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3Jn_1:3. Confirmation of the foregoing statement.
ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ] see on 2Jn_1:4. When and why the apostle felt such a joy is stated in the two following participial sentences, of which, however, as far as the sense is concerned, the first is subordinate to the second; à Mons: lorsque les frères qui sont venus ont rendu témoignage.
μαρτυρεῖν , with the dative of the thing: “to testify of anything;” comp. 3Jn_1:6; 3Jn_1:12; Joh_3:26; Joh_5:33; Joh_18:37.
By σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ it is not the truth in the objective sense (Calovius: veritas evangelii) in so far as Caius had received it, but the truth in the subjective sense, that is to be understood (so also Lücke, Düsterdieck, Braune, etc.): the inner Christian life, which is born of the truth, is itself truth; some commentators incorrectly limit the idea to a single element of it; e.g. Lorinus to liberalitas.
The addition: καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς (comp. 2Jn_1:4), serves as an explanation of the preceding: “namely how thou,” etc. In the fact that the brethren testified that Caius was walking in the truth, they bore a testimony to the truth that was in him. The sentence is not “a direct sentence” (Baumgarten-Crusius: “as thou indeed art living in accordance with the truth”) by which “John adds his testimony to that of the brethren (Besser) in order to confirm it” (Ebrard), but “an indirect sentence” (Brückner) dependent on μαρτυρούντων , on which a special emphasis is laid, as also the ἀκούω in 3Jn_1:4 shows (so also Düsterdieck, Braune). σύ is emphatically used in contrast to those who do not walk ἐν ἀληθείᾳ .