Interpretation of the 3rd Epistle of the Holy Apostle John

Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria gained experience in explaining the Holy Scriptures when, as a rhetorician of the Great Church, he instructed the people. Most of his written interpretations arose at the request of the Greek Empress Maria, whom he calls his pious patron. These works became an outstanding synthesis and transposition of the established patristic traditions, primarily the heritage of the Antiochian theological school and St. John Chrysostom. As a rule, the author presents abbreviated versions of extensive interpretations of the ancient Church Fathers, borrowing only what is necessary for understanding the text. The commentary also includes his own explanations, which often concern disputes with heretics, especially later ones, and issues of dialogue with the Latins. Thanks to his clear, concise presentation and clear semantic emphasis, his commentaries were accessible to a wide range of readers, became widespread and had a significant influence on both Byzantine and Western European theology. The main theme of the “Commentary on the 3rd Epistle of the Holy Apostle John” is hospitality and mutual assistance among Christians. The text talks about the importance of caring for other people and showing Christian love. Prayer for the prosperity of Gaius and gratitude to him for accepting the wandering brothers for the sake of Christ. – Here we are talking about the ignobility of Diotrephes and his hatred of his brothers. – Excellent review about Dimitri. - That the apostle himself will soon come to their benefit. The apostle writes about hospitality. Firstly, he approves of Gaius, of whom everyone testifies that he lovingly receives strangers; convinces him to continue to be in the same disposition, to let go and accept his brothers; again praises him for his diligence, and does not approve of Diotrephes because he himself does nothing to the poor and forbids others to do anything, and slanderes him a lot; says that such people are far from the truth and do not know God; He also mentions Demetrius, whom he speaks of with excellent praise. 3 John 1:1. The elder - to my beloved Gaius, whom I truly love. 3 John 1:2. Beloved! I pray that you will be healthy and prosper in everything, just as your soul prospers. He who loves according to the Lord truly loves. The apostle writes this epistle for the purpose of giving praise to certain brethren. He writes to Gaius, of whom he testifies that he receives many strangers, and for this he gives him great praise. For “whoever does good, he says, is from God” (3 John 1:11). He further encourages him by disapproving of Diotrephes, who does not want to do this. He praises Demetrius, who acts in the same way as Gaius and gives true testimony of his virtue. “How does your soul prosper”; and she prospers in living according to the Gospel. 3 John 1:3. For I rejoiced exceedingly when the brethren came and testified of your faithfulness, how you walk in the truth. He walks in the truth who walks in the simplicity of the gospel. By the word “walk” we must not mean the movement of the feet, for such a movement from place to place is characteristic of every animal that has legs, but harmonious and chaste progress in spiritual aspirations, which few even of those who have reason achieve. 3 John 1:4. There is no greater joy for me than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:5. Beloved! You act faithfully in what you do for the brothers and for the strangers. 3 John 1:6. They testified before the church about your love. You will do well if you let them go, as you should for God's sake, 3 John 1:7. for they went for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. The expression μειζοτέραν does not agree with the grace of the Greek language; for to the comparative degree (μείζονα) another suffix of the comparative degree (- τερ) is added. 3 John 1:8. So we must accept such in order to become followers of the truth. 3 John 1:9. I wrote to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to excel among them, does not accept us. “Accept” is used instead of “borrow”, “capture”. By this, the apostle teaches us not to wait for those in need to come to us, but to run to meet them and beg them to come to us, as Abraham and Lot did (Gen. 18:2-3, 19:1-2). 3 John 1:10. Therefore, if I come, I will remind you of the deeds that he does, reviling us with evil words, and not being satisfied with that, he himself does not accept the brothers, and forbids those who want to, and expels them from the church. If it is forbidden to repay evil for evil (Rom. 12:17), then how to explain the real threat of the apostle? We answer: the commandment speaks of not repaying evil for evil to those who sin against us, and when sin against us causes harm to faith, then the one who commits such a sin must be punished, just as Paul brought evil upon Elymas, who turned away from the ways of the Lord (Acts 13:8-11). 3 John 1:11. Beloved! do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is from God; but he who does evil has not seen God. Since light has nothing in common with darkness, there is no agreement between Christ and Belial (2 Cor. 6:14-15); then one enlightened by the knowledge of Christ should not, through imitation of the wicked, merge with darkness, that is, with their vile deeds. For just as the one who does good is from God and has perfected his mental eye with the light of the knowledge of Him, which is why everyone has become light, sees the true light, God, and is for others a luminary in the world, containing the word of life (Phil. 2:16), so the one who does evil, walking in darkness, cannot see God himself, that is, do what is pleasing to God, nor can he be a leader for others, but is hateful and disgusting to everyone. 3 John 1:12. About Demetrius it is testified by everyone and by the truth itself; We also testify, and you know that our testimony is true. 3 John 1:13. I had a lot to write; but I don’t want to write to you with ink and a cane, 3 John 1:14. I hope to see you soon and talk mouth to mouth. 3 John 1:15. Peace be with you. Friends greet you; Greet your friends by name. Amen. “By all,” that is, those who have the truth, “and by the truth itself,” that is, in words and deeds; for although they testify to the virtue of others, the testimony turns out to be false, because the words do not correspond to reality. If someone by “all”, due to the broad meaning of the word “all”, understands the faithful and the unfaithful, then his understanding is not unfair; for the Apostle Paul commands all the faithful: “Do not give offense either to the Jews or to the Greeks, or to the church of God, just as I also please everyone in everything” (1 Cor. 10:32-33). End of the third letter of St. ap. John. You might be interested in: