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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 3 John 1:10 - 1:10
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
If I come (ean elthō). Condition of third class with ean and second aorist active subjunctive of erchomai. He hopes to come (3Jo 1:14), as he had said in 2Jo 1:12 (one argument for identifying 2 John with the letter in 3Jo 1:9).
I will bring to remembrance (hupomnēsō). Future active indicative of hupomimnēskō, old compound (Joh 14:26; 2Pe 1:12). The aged apostle is not afraid of Diotrephes and here defies him.
Which he doeth (ha poiei). Present active indicative, “which he keeps on doing.”
Prating against us (phluarōn hēmās). Present active participle of old verb (from phluaros, babbling 1Ti 5:13), to accuse idly and so falsely, here only in N.T. with accusative hēmās (us).
With wicked words (logois ponērois). Instrumental case. Not simply foolish chatter, but malevolent words.
Not content (mē arkoumenos). Present passive participle of arkeō with usual negative mē. For this verb in this sense see 1Ti 6:8; Heb 13:5, only there epi is absent. John knows that the conduct of Diotrephes will not stand the light. See Paul’s threats of exposure (1Co 4:21; 2Co 10:11; 2Co 13:1-3). And John is the apostle of love all the same.
He himself (autos). That was bad enough.
Them that would (tous boulomenous). “Those willing or wishing or receive the brethren” from John.
He forbiddeth (kōluei). “He hinders.” Present active indicative of kōluō and means either actual success in one case (punctiliar use of the present indicative) or repetition in several instances (linear action) or conative action attempted, but not successful as in Mat 3:14 (this same verb) and Joh 10:32.
Casteth them out of the church (ek tēs ekklēsias ekballei). Here again ekballei can be understood in various ways, like kōluei. This verb occurs in Joh 2:15 for casting out of the temple the profaners of it and for casting the blind man out of the synagogue (Joh 9:34.). If this ancient “church-boss” did not succeed in expelling John’s adherents from the church, he certainly tried to do it.