*“O ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΣ Fatw τῷ οσα ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ” ἐν ahr Bet. aa J cr
2. ᾿Αγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων πι σε «εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, b2 Jona
καθὼς °edododTal σου H ψυχή. 4.
* ἐχάρην γὰρ” Mee, ἐρχομένων « 1 oe ἀδελφῶν καὶ ο σα σου τῇ sulle καθὼς σὺ
ἐν ἀληθείᾳ d2 2 John 4. ohn 4.
περιπατεῖς. 4. {μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ έχω xapay,” ἵνα ἀκούω Taf fi ολα, 4.
1 νωαννου επιστολη καθολικη Υ IOI, 106;
Y N; wwavov Ύ B; wavvov επιστολη Ο, many minusc. ;
ιωαννου
επιστολη τριτη του αγιου αποστολου ιωαννου L ;
του αυτου αγιου ιωαννου του θεολογου επιστολη τριτη 05; επιστολη του αγιου «ποστολου και ηγαπηµενου προς γαῖον ιωαννου 4.
γαρ ABCKLP, Syrbo ph, Cop., WH, Nest.; om. , Vg., Sah., Aeth., Arm.,
oer
3 yapav ΜΔΟΚΙ.Ρ, Tisch., WH (marg.), Nest. ;
Vv. 1-4. Address and Commendation. “The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in Truth. Beloved, in all respects I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I was exceedingly glad when breth- ren would come and testify to thy Truth, even as thou walkest in Truth. A greater gladness than this I have not— that I should hear of my children walking in the Truth.”
Ver. 1. 6 πρεσβύτέρος, see Introd. pp. 159 ff. éy#,seenoteon2Johni. ἐν ἀληθεία, see note on 2 John i.
Ver. 2. Cf. Law, Ser. Call, chap. vii. : “‘ Flavia would be a miracle of piety, if she was but half as careful of her soul as she is of her body. The rising of a pimple on her face, the sting of a gnat, will make her keep her room for two or three days, and she thinks they are very rash people that do not take care of things in time.” Penn, Fruits of Soli- tude: ‘* Heis curious to wash, dress and perfume his Body, but careless of his Soul. The one shall have many Hours, the other not so many Minutes.” περὶ πάντων, de omnibus, with εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, not pre omnibus, “above all
χαριν B, Vg., Cop., WH.
things”. The latter use is epic (ε.ρ., Hom. Il. i, 287: περὶ πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων), and prosperity and health were not the summa bona in the Apostle’s
estimation. εὐοδοῦσθαι, “prosper” in worldly matters. Trouble tests char- Άσε ones
ος knight is best known a Christian in the time of trouble and adversity”; and Gaius had stood the test. The hostility of Dio- trephes, probably a well-to-do member of the Church, had lessened his maintenance (εὐοδοῦσθαι) and affected his health (ὑγιαίνειν), yet St. John has only ad- miration for the spirit he has manifested and commendation for the part he has played.
Ver. 3. ἐχάρην, see note on 2 John 4. ἐρχομένων, repeatedly, not on one par- ticular occasion (ἐλθόντων). The itiner- ant brethren (die reisenden Briider) were always at work, going out from Ephesus on their missions and returning with their reports. Cf. vv. 5-6. See Introd. Ρ. 155.
Ver. 4. Cf. Senec. Ep. xxxiv.: ‘Si agricolam arbor ad fructum perducta de- lectat, si pastor ex foetu gregis sui capit voluptatem, si alumnum suum nemo aliter intuetur quam adulescentiam illius
in battle, an
~
206
gi Tim.i. SAH 2:0 Cor. iVers > Philem. 10; Gal. iv. 19.
h Matt.
_ XXVi. 10.
i Heb. xiii.1, — k 1 John iii. 22 reff. 1 Cor. xvi. 6, 11; 2 Cor. i. 16.
* ev SC°KLP; ev τη ABC*, edd.