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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:10

If I come, I will remember - I will show him the authority which, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, I possess. Prating against us - Diotrephes might have been a converted Jew, who was unwilling that the Gentiles should be received into the Church; or a Judaizing Christian, who wished to incorporate the law with the Gospel, and calumniated the apostles who taught otherwise. This haughty and unfeeling man would give no countenance to the converted Gentiles; so far from it, that he would not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:11

Follow not that which is evil - Μμ μιμου το κακον· Do not imitate that wicked man, i.e., the conduct of Diotrephes; be merciful, loving, and kind. For whatever profession any man may make, it will ever appear that he who doeth good is of God - he alone is the person who uses rightly the grace received from God, and he alone shall enjoy the Divine approbation; While he that doeth evil - He who is unfeeling, unmerciful, unkind, hath not seen God - has no proper knowledge of that God... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:12

Demetrius hath good report - Perhaps another member of the Church where Caius was; or he might have been one of those whom the apostle recommends to Caius; or, possibly, the bearer of this letter from John to Caius. He seems to have been an excellent person: all testified of his righteousness; the truth - Christianity, itself bore testimony to him; and the apostles themselves added theirs also. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:13

I had many things to write - That is, I have many things that I might write; but having the hope of seeing thee shortly, I will not commit them to paper. Ink and pen are here mentioned; paper and ink in the preceding epistle. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 3 John 1:14

Peace be to thee - Mayest thou possess every requisite good, both of a spiritual and temporal kind. Our friends salute thee - Desire to be affectionately remembered to thee. Greet the friends by name - remember me to all those with whom I am acquainted, as if I had specified them by name. This is a proof to me that this epistle was not sent to Corinth, where it is not likely John ever was; and where it is not likely he had any particular acquaintances, unless we could suppose he had seen... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

An apostolic pastoral to a Christian man. We have here another price, less fragment, giving us a glimpse into the actual Church life of the first century, and of the Christian deeds and difficulties of one of its honoured members. We have no other inspired letter to a private Church member. This serves a double purpose. It enables us to picture, in outline, Gains, with his Christian work, his character, and his trials. It enables us also to picture a Church as to its fellowship, its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The aged presbyter's letter to a private Church-member. "The eider unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth." As in the Second Epistle, John takes the familiar official designation of "the elder." The receiver of the Epistle was regarded by John with more than ordinary affection; for he at once designates Gaius "the beloved," and three times in the course of the short Epistle be addresses him by this designation. He was widely beloved; for the addition here, while emphasizing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-12

2. MAIN DIVISION . Exhortation. Having thus stated the circumstances which have led to his writing, the elder begins the main portion of the letter, which consists of three sections; the hospitality of Gaius, and its value ( 3 John 1:5-8 ); the arrogance of Diotrephes, and its results ( 3 John 1:9 , 3 John 1:10 ); the moral ( 3 John 1:11 , 3 John 1:12 ). The transition to this central portion of the Epistle is marked by a repetition of the loving address. In all three cases ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:9

I wrote somewhat to the Church . Just as the missionary brethren bore witness before the Church to the Christian love of Gains, so the elder will bear witness before the Church to the arrogant hostility of Diotrephes. Once more we see that words may be works. He who sanctions teachers of false doctrine shares in their "evil works" ( 2 John 1:11 ); and the "works" of Diotrephes partly consist in "prating against us with evil words." The same word for "evil" is used in both cases ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:9-10

Diotrephes: a beacon. "I wrote unto the Church: but Diotrephes," etc. I. THE CHARACTER OF DIOTREPHES BRIEFLY STATED . "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them." We do not know who or what this man was beyond what is stated in our text. Whether he was pastor, elder, deacon, or other office-bearer in the Church, we cannot tell. Whatever he was in other respects, we know that he was ambitious of the highest place and of the greatest power in the Church: he... read more

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