KJV: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
YLT: greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.
Darby: I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth.
ASV: Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
μειζοτέραν | Greater |
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular, Comparative Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
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τούτων | than these things |
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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ἔχω | I have |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: ἔχω Sense: to have, i.e. to hold. |
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χαράν | joy |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: χαρά Sense: joy, gladness. |
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ἵνα | that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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ἀκούω | I should hear of |
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular Root: ἀκουστός Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf. |
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τὰ | - |
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἐμὰ | my |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 1st Person Plural Root: ἐμός Sense: my, mine, etc. |
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τέκνα | children |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: τέκνον Sense: offspring, children. |
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ἀληθείᾳ | truth |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ἀλήθεια Sense: objectively. |
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περιπατοῦντα | walking |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: περιπατέω Sense: to walk. |
Greek Commentary for 3 John 1:4
A double comparative with τερος ̇teros added to μειζων meizōn like our “lesser” and like μαλλον κρεισσον mallon kreisson (more better) in Philemon 1:23. In Ephesians 3:8 we have ελαχιστοτερωι elachistoterōi a comparative on a superlative. Like forms occur in the vernacular papyri and even in Homer (χειροτερος cheiroteros more worse) as also in Shakespeare. [source]
B reads χαριν charin (grace).Than this (τουτων toutōn). Ablative neuter plural after the comparative.To hear of Object clause (epexegetic) with ινα hina and ακουω akouō the present active subjunctive (keep on hearing of) in apposition with τουτων toutōn in truth As in 2 John 1:4, which see. By the use of τεκνα tekna John may mean that Gaius is one of his converts (1 Timothy 1:1). [source]
Ablative neuter plural after the comparative. [source]
Object clause (epexegetic) with ινα hina and ακουω akouō the present active subjunctive (keep on hearing of) in apposition with τουτων toutōn in truth As in 2 John 1:4, which see. By the use of τεκνα tekna John may mean that Gaius is one of his converts (1 Timothy 1:1). [source]
The texts vary; some reading χάριν graceor favor from God, on which see 2 John 1:3. Note the Greek order: greater joy than this have I not. [source]
Lit., mine own children. [source]
Rev., rightly, walking. The participle expresses something habitual. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 3 John 1:4
Lit., walk about, implying habitual conduct. See on John 11:9; see on 1 John 1:6; see on 3 John 1:4; see on Luke 11:44. [source]
Dative case εμοι emoi with ελοτη elothē The peculiar form ελαχιστοτερωι elachistoterōi (in apposition with εμοι emoi) is a comparative (τερος ̇teros) formed on the superlative ελαχιστος elachistos This sort of thing was already done in the older Greek like εσχατοτερος eschatoteros in Xenophon. It became more common in the Koiné. So the double comparative μειζοτεραν meizoteran in 3 John 1:4. The case of αγιων hagiōn is ablative. This was not mock humility (Romans 15:19), for on occasion Paul stood up for his rights as an apostle (2 Corinthians 11:5). [source]
Lit. I have thanks to God. The phrase in Luke 17:9; Acts 2:47; oP. unless 2 Corinthians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 12:28; 3 John 1:4. Paul uses εὐχαριστῶ Igive thanks (not in Pastorals) or εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεός blessedbe God (not in Pastorals). The phrase χάριν ἔχω is a Latinism, habere gratiam, of which several are found in Pastorals. [source]
May be taken either in a literal or in a spiritual sense. For the later, see 1Timothy href="/desk/?q=1ti+2:1-15&sr=1">1 Timothy 2:1-15; Galatians 4:25; 3 John 1:4. Compare also 2 John 1:4, 2 John 1:13. The explanation turns on the meaning of ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ . If it mean the Church, children will have the spiritual sense. If it be a proper name, the literal. [source]
Only here and 3 John 1:3 in John‘s writings.I have found (ευρηκα heurēka). Perfect active indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō as in John 1:41, our “eureka,” here with its usual force, a continued discovery. “He sits down at once and writes to Kyria. How glad she would be that her lads, far away in the great city, were true to their early faith” (David Smith).Certain of thy children No τινας tinas as one would expect before εκ ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
No τινας tinas as one would expect before εκ ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]