Theophylact of Ohrid

In his own words on 3 John

• 3 John 1:1

  He loves in truth who loves according to the Lord.

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:2

  The Apostle writes this epistle with the purpose of bestowing praise upon certain brethren. He writes to Gaius, of whom he testifies that he receives many strangers, and for this bestows upon him great praise. For "he who does good is of God," he says (3 John 1:11). He further encourages him by the fact that he disapproves of Diotrephes, who does not wish to act in this way. He praises Demetrius, who acts in the same manner as Gaius, and gives a true testimony of his virtue. "As your soul prospers"; and it prospers in the life according to the Gospel.

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:3

  He who walks in the truth is one who walks according to the simplicity of the Gospel. By the word "walk" one must understand not the movement of feet, for such stepping motion from place to place is characteristic of every animal that has legs, but the orderly and sober progress in the strivings of the soul, which few achieve even among those who possess reason.

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:4

  The expression μειζοτέραν is not in accord with the elegance of the Greek language; for to the comparative degree (μείζονα) yet another comparative suffix (-τερ) has been added.

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:8

  "To receive" is used in the sense of "to take up," "to seize." By this the Apostle teaches us not to wait for the needy to come to us, but to run to meet them ourselves and entreat them to come to us, as Abraham and Lot did (Gen. 18:2–3; 19:1–2).

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:10

  If it is forbidden to repay evil for evil (Rom. 12:17), then how is the present threat of the Apostle to be explained? We answer: the commandment speaks of not repaying evil for evil to the one who sins against us, but when sin against us also causes harm to the faith, then the one committing such sin must be punished, just as Paul also brought evil upon Elymas, who was turning people away from the paths of the Lord (Acts 13:8–11).

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:11

  Since there is nothing in common between light and darkness, no agreement between Christ and Belial (2 Cor. 6:14–15), he who is enlightened by the knowledge of Christ must not, through imitation of the ungodly, merge with darkness, that is, with their abominable deeds. For just as he who does good is of God and has perfected the eye of his mind with the light of the knowledge of Him, and therefore has become entirely light, sees the true light, God, and becomes for others a luminary in the world, holding forth the word of life (Phil. 2:16), so also he who does evil, walking in darkness, can neither himself see God, that is, do what is pleasing to God, nor be a guide for others, but is hateful and abhorrent to all.

  Commentary on 3 John

• 3 John 1:12

  By "all," that is, those who possess the truth, "and from the truth itself," that is, in word and in deed; for although the virtue of some is testified to, the testimony proves to be false, because the words do not correspond to the reality. But if someone, by the broad meaning of the word "all," understands both believers and unbelievers, his understanding is also not unjust; for the apostle Paul commands all the faithful: "Give no offense, either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things" (1 Cor. 10:32–33).

  Commentary on 3 John