3 Yohanes 1:12

Worthy Demetrius

1:12 Demetrius ¹  has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, ²  and you know that our testimony is true.

3 Yohanes 1:14

1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. ³  (1:15) Peace be with you. ⁴  The friends here ⁵  greet you. Greet the friends ⁶  there ⁷  by name.

[1:12]  ¹ sn Demetrius is apparently someone Gaius would have heard about, but whose character was not known to him. Thus the author is writing to Gaius to attest to Demetrius’ good character. It appears that Demetrius is coming to Gaius’ church and needs hospitality and assistance, so the author is writing to commend him to Gaius and vouch for him. It is difficult to know more about Demetrius with any certainty, but the author is willing to give him a powerful personal endorsement (We testify to him too). Demetrius may well have been the leader of a delegation of traveling missionaries, and may even have been the bearer of this letter to Gaius. The writing of letters of introduction to be carried along by representatives or missionaries in NT times is also attested in Paul’s writings (1 Cor 16:3).

[1:12]  ² tn The words “to him” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[1:14]  ³ tn Grk “speak mouth to mouth,” an idiom for which the contemporary English equivalent is “speak face to face.”

[1:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “peace to you.”

[1:14]  ⁵ tn The word “here” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[1:14]  ⁶ sn It is possible that the designation friends (φίλοι, filoi) indicates that these are personal friends of Gaius who send their greetings, but if this is the case it is somewhat surprising that their names are not mentioned, especially when the author instructs Gaius, Greet the friends there by name. More likely this is an alternative to “brothers” (ἀδελφοί, adelfoi) as an early Christian self-designation, especially within the Johannine community. It may have arisen in the Johannine community from Jesus’ teaching in John 15:13-15, “you are my friends if you do what I command you.”

[1:14]  ⁷ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.