1. The elder. See on 2 John 1.
Gaius. The name occurs several times in the New Testa- ment, as Acts xix. 29; xx.4; Rom. xvi. 23; 1 Cor. i.14. The person addressed here cannot be identified.
The well-beloved. Rev., the beloved. In the Greek order the name comes first. Gaius the beloved.
In the truth (év adn9e/a). Rev., properly, omitting the art- icle, in truth. See on 2 John 4.
2. Beloved. Compare the plural, 1 John iii. 2, 21; iv. 1, ipo!
| wish above all things (sep) mdvrwv ebyopat). Wrong. This sense of zrep/ is contrary to New Testament usage. The preposition means concerning. So Rev. “I pray that am adl things thou mayst prosper.” Etyoua I pray or wish, oceurs only here in John’s writings, and not often elsewhere. See Acts xxvi. 29; Rom. ix. 3; Jas. v. 16.
Mayst prosper (evodobc3at). Lit., hawe a prosperous jour- ney. From ev well, and 0d03 a way. In this original sense, Rom. i.10. The word occurs only three times in the New Testament. See 1 Cor. xvi. 2.
Be in health (iyaivew). Used in the New Testament both in a physical and moral sense. The former is found only here and in Luke’s Gospel. See Luke v.31; vii. 10; xv. 27. Paul uses it of soundness in faith or doctrine. See 1 Tim. i. 10; vi.
3; 2 Tim. i. 13; Titus ii. 2. Here of Gaius’ bodily health, as is shown by sow/ in the next clause.
Soul (vy). See on Mark xii. 30; Luke i. 46. The soul (uy) is the principle of individuality, the seat of personal impressions. It has a side in contact with both the material and the spiritual element of humanity, and is thus the medi- ating organ between body and spirit. Its meaning, therefore, constantly rises above life or the living individual, and takes color from its relation to either the emotional or the spiritual side of life, from the fact of its being the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions, and the bearer and manifester of the divine life-principle (rvedpa). Consequently puyy is often used in our sense of heart (Luke i. 46; ii. 85; John x. 24; Acts xiv. 2); and the meanings of wvy7 soul, and mvebpa spirit, occasionally approach each other very closely. Compare John xii. 27, and xi. 83; Matt. xi. 29, and 1 Cor. xvi. 18. Also both words in Lukei. 47. In this passage Wuy7 soul, expresses the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life. See Heb. vi. 19; x. 39; xiii. 17; 1 Pet. ii. 11; iv.19. John commonly uses the word to denote the principle of the natural life. See John x. 11,15; xiii. 37; xv.138; 1 John ii. 16; Apoe. viii. 9; xii. 11; xvi. 3.
3. Rejoiced greatly. See on 2 John 4.
Brethren came (épyouévov aderpdv). Lit., coming. The present participle denotes coming from time to time, and not coming on a single occasion, which would require the aorist. On brethren, see on 1 John ii. 9.
Thou walkest in truth. Seeon1Johni.8. For the phrase walk in, see on 2 John 6. Thou is emphatic, suggesting a con- trast with less faithful ones, as Diotrephes, ver. 9.
4. Joy (yapav). The texts vary; some reading yapw grace or favor from God, on which see 2 John 38. Note the Greek order: greater joy than this have I not.
THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN. 401 My children (7a éua réxva). Lit., mine own children.
Walk (sepirarovvta). Rev., rightly, walking. The partici- ple expresses something habitual.
5. Thou doest faithfully (avcrov woveis). Rev., thow doest a faithful work. A third interpretation is thou gwest a pledge or guaranty, and a fourth, akin to this, thow makest sure. The Rey. is best. ‘There is no parallel to justify the third and fourth.*