Inductive Study: 3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:4

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise and glorify You.  You have provided everything.  Please be with me today as I continue to study Your Word.  Help me grow deeper in the love and knowledge of You.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen. 

In verse 4, John completes the thanksgiving statement for the opening of the letter.  In verse 3, John expresses his gratitude upon hearing that Gaius walk with Christ.  To conclude, John reiterates how overwhelmed he is of God's unmerited favor encouraging his disciples to walk in truth.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Greater" in the Greek is megas which means large, in the widest sense, abundant.  It is used in poetic comparisons.  "Joy" in the Greek is chara which means gladness, source of joy, rejoice because of grace, grace recognized, joyousness caused by the Holy Spirit.  As we've studied before, joy has the same root word as rejoice and grace.  The word is xar which means favorably disposed, leaning toward.  John uses "greater" as a comparison.  He is overwhelmed with joyousness caused by the Holy Spirit.  Nothing is more important to him than what he says next in this verse.

"Hear" in the Greek is akono which is where we get the English word, acoustics.  Akono means hear, listen, comprehend by hearing, reported, to hear God's voice prompting to birth faith within a thing that comes to one's ears, to find out, hearsay, learn.  "My" in the Greek is emos which means mine, that which I have, what I possess, proceeding from me, pertaining or relating to me.  Fellow believers have reported observations of his disciples.

"Children" in the Greek is teknon which means descendant, inhabitant, full dependance on the Heavenly Father, relying in the Lord in glad submission, friendship, trust, pupils or disciples of teachers.  This word is used several times in New Testament letters.  1 Corinthians 4:14 states "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you."  Galatians 4:19 states "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." 

The next Scripture references in the NKJV Bible, translates teknon as "son."  1 Timothy 1:2 states "To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."  2 Timothy 1:2 states "To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."  Titus 1:4 states "To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior."  Philemon 10 states "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains."

The word not only refers to students of these Apostles but also their hearts.  The word illustrates how we must all live in utter dependence upon the Lord (moment-by-moment).  We must draw guidance (care, nurture) from our heavenly Father.  It is the childlike (not childish) attitude of heart that willingly (gladly) submits to the Father's plan.  John has a personal relationship with these disciples. They fully depend on God.

 "Walk" in the Greek is peripeteo which means conduct my life, live going full circle, walk around, to regulate one's life, to conduct oneself.  "Truth" in the Greek is aletheia which means not merely truth as spoken, truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness, true to fact, synonymous with reality opposite to illusion, the truth as taught by Christianity, respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ and respecting the duties of man opposed to Gentile superstitions - Jewish inventions - and corrupt opinions of false teachers.  John can envision no greater accomplishment for his students than to have them fully devoted to God living in His will.

As Christians, we dedicate our lives to the One who saved us from our sin. In his thanksgiving statement for this letter, John shows us the ultimate goal for all Christians.  We should live sincerely and straightforwardly respecting God.  We should relinquish control of our lives and totally rely on Him.  But how do we achieve this?  First, we need to understand that our lives aren't bound by fate or luck but by God's plan.  Second, we need to grow deeper in our relationship with God by filling our minds and time with His word.  Third, we need to love others and serve them.  Jesus stated this better than I could ever write when he said in Mark 12:30-31, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.

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Inductive Study: 3 John 1:3

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

3 John 1:3

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise Your name and worship only you.  Life in You is so much simpler and fulfilling than the one under the world.  I no longer have to strive for acceptance and things.  I no longer have to guess what I have to do.  I just have to live for You.  Please help me to remember that no matter what challenge is before me or what decision that has to be made - all I have to do is to have faith in You and follow Your will.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

In verse 3, John writes the thanksgiving statement for the opening of the letter.  Thanksgiving is defined in English as an expression of gratitude especially toward God.  When the word is used in the New Testament, it is eucharista in the Greek which means the giving of thanks for God's grace (unmerited favor), an act of worship.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Rejoiced" in the Greek is chairo which means am glad, to delight in God's grace, to experience God's grace (favor), glad for grace.  Rejoice, joy, and grace all come from the same root word, xar, which means favorably disposed, leaning toward.  2 John 1:4 states "I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father."  "Greatly" in the Greek is lian which means very, very much, exceedingly, extremely, vigorously, utterly, exceedingly beyond measure.  John is delighted exceedingly beyond measure.

"Brethren" in the Greek is adelphos which means member of the same religious community, fellow Christian, believing husband.   "Testified" in the Greek is martureo which means bearing witness, give evidence, give a good report, testimony born not in word but in deed, attest the truth about Christ, witness to the truth and how great it is.   John is utterly excited at the news from fellow Christians on how Gaius lived in Christ not just by mere words but by powerful Godly deeds.

"Truth" in the Greek is aletheia which means not merely truth as spoken, truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness, true to fact, synonymous with reality opposite to illusion, the truth as taught by Christianity, respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ and respecting the duties of man opposed to Gentile superstitions - Jewish inventions - and corrupt opinions of false teachers.  "Walk" in the Greek is peripeteo which means conduct my life, live going full circle, walk around, to regulate one's life, to conduct oneself.  Gaius's deeds are execution of God's purposes.  Gaius conducts his life focused on and respecting God.  He ignores superstitions, made up rules, and corruption.

Do I rejoice when God uses others?  Do I respect the deeds of others done for Christ? Do I testify of the truth that is in others?  In John's thanksgiving, he passionately highlights how Gaius lives as all Christians should live.  John has no trouble pointing to other people's walk.  He is encouraged and refreshed by seeing others live for Christ.  Never let your own ambitions or worldly desires to be liked on Facebook, Instagram or whatever cloud your thoughts of God moving in other people lives.  Give God the glory and be encouraged that Christ works in all of us.  That all Christians have God's unmerited favor.  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth.

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Inductive Study: 3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 1:2

Dear Heavenly Father, as I study Your Word, please encourage me to open my heart and listen.  Please remove any distractions and have me concentrate on You. It may seem that the world is crumbling around me, but I know that I’m secure in Your hands. I love You, Lord.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

In verse 2, John writes a formulaic greeting.  Writing to good health was an excellent, ideal way to start or finish a letter and was very common during this time.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Beloved" in the Greek is agapetos which means as loved by all others by God who sent Him, Christians - as beloved by Christ, God, and one another, divinely loved, bound together by mutual love, being reconciled to God and to be judged by Him to be worthy of eternal life.  John is repeating his love of his fellow Christian, Gaius.

"Pray" in the Greek is echomai which means pray, wish, offer a request, to pray for.  "Prosper" in the Greek is euodoo which means have a happy journey, to go on a prosperous journey, to be on the right profitable path, leading to true success, be successful. It is made up of the word, eu, which means good and well and the word, hodos, which means a journey on a particular road.  John is offering up a request to God on Gaius's behalf.  John is praying that Gaius has a happy, prosperous journey on the right profitable path.

"Things" in the Greek is pas which means all, the whole, every kind of, every part that applies, focus on the parts making the whole, viewing the whole world in terms of individual parts, focus on the total picture then one piece at a time, not above all things but as respect to all things and depends on all things.  "Health" in the Greek is hugiaino which means reasonable, sound, pure, uncorrupted, in good working order, in sound condition, to be free of debilitation (handicap), to be sound, to be well, to be in good health.  On Gaius's life journey, John is praying that it is successful in every part that applies in the Christian life and that it is uncorrupted and free of debilitation.

 "Soul" in the Greek is psuche which means soul, life, self, the vital breath, breath of life, a person's distinct identity, individual personality, direct aftermath of God breathing (blowing) His gift of life into a person.  Specifically, the human soul in so far as it is constituted by the right use of Godly aid so it can attain the highest end and secure eternal blessedness.  The soul regarding as a moral being designed for everlasting life.

In this greeting, John is praying for Gaius what he prays for every Christian.  He is praying that you, Christian, will be judged worthy of eternal life and that you will follow the path for true success in every Godly pursuit.   Furthermore, without any stumbling block or impedance, you would journey forward into God's everlasting life living in God's will.  As we live this life, we can become distracted and discouraged.  Any little word can distract us from our purpose in Christ.  Our purpose is to live how He lived, to love as He loved, to tell the world about Him, and to teach His Word.  Whenever and wherever you find yourself desperate for purpose, friendship, and acceptance, remember to return your focus to Him.  If you journey forward and do everything for Christ, you will find peace.  1 Corinthians 10:31 states "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]—

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