3JN (Saint John's third letter)
3JN.1
3JN.1
[3JN.1.1] The elder to Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth. [§]
Ho presbuteros Gaio to agapetō, hon ego agapō en alētheia.
This verse is from the Third Letter of John. 'Ho presbuteros' means 'the elder'. 'Gaio' is a proper name, Gaius. 'tō agapetō' means 'to the beloved'. 'hon ego agapō' means 'whom I love'. 'en alētheia' means 'in truth'. This verse is a salutation from an elder to a beloved person named Gaius, stating his love for him is based in truth.
[3JN.1.2] Beloved, concerning everything, I pray that you may prosper and be healthy, just as your soul prospers. [§]
agapeté, peri pantōn euchomai se eudouthai kai hygiainein, kathōs eudoutai sou hē psychē.
This verse is from 3 John 1:2. 'Agapeté' is a vocative, addressing a beloved one. 'Peri pantōn' means 'about all things'. 'Euchomai' is 'I pray'. 'Se' is 'you'. 'Eudouthai' means 'to prosper'. 'Kai' means 'and'. 'Hygiainein' means 'to be healthy'. 'Kathōs' means 'as'. 'Sou' means 'your'. 'Hē psychē' means 'the soul'. This verse is a prayer for the recipient's overall well-being – that they may prosper and be healthy in all things, as their soul prospers.
[3JN.1.3] I greatly rejoiced at the arrival of brothers and their testifying about you to the truth, as you walk in truth. [§]
I rejoiced greatly at the coming of brothers and their witnessing about you to the truth, just as you walk in truth.
This verse expresses joy at the arrival of fellow believers who affirmed the truth about the speaker's message. The structure is straightforward: a statement of joy, the reason for the joy (the arrival of brothers bearing witness), and a reaffirmation of the recipient's truthful conduct.
[3JN.1.4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth. [§]
may-zo-ter-an too-toos oo-koo echo char-an hee-na ah-koo-o ta ema tek-na en ah-lee-thee-a per-ee-pah-toon-ta
This verse is from the New Testament, 3 John verse 4. It expresses the greatest joy a writer experiences when their spiritual children walk in truth. The verse does not contain any names of God, so no translation of divine names is necessary. The verse is in Koine Greek and refers to spiritual children - those who have been taught and mentored in the faith.
[3JN.1.5] Beloved, you do a faithful thing whatever you work for the brothers and also this for strangers. [§]
Agapete, piston poieis ho ean ergasei eis tous adelphous kai touto xenous.
This verse is from the New Testament, specifically 3 John 1:5. "Agapete" is a vocative form, addressing a beloved one. "Piston" means faithful or trustworthy. "Poieis" is a verb meaning 'you do'. "Ho ean" introduces a conditional clause, meaning 'whatever'. "Ergasei" is the verb 'to do'. "Eis tous adelphous" means 'to the brothers'. "Kai touto xenous" means 'and this to strangers'. The overall meaning is an acknowledgement of the recipient’s faithful deeds, both to fellow believers and to outsiders.
[3JN.1.6] Those who have testified of you with love before the assembly, I will treat well by sending them forth in a manner worthy of God. [§]
hoi emarturesan sou te agape enopion ekklesias, hous kalos poieseis propempas axios tou theou
This verse discusses those who have testified of you with love before the assembly. The speaker will do good to them by sending them forth in a manner worthy of God. The original text uses 'theos' which is 'God' in the singular.
[3JN.1.7] For on account of the name, I departed, taking nothing from the nations. [§]
huper gar tou onomatos exelthen meden lambanontes apo ton ethnikon
This verse is from the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures). It literally means "for on account of the name I came out, taking nothing from the nations". The 'name' refers to the divine name, and the context suggests a departure from the people of other nations, relying solely on God.
[3JN.1.8] Therefore, we are obligated to receive such people, so that we may become fellow workers with the truth. [§]
hay-mees oon op-fei-lo-men hoo-po-lam-ba-nein toos toy-oo-toos, hee-na soon-er-go-ee gin-o-me-tha tee ah-lay-thee-ah.
This verse discusses our obligation to receive or consider certain people in order to become fellow workers with the truth. The verse uses a form of 'owe' or 'be obligated', a verb meaning 'to receive or consider', a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'such people', and a purpose clause introduced by 'so that' to show the result of the obligation. It references 'the truth' as something one can collaborate with.
[3JN.1.9] I wrote to the assembly, but the one loving first place among them, Diotrephes, does not receive us. [§]
Eh-graps-ah tee tay ek-klee-see-ah; al' ho fee-lo-proo-too-on af-toon Dio-tre-fays ouk ep-ee-dekh-et-ai hay-mas.
This verse is from 3 John 1:9-10. It discusses the rejection of traveling missionaries by a man named Diotrephes. "Ehgrapsa" means 'I wrote'. "Tay ekklesia" means 'to the assembly'. "Ho philoprotewon auton" means 'the one loving first place among them'. "Dio-tre-fays" is a proper name. "Ouk epidekhetai haymas" means 'does not receive us'.
[3JN.1.10] Therefore, if I come, I will remind him of the deeds which he does speaking with wicked words against us, and not being satisfied with these things, he does not receive the brothers and he hinders those who wish to, and he casts them out from the assembly. [§]
dia toutou, ean eltho, hypomneso autou ta erga ha poiei logois poneris phlyaron hemas, kai me arkoumenos epi toutois oute autos epidechetai tous adelphous kai tous voulomenous kolyuei kai ek tes ekklesias ekballei.
This verse describes someone whose actions are being remembered because of harmful speech, and who does not satisfy himself with this, but also does not receive brothers and hinders those who desire to, and casts them out of the assembly.
[3JN.1.11] Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. The one doing good is from the God; the one doing evil has not seen the God. [§]
Agapete, me mimou to kakon alla to agathon. Ho agathopoiōn ek tou theou estin; ho kakopoiōn ouch heōraken ton theon.
This verse is written in Koine Greek. "Agapete" is the vocative of "agapētos", meaning beloved. "mimou" is a verb meaning to imitate. "kakon" means evil. "agathon" means good. "agathopoiōn" means someone who does good. "ek tou theou" means from the God. "estin" means is. "kakopoiōn" means someone who does evil. "ouch heōraken" means has not seen. "ton theon" means the God.
[3JN.1.12] Demetrius has been testified to by all, and by truth itself. And we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true. [§]
Dee-mee-tree-o memar-tee-re-tai hoop-o pan-ton kai hoop-o ow-tees tees a-lee-thei-as, kai hee-meis deh mar-tu-ro-men, kai oi-das ho-ti hee mar-tu-ree-a hee-mon a-lee-thees es-teen.
This verse speaks of Demetrius being testified to by all and by truth itself. The speaker also affirms their own testimony as truthful. The verse uses forms of 'martureo' (to testify) and 'aletheia' (truth). The names of God are not present in this verse.
[3JN.1.13] I had many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write them to you with ink and a pen. [§]
Polla eichon grapesai soi all' ou thelo dia melanous kai kalamou soi graphein.
This verse is from the New Testament, specifically 3 John, verse 13. It discusses the author’s intention to write more, but choosing not to do so with ink and pen. The verse doesn’t contain any names of God, so no translation of divine names is needed. It is a direct statement about communication methods.
[3JN.1.14] And I hope to see you immediately, and mouth to mouth we will speak. [§]
el-pee-zo deh eu-the-os seh ee-deh-een, kai sto-mah pros sto-mah la-lee-so-men
This verse contains words from both the Old and New Testaments. 'El' is 'God', 'pee-zo' comes from the root meaning 'to hope', 'deh' is a conjunction meaning 'and, even, now', 'eu-the-os' means 'immediately, directly', 'seh' is a pronoun meaning 'you', 'ee-deh-een' means 'to see', 'kai' is 'and', 'sto-mah' is 'mouth', 'pros' means 'toward, with', 'la-lee-so-men' is 'we will speak'. The verse expresses a hope for an immediate, face-to-face conversation.
[3JN.1.15] Peace to you. Your friends greet you. Greet your friends by name. [§]
Ei-ray-nee soy. ah-spah-zon-tai seh hoi fee-loy. ah-spah-zoo toos fee-loos kat’ on-o-mah.
This verse consists of greetings and instructions regarding sending greetings to friends. The first phrase is a standard greeting of peace. The second phrase indicates that friends are sending greetings to the recipient. The third phrase is an instruction to the recipient to send greetings back to their friends by name.