3 John 1

3 John 1:1

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man. Obey human laws. For the Lord’s sake. Because it is the Lord’s will. Whether it be to the king. The Roman emperor whom the Greeks styled king.

3 John 1:2

Or unto the governors. The magistrates placed over the provinces of the Roman empire. Rulers are necessary, for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. Both to punish the evil and to reward the good. Compare Romans 13:1-6.

3 John 1:3

That with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. It is God’s will that thus you may silence the charge that you are seditious persons.

3 John 1:4

As free. Christians, freed from the bondage of sin and of the law, and having the free spirit of children, not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, an excuse, for wickedness. As the servants of God. They are God’s servants.

3 John 1:5

Honour all [men]. Respect men of every station. Love the brotherhood. As Christ loved us. Fear God. With reverential fear.

3 John 1:6

Servants. Compare Ephesians 6:5 Colossians 3:22. The Greek word here, “odune”, is not that of the former passages, “doulos”, which means “slaves”. This may mean “hired servants”. [Be] subject to [your] masters with all fear. That is the duty of the relation. Not only to the good and gentle. Nor is a faithful obedience due to good masters only, but also to the froward. To the perverse.

3 John 1:7

For this [is] thankworthy. “Acceptable” (Revised Version). If a man for conscience toward God endure grief,. If a man suffers wrong for conscience sake, God notes his suffering and approves of his conduct.

3 John 1:8

For what glory [is it]? To bear with patience punishment for faults is no glory, but to bear patiently suffering inflicted for right doing is approved before God.

3 John 1:9

For even unto this were ye called. It was the experience of the Christian calling in that age to suffer for right doing. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example. Even so Christ our Lord suffered. He is our example.

3 John 1:10

Who did no sin. He had no fault.

3 John 1:11

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. He resented neither insults nor the sufferings inflicted upon him. But committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. He gave our judgment between him and his enemies to God.

3 John 1:12

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body. Died for our sins, not his own. He took our burdens. On the tree. The wood of the cross. That we, being dead to sins. “Crucified with him” (Romans 6:6), penitent, the repentant sinner is baptized into his death, and rising to a new life, “lives to righteousness”. By whose stripes ye were healed. See Isaiah 53:5-6.

3 John 1:13

Ye were as sheep going astray. Led astray by sin. Are now returned. By coming to Christ. Unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. The good Shepherd who died for the sheep; the Bishop who watcheth over and careth for them.