3 John 1:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. | For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. | For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe elder explains why he wrote his warm wish for Gaius in verse 2. Travelling believers had come and reported that Gaius held to the truth and lived by it, and this made the elder very glad. The next verse says this kind of news is his greatest joy. 3 John 1:23 John 1:33 John 1:4
Speaking"The elder," the unnamed writer of 2 and 3 John. Early Christian tradition identifies him as John the apostle. Some scholars think he was a different church leader. 3 John 1:13 John overview
ToGaius, a believer the elder loves and counts among his children in the faith. 3 John 1:13 John 1:43 John overview
Also involved"The brethren," travelling believers who had visited Gaius. They later spoke of his love before the church. 3 John 1:33 John 1:53 John 1:63 John overview
The elder reports his great joy at hearing good testimony about Gaius. The brethren bore witness that the truth was in Gaius and that he was walking in it, meaning he lived it out and did not only believe it. 3 John 1:3Strong's G3140Strong's G0225Strong's G4043
The letter does not say where it was written. Early tradition places John's last years in Ephesus. Gaius lived in a church the elder had written to before, likely in the province of Asia. 3 John overview3 John 1:9
The eventsSome time before the letter was written, travelling brethren visited Gaius and then returned to the elder with their report. 3 John 1:33 John 1:63 John overview
WrittenTraditional: about AD 85-95, around the time of 1 and 2 John. Scholarly: most scholars also place it in the late first century. 3 John overview
HereThe verse opens the elder's praise of Gaius. It sets up the contrast with Diotrephes, who refused the brethren and drove others out of the church. 3 John overview3 John 1:53 John 1:93 John 1:10
In the whole of ScriptureJohn's letters join truth and life: believing the truth means walking in it. In 2 John 1:4 the elder uses almost the same words about others "walking in truth." Paul likewise rejoiced when others brought good news of a church's faith. 2 John 1:42 John 1:21 Thessalonians 3:61 Thessalonians 3:93 John overview
For readersFaithfulness is seen in how a person lives, and others notice it. A life that matches the truth gives real joy to those who care for us. 3 John 1:33 John 1:43 John 1:11
- truthἀλήθεια
The lexicon lists 3 John 3 under the sense of truthfulness: sincerity and integrity of character, not just correct words. So "the truth that is in thee" is about who Gaius is, not only what he knows. Strong's G02253 John 1:3
- walkestπεριπατέω
Its basic meaning is to walk, but the lexicon notes a figurative use for living or conducting oneself. "Walking in the truth" means a whole way of life shaped by the truth. Strong's G40433 John 1:42 John 1:4
- testifiedμαρτυρέω
The word means to be a witness or bear witness. The report about Gaius came from people who had seen his life firsthand, the same kind of witness given to the church in verse 6. Strong's G31403 John 1:6
Takeaway
The elder rejoiced because others saw that Gaius did not just hold the truth but lived it. In John's letters, truth is something you walk in. 3 John 1:33 John 1:42 John 1:4
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.
The world around the text
About AD 85-95. Roman emperor: Domitian (AD 81-96). Where early tradition places John's last years. The greatest city of the province of Asia, on the west coast of today's Turkey.
Who ruled
- Roman emperorDomitianAD 81-96
Son of Vespasian and brother of Titus. Suetonius says he had himself styled "our Lord and God" in official letters. Early Christian writers say John was exiled to Patmos in his reign. Suetonius, Domitian 13Revelation 1:9Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30.3Eusebius, Church History 3.18
- Roman emperorsNerva and TrajanAD 96-98, 98-117
After Domitian was murdered in AD 96 the Senate chose the elderly Nerva, who adopted the general Trajan. Early tradition says John lived on in Ephesus into Trajan's reign. Suetonius, Domitian 14-17Cassius Dio, Roman History 68.1-4Irenaeus, Against Heresies 2.22.5
- Governor of the province of AsiaThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms
Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in its leading cities, Ephesus among them. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25
- King of ParthiaPacorus IIc. AD 78-110
Ruler of the Parthian empire beyond the Euphrates, Rome's great rival in the east, at peace with Rome through these years. Cassius Dio, Roman History 68.17
What was happening, AD 70 to AD 96
- AD 70WarJerusalem and its temple destroyed
Roman armies under Titus took Jerusalem after a long siege and burned the temple, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Jewish War 6.249-287Luke 21:5-6Luke 21:20-24
- August AD 79DisasterVesuvius buries Pompeii
The eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny the Younger watched it from across the bay; his uncle Pliny the Elder died trying to rescue people. Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16, 6.20
- AD 80BuildingThe Colosseum opens in Rome
Titus opened the great amphitheater begun by his father Vespasian with 100 days of games. Suetonius, Titus 7.3Cassius Dio, Roman History 66.25
- AD 83 or 84WarRome's furthest push into Britain
The governor Agricola defeated the Caledonians at Mons Graupius in what is now Scotland, and his fleet sailed around the north of Britain. Tacitus, Agricola 29-38
- AD 85-89WarWar with the Dacians
The Dacians crossed the Danube and killed a Roman governor. After years of fighting, Domitian made a peace that paid their king Decebalus a yearly subsidy. Suetonius, Domitian 6Cassius Dio, Roman History 67.6-7
- c. AD 89BuildingEphesus builds a temple to the emperors
Ephesus won the honor of a provincial temple for the worship of the emperors, the Temple of the Sebastoi, with a colossal statue of an emperor. Its remains stand in the city's upper square. Temple of the Sebastoi, Ephesus (excavated remains and inscriptions)
- AD 93-94DiscoveryJosephus finishes his history of the Jews
In Rome the Jewish historian Josephus completed his Antiquities of the Jews, which mentions John the Baptist, James the brother of Jesus, and Jesus himself. Josephus, Antiquities 20.267Josephus, Antiquities 18.116-119, 20.200
- c. AD 95The churchJohn on Patmos
John was on the island of Patmos "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" when he received the Revelation. Early writers date this to the end of Domitian's reign. Revelation 1:9Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30.3
- c. AD 96The churchClement of Rome writes to Corinth
The church at Rome sent a letter, traditionally by Clement, to settle a dispute at Corinth where younger members had removed their elders. It is one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. 1 Clement 1, 44, 47
- September AD 96RulersDomitian is murdered
Domitian was killed in a palace plot. The Senate condemned his memory and chose Nerva as emperor. Suetonius, Domitian 14-17, 23
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years (Suetonius, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Josephus, Pliny, Irenaeus, Eusebius). The letter names no place, so the setting follows early tradition. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I rejoiced | ἐχάρην | echarēn | G5463 | to rejoiceχαίρω (chairō) χαίρω [in LXX for שָׂמַח (Gen.45:16, al.), גִּיל (Pro.2:14, al.), etc.; inf., as greeting (see infr.), Isa.48:22 57:21 שָׁלוֹם), 1Ma.10:18, 2Ma.1:1 and frequently in these books ;] 1. to rejoice, be glad: Mrk.14:11, Luk.15:5, 32 19:6, 37 22:5 23:8, Jhn.8:56 20:20, Act.5:41 8:39 11:23 13:48, 2Co.6:10 7:7 13:9, Php.2:17, 28, Col.2:5, 1Th.5:16, 1Pe.4:13, 3Jn.3; χ. καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθαι, Mat.5:12; κ. σκιρτᾶν, Luk.6:23; opposite to κλαίειν, Rom.12:15, 1Co.7:30; to κλαίειν κ. θρηνεῖν Jhn.16:20; to λύπην ἔχειν, Jhn.16:22; with cogn. accusative, χ. χαρὰν μεγάλην, Mat.2:10; χαρᾷ χ. (B1., § 38, 3; Dalman, W … |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| exceedingly | λίαν | lian | G3029 | greatlyλίαν (lian) λίαν, adv. [in LXX chiefly for מְאֹד Gen.1:31 4:5, Jer.24:3, al.; Tob.9:4, 2Ma.11:1, al. ;] very, exceedingly: Mat.2:16 4:8 8:28 27:14 Mrk.1:35 6:51 (Rec. λ. ἐκ περισσοῦ) Mrk.9:3 16:2, Luk.23:8, 2Ti.4:15, II Jn 4, 3Jn.3 (cf. ὑτερλίαν).† (AS) |
| when were coming | ἐρχομένων | erchomenōn | G2064 | to come/goἔρχομαι (erchomai) ἔρχομαι, [in LXX very frequently for בּוֹא, also for הלךְ ni., אתה, etc., 34 words in all ;] 1. to come; (a) of persons, either as arriving or returning from elsewhere: Mat.8:9, Mrk.6:31, Luk.7:8, Jhn.4:27, Rom.9:9, al.; before ἀπό, Mrk.5:35 7:1, Jhn.3:2, al.; ἐκ, Luk.5:17, Jhn.3:31, al.; εἰς, Mrk.1:29, al.; διά before εἰς, Mrk.7:31; ἐν (Cremer, 263f., but see: ἐν), Rom.15:29, 1Co.4:21; ἐπί, with accusative, Mrk.6:53 11:13, Jhn.19:33, al.; κατά, with accusative, Luk.10:33 Act.16:7; παρά, with genitive, Luk.8:49; with accusative, Mat.15:29, Mrk.9:14, al.; with dative comm., incomm. (M, Pr., … |
| [the] brothers | ἀδελφῶν | adelphōn | G0080 | brotherἀδελφός (adelphos) ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀ- copul., δελφύς, womb), in cl., a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja., 102f.), for אָח ;] 1. lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.). 2. Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). 3. Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al.; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| those bearing witness | μαρτυρούντων | marturountōn | G3140 | to testifyμαρτυρέω (martureō) μαρτυρέω, -ῶ (μάρτυς), [in LXX chiefly for עֵד (עֵד (Gen.31:47-48, al.), also for עוּד hi. (Gen.43:3, La 2:13), עָנָה (Num.35:30) ;] (a) prop., to be a witness, bear witness, testify: absol. (find., al.), Jhn.15:27, Act.26:5; parenthetical (Bl., § 79, 7; MM, xvi), 2Co.8:3; with dative of person(s) (comm. and incomm.; El., § 37, 2), Act.22:5, Heb.10:15; id. before ὅτι, Mat.23:31, Rom.10:2, al.; accusative and inf., Act.10:43; with accusative of thing(s) (cl.), Jhn.3:11, Rev.22:16, 20; with accusative cogn., before περί, Jhn.5:32, 1Jn.5:10; with dative of thing(s), Jhn.5:33, Act.14:3, al.; befo … |
| from you | σου | sou | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| to truth, | ἀληθείᾳ, | alētheia | G0225 | truthἀλήθεια (alētheia) ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. … |
| even as | καθὼς | kathōs | G2531 | as/just asκαθώς (kathōs) καθώς, (i.e. καθ᾽ ὡς), Hellenistic for καθά, which see, καθάπερ, καθό, καθότι (Mayser, 485; Eutherford, NPhr., 495; Bl., §78, 1), according as, even as, just as, as: Luk.1:2 (see: καθά), 24:39, Jhn.5:23, Act.7:48, 1Co.8:2, Gal.3:6, al.; before οὕτως, Luk.11:30, Jhn.3:14, 2Co.1:5, Col.3:13, 1Jn.2:6, al.; before καί, Jhn.15:9, 1Co.15:49, 1Jn.2:18, al.; οὕτως . . . κ., Luk.24:24; id. with ellipsis of οὕτως, Mat.21:6, Mrk.16:7, Rom.1:13, al.; with other elliptical constructions, Jhn.6:58 17:21, 22 Act.15:8, 1Th.2:13, 1Ti.1:3, 1Jn.3:2, 3 12; καθὼς γέγραπται (Deiss., BS, 249), Mat.26:24, Mrk.9:13, … |
| you yourself | σὺ | su | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| in | ἐν | en | G1722 | in/on/amongἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af … |
| truth | ἀληθείᾳ | alētheia | G0225 | truthἀλήθεια (alētheia) ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. … |
| are walking. | περιπατεῖς. | peripateis | G4043 | to walkπεριπατέω (peripateō) περι-πατέω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for הָלַךְ pi., hith. ;] to walk: absol., Mat.9:5, Mrk.5:42, Luk.5:23, Jhn.1:36; with pred., γυμνός, Rev.16:15; ἐπάνω Luk.11:44; διά, with genitive, Rev.21:24; ἐν, Mrk.11:27 12:38, Jhn.7:1 11:54, Rev.2:1, al.; ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ, figuratively, Jhn.8:12 12:35, 1Jn.1:6-7 Jn 2:11; ἐπί, with genitive, Mat.14:26; id. with dative, Mat.14:25, 29; μετά, Jhn.6:66, Rev.3:4; παρά, with accusative, Mat.4:18. Metaphorical, of living, passing one's life, conducting oneself (like ἀναστρέφομαι in Xen., Plut., LXX, π.; M, Pro.11:1-31; Deiss., BS, 194) : ἀκριβῶς, Eph.5:15; ἀτάκτως, 2T … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.