Book	Chapter	Verse	ID	SupportReference	OrigQuote	Occurrence	GLQuote	OccurrenceNote
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	1	mp9w		ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ	1	whom I love in truth	“whom I truly love”
3JN	1	2	v6dv		περὶ πάντων…σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν	1	everything for you to prosper and to be healthy	“you may do well in all things and be healthy”
3JN	1	2	i269		καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή	1	just as your soul prospers	“just as you are doing well spiritually”
3JN	1	3	b4zh		ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν	1	brothers came	“when fellow believers came” These people were probably all male.
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	gs6x		πιστὸν ποιεῖς	1	you are doing a faithful thing	“you are doing what is faithful to God” or “you are being loyal to God”
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	tm9q		τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ	1	the church	"The church" refers to Gaius and the group of believers who met together to worship God.
3JN	1	9	cz9d	translate-names	Διοτρέφης	1	Diotrephes	He was a member of the congregation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
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		1		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	f6qj		λόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς	1	accusing us with evil words	“that is, that he says evil things about us that certainly are not true”
3JN	1	10	wi6a		αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς	1	he does not receive the brothers	“does not welcome the fellow believers”
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	10	g98b		ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει	1	puts them out of the church	“he forces them to leave the group of believers”
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	pv24		μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν	1	do not imitate what is evil	“do not copy the evil things that people do”
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	cm8t		ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν	1	is from God	“comes from God”
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		1		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”
3JN	1	15	mhs1		ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι	1	The friends greet you	“The believers here greet you”
3JN	1	15	lq8r		ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα	1	Greet the friends by name	“Greet each of the believers there for me”