3 John 1:11-12 WEB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:9-11

I. Here is a very different example and character, an officer, a minister in the church, less generous, catholic, and communicative than the private Christians. Ministers may sometimes be out-shone, out-done. In reference to this minister, we see, 1. His name?a Gentile name: Diotrephes, attended with an unchristian spirit. 2. His temper and spirit?full of pride and ambition: He loves to have the pre-eminence. This ferment sprang and wrought betimes. It is an ill unbeseeming character of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:12-14

Here we have, I. The character of another person, one Demetrius, not much known otherwise. But here his name will live. A name in the gospel, a fame in the churches, is better than that of sons and daughters. His character was his commendation. His commendation was, 1. General: Demetrius has a good report of all men. Few are well spoken of by all; and sometimes it is ill to be so. But universal integrity and goodness are the way to (and sometimes obtain) universal applause. 2. Deserved and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:9-14

1:9-15 I have already written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who is ambitious for the leadership, does not accept our authority. So, then, when I come, I will bring up the matter of his actions, for he talks nonsensically about us with wicked words; he refuses to receive the brothers and attempts to stop those who wish to do so and tries to eject them from the church. Beloved do not imitate the evil but the good. He who does good has the source of his life in God; he who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:11

Beloved, follow not that which is evil ,.... Follow not evil in general, it being hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will, and bad in itself, as well as pernicious in its consequences; and particularly follow not, or do not imitate the particular evil or evils in Diotrephes; as his pride, ambition, love of preeminence, and tyrannical government in the church, and especially his hard heartedness, cruelty, and inhospitality to the poor saints; and so the Arabic version reads, "do not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:12

Demetrius hath good report of all men , This man was of a quite different cast from Diotrephes, and therefore the apostle makes mention of him to Gaius, to be followed by him, and not the other; he was either the same with Demas, which is a contraction of this name, or the person that John sent from Ephesus with this letter: we read of an Ephesian of this name, Acts 19:24 ; though not the same person; or else one that also was a member of the same church with Gaius and Diotrephes; and he... 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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:9-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:12-14

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:9-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:12

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-12

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