Bible Commentaries

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Unto the wellbeloved Gaius — A rich Corinthian, rich in this world and rich in good works; a rare bird, at Corinth especially, where St Paul found them the richer the harder, and far behind the poor Macedonians in works of charity, Romans 16:23 ; 1 Corinthians 1:14 .

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Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

That thou mayest prosper — Gr. ευοδουσθαι , that thou mayest make a good voyage of it, and come safe and sound to thy journey’s end.

Even as thy soul prospereth — By the blessing of him that dwelt in the bush, Deuteronomy 33:16 . Now the soul prospereth when it hath close communion with God, and enjoys the light of his loving countenance, preferring his favour before the world’s warm sun.

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For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

Testified of the truth — This was their ingenuity, thus, at least, to requite their host by giving testimony of his liberality, and this his liberality proved the truth of his faith, and his good estate to Godward, as did Dorcas’s garments made for the poor. Lipsius conqueritur desiisse homines non modo laudanda facere, sed laudare. (l. ii. Epis. 70.)

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

I have no greater joy — See Trapp on " 2 John 1:4 "

Walk in truth — Not walk to the alehouse, walk about with tales to shed blood, walk after the flesh, as too many of our hearers do, to our singular heartbreak.

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Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Thou dost faithfully — That is, out of faith, and as beseemeth a faithful Christian. They that give alms, …, and not out of faith, they do worse than lose their labour, for they commit sin.

And to strangers — Though they be not yet converted to the faith, and made brethren, thy liberality may work upon them, and win them, as Alban.

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Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

After a godly sort — Gr. αξιως του Θεου , worthy of God, as seeing God in them, and as beseemeth his servants, who are princes in all lands, Psalms 45:16 .

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Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

They went forth — To preach and gain souls to God. And this they did gratis, as Paul, because the false apostles did so at Corinth, seeking occasion against the true teachers, 2 Corinthians 11:12 .

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We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

That we might be fellowhelpers — And so receive a prophet’s reward. See Trapp on " Matthew 10:41 "

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