3Jo 9-10 | JFB | STEP | 9. I wrote-- The oldest manuscripts add "something": a communication, probably, on the subject of receiving the brethren with brotherly love (3Jo 8, 10). That Epistle was not designed by the Spirit for the universal Church, or else it would have been preserved. unto the church-- of which Gaius is a member. loveth ... pre-eminence-- through ambition. Evidently occupying a high place in the Church where Gaius was (3Jo 10). among them-- over the members of the Church. receiveth us not-- virtually, namely, by not receiving with love the brethren whom we recommended to be received (3Jo 8, 10; compare ).

‏ 3 John 9-10

9. I wrote--The oldest manuscripts add "something": a communication, probably, on the subject of receiving the brethren with brotherly love (3Jo 8, 10). That Epistle was not designed by the Spirit for the universal Church, or else it would have been preserved.

unto the church--of which Gaius is a member.

loveth ... pre-eminence--through ambition. Evidently occupying a high place in the Church where Gaius was (3Jo 10).

among them--over the members of the Church.

receiveth us not--virtually, namely, by not receiving with love the brethren whom we recommended to be received (3Jo 8, 10; compare Mt 10:40).

10. if I come--(3Jo 14).

I will remember--literally, "I will bring to mind" before all by stigmatizing and punishing.

prating--with mere silly tattle.

neither doth he ... receive the brethren--with hospitality. "The brethren" are the missionaries on their journey.

forbiddeth them that would--receive them.

casteth them--those that would receive the brethren, by excommunication from the Church, which his influence, as a leading man (3Jo 9) in it, enabled him to do. Neander thinks that the missionaries were Jews by birth, whence it is said in their praise they took nothing from THE Gentiles: in contrast to other Jewish missionaries who abused ministers' right of maintenance elsewhere, as Paul tells us, 2Co 11:22; Php 3:2, 5, 19. Now in the Gentile churches there existed an ultra-Pauline party of anti-Jewish tendency, the forerunners of Marcion: Diotrephes possibly stood at the head of this party, which fact, as well as this domineering spirit, may account for his hostility to the missionaries, and to the apostle John, who had, by the power of love, tried to harmonize the various elements in the Asiatic churches. At a later period, Marcion, we know, attached himself to Paul alone, and paid no deference to the authority of John.