gaius mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Co...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 3:6; 2 Kings 20:3; Galati

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Joy [χ α ρ α ν]. The texts vary; some reading carin grace or favor from God, on which see 2 John 1:3. Note the Greek order : greater joy than this have I not. My children [τ α ε μ α τ ε κ ν α]. Lit.,...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I have no greater joy than this — Such is the spirit of every true Christian pastor. To hear that my children walk in the truth — Caius probably was converted by St. Paul. Therefore when St. John spea...

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