John Gill Commentary 3 John 1:14

John Gill Commentary

3 John 1:14

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

3 John 1:14

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name." — 3 John 1:14 (ASV)

But I trust I shall shortly see you
Either at Ephesus, where John was, or rather at the place where Gaius lived, see (3 John 1:10) ;

and we shall speak face to face ;
freely and familiarly converse together about these things, which were not thought proper to be committed to writing:

peace [be] to you ;
which was the usual form of salutation with the Jews, and John was one; (See Gill on John 20:19);

[our] friends salute you ;
or send their Christian salutation to you, wishing all health and prosperity in soul and body; meaning the members of the church at Ephesus: the Arabic version reads, "thy friends"; such at Ephesus as had a particular knowledge of him, and affection for him. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "the friends": the members in general; and the Alexandrian copy reads, "the brethren"; and the Syriac version, our brethren: and then the epistle is closed thus,

greet the friends by name ;
meaning those that were where Gaius lived, to whom the apostle sends his salutation, and desires it might be delivered to each of them, as if they had been mentioned by name. This and the epistle of James are the only epistles which are concluded without the word "Amen".