unfoldingWord_en_tn/en_tn_65-3JN.tsv

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23JNfrontintrokwv90# Introduction to 3 John<br><br><br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of 3 John<br><br>1. Introduction (1:1)<br>2. Encouragement and instructions to show hospitality (1:2-8)<br>3. Diotrephes and Demetrius (1:9-12)<br>4. 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 were 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.
33JN11rni7figs-you0General 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]])
43JN11w99tfigs-explicitὁ πρεσβύτερος1The elderThis refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as the **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]])
53JN11lls6translate-namesΓαΐῳ1to … GaiusThis is a fellow believer to whom John is writing this letter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
63JN11mp9wὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ1whom I love in truth“whom I truly love”
73JN12v6dvπερὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν1I pray concerning everything for you to prosper and to be healthy“I pray that you may do well in all things and be healthy”
83JN12i269καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή1just as your soul prospers“just as you are doing well spiritually”
93JN13b4zhἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν1when brothers came“when fellow believers came.” These people were probably all male.
103JN13y7q3figs-metaphorσὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς1you are walking in truthHere, **walking** on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. Alternate translation: “you are living your life according to Gods truth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
113JN14w79mfigs-metaphorτὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα1my childrenJohn 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]])
123JN15vl130Connecting Statement:Johns 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.
133JN15tmh1ἀγαπητέ1BelovedHere, **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.
143JN15gs6xπιστὸν ποιεῖς1you are doing a faithful thing“you are doing what is faithful to God” or “you are being loyal to God”
153JN15g4gzὃ, ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους1whenever you work for the brothers, and this for strangers“when you help fellow believers, especially those whom you do not know”
163JN16wzf6οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας1who have borne witness of your love in the presence of the churchThese words describe the “strangers” (verse 5). “strangers who have told the believers in the church about how you have loved them”
173JN16pb64οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας1You do well to send them on their journeyJohn 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.
183JN17d8y1figs-metonymyὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον1because they went out for the sake of the nameHere, **the name** refers to Jesus. This could mean: (1) They left where they were in order to tell others about Jesus. (2) They left where they were because others forced them to leave because of their belief in Jesus. (3) This refers to both of these things. Alternate translation: “since they have gone out to tell people about Jesus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
193JN17yzc8μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες1receiving nothingThis could mean: (1) Unbelievers have not helped them by giving them anything. (2) They did not accept any help or gifts from unbelievers.
203JN17hk3pτῶν ἐθνικῶν1the GentilesHere, **Gentiles** does not just mean people who are not Jewish. It refers to any people who do not trust in Jesus.
213JN18d2l7ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ1so that we become fellow workers for the truth“so that we will cooperate with them in announcing Gods truth to people”
223JN18ab01figs-personificationτῇ ἀληθείᾳ1for the truthHere, **the truth** is spoken of here as though it were a person that John, Gaius, and others worked for. This could mean: (1) This refers to “the true message from God” as in the UST. (2) This refers to “God, who is Truth.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
233JN19tm9qτῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ1to the churchHere, **the church** refers to Gaius and the group of believers who met together to worship God.
243JN19cz9dtranslate-namesΔιοτρέφης1DiotrephesHe was a member of the congregation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
253JN19s82wὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν1who loves to be first among them“who loves to be the most important one among them” or “who loves to act as though he is their leader”
263JN19dp1vfigs-exclusiveἡμᾶς1usThe 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]])
273JN19rrggfigs-metonymyΔιοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς1Diotrophes … does not receive usSaying **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 Johns authority or the instructions that John gives. See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
283JN110f6qjλόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς1accusing us with evil words“that is, that he says evil things about us that certainly are not true”
293JN110wi6aοὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς1he does not receive the brothers“he does not welcome the fellow believers”
303JN110it7pfigs-ellipsisτοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει1stops those who are willingThere 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]])
313JN110g98bἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει1puts them out of the church“forces them to leave the group of believers”
323JN111a3z8ἀγαπητέ1BelovedHere, **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).
333JN111pv24μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν1do not imitate what is evil“do not copy the evil things that people do”
343JN111sz2hfigs-ellipsisἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν1but what is goodThere 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]])
353JN111cm8tἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν1is from God“comes from God”
363JN111zan2figs-metaphorοὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν1has 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]])
373JN112pl7ifigs-activepassiveΔημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων1Demetrius is borne witness to by allYou can state this 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]])
383JN112m22htranslate-namesΔημητρίῳ1DemetriusThis 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]])
393JN112rad4figs-personificationὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας1by the truth itself“the truth itself speaks well of him.” Here, **truth** is described as though it were a person speaking. Here, **truth** 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]])
403JN112mftmfigs-ellipsisὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας1by the truth itselfThere are words left out of this clause but they are understood from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “he is borne witness to by the truth itself” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
413JN112s712figs-explicitἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν1we also bear witnessWhat John is confirming is implied and can be made explicit here. Alternate translation: “we also speak well of Demetrius” Also see the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
423JN112a16afigs-exclusiveἡμεῖς1weHere, **we** refers to John and those with him and does not include Gaius. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])
433JN113v27c0General Information:This is the end of Johns letter to Gaius. In this section, he mentions coming to see him and closes with a greeting.
443JN113am6kfigs-doubletοὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν1I do not wish to write them to you with ink and penThis 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]])
453JN114r8i4figs-idiomστόμα πρὸς στόμα1mouth to mouthHere, **mouth to mouth** is an idiom meaning “in person.” Alternate translation: “in person” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
463JN115v8yjεἰρήνη σοι1Peace to you“May God give you peace”
473JN115mhs1ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι1The friends greet you“The believers here greet you”
483JN115lq8rἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα1Greet the friends by name“Greet each of the believers there for me”