Text -- 3 John 1:13-14 (NET)

Conclusion

1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink. 1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 3Jo 1:13

¹ tn Grk “by means of.”

² tn Grk “ink and pen.” The more normal order in contemporary English is “pen and ink.”

sn The figurative phrase with pen and ink is parallel to 2 John 12, suggesting that both letters may well have been written at approximately the same time and in similar situations. The author tells Gaius that he has more to say, but does not wish to do so in writing; he would rather talk in person (3 John 14). It appears that the author anticipates a personal visit to Gaius’ church in the very near future. This may be the same visit mentioned in connection with Diotrephes in v. 10. Gaius’ church and Diotrephes’ church may have been in the same city, or in neighboring towns, so that the author anticipates visiting both on the same journey.

NET Notes: 3Jo 1:14

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

² tn Grk “peace to you.”

³ tn The word “here” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

⁴ 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.”

⁵ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.