Vincent Word Studies - 3 John 1:5 - 1:5

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Vincent Word Studies - 3 John 1:5 - 1:5


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Thou doest faithfully (πιστὸν ποιεῖς)

Rev., thou doest a faithful work. A third interpretation is thou givest a pledge or guaranty, and a fourth, akin to this, thou makest sure. The Rev. is best. There is no parallel to justify the third and fourth.

Thou doest (ἐργάσῃ)

Or lit., according to the eymology, workest (ἔργον work). See on Jam 2:9. The distinction between this verb and others signifying to do, such as ποιεῖν, πράσσειν, δρᾶν, which last does not occur in the New Testament, is not sharply maintained in Attic Greek. In certain connections the difference between them is great, in others, it is hardly perceptible. On ποιεῖν and πρα.σσειν, see on Joh 3:21. Ἐργάζομαι, like πράσσειν, contemplates the process rather than the end of action, carrying the ideas of continuity and repetition. It means to labor, to be active, to perform, with the idea of continued exertion, and therefore is used of servants, or of those who have an assigned business or office. See Mat 21:28; Mat 25:26; Luk 13:14; Joh 5:17; Joh 6:27; Joh 9:4; 1Th 2:9. For the phrase ἐργάσῃ εἰς thou doest toward (Rev.), see Mat 26:10.

And to strangers (καὶ εἰς τοὺς ξένους)

The best texts read, instead of εἰς τοὺς to the (strangers), τοῦτο, that; so that the sentence is, literally, “to them that are brethren, and that strangers.” For the phrase and that, compare 1Co 6:6; Phi 1:28; Eph 2:8.