The Meaning of 3 John 1:4 Explained

3 John 1:4

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have  no  greater  joy  than to  hear  that my  children  walk  in  truth. 

What does 3 John 1:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We do not know if Gaius was John"s child physically, spiritually (his convert), or metaphorically. The last usage of this word is the most common one in the New Testament. In this case he could have been a disciple of John or simply a younger believer (cf. 2 John 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:2).

Context Summary

3 John 1:1-14 - The Apostle's Joy
Again we meet the words love and truth. Transparency of speech and life is an essential condition of soul health. It would not be desirable to express the wish of 3 John 1:2 to all our friends, because if their bodies were to correspond to the condition of their souls, they would suddenly fall into ill-health. In the old legend mirrors were blurred with mist when any approached who were out of harmony with truth, 3 John 1:4.
The Christian must always act worthily of God, especially toward strangers, 3 John 1:5-6. "For the sake of the Name," 3 John 1:7, r.v.-as children we must maintain the family honor. Such hospitality makes us fellow-workers with the truth. There is a Boanergic touch in 3 John 1:10. The threefold witness to Demetrius should stir our desire to emulate his character. What will it not be when the dimness of earthly converse is exchanged for the face-to-face intercourse of eternity! 3 John 1:14 [source]

Chapter Summary: 3 John 1

1  He commends Gaius for his piety,
5  and hospitality,
7  to true preachers;
9  complaining of the unkind dealing of ambitious Diotrephes on the contrary side;
11  whose evil example is not to be followed;
12  and gives special testimony to the good report of Demetrius

Greek Commentary for 3 John 1:4

Greater [μειζοτεραν]
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]
Joy [χαραν]
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]
Than this [τουτων]
Ablative neuter plural after the comparative. [source]
To hear of [ινα ακουω]
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]
Joy [χαρὰν]
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]
My children [τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα]
Lit., mine own children. [source]
Walk [περιπατοῦντα]
Rev., rightly, walking. The participle expresses something habitual. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 3 John 1:4

Romans 6:4 We might walk [περιπατήσωμεν]
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]
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me who am less than the least of all saints [εμοι τωι ελαχιστοτερωι παντων αγιων]
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]
2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God [χάριν ἔχω τῷ θεῷ]
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]
2 John 1:1 Children [τέκνοις]
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]
2 John 1:4 Greatly [λιαν]
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]
2 John 1:4 Certain of thy children [εκ των τεκνων]
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]
2 John 1:4 In truth [εν αλητειαι]
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]

What do the individual words in 3 John 1:4 mean?

Greater than these things not I have joy that I should hear of - my children in the truth walking
μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω χαράν ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα

μειζοτέραν  Greater 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
τούτων  than  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔχω  I  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
χαράν  joy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: χαρά  
Sense: joy, gladness.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
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.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐμὰ  my 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐμός  
Sense: my, mine, etc.
τέκνα  children 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
ἀληθείᾳ  truth 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
περιπατοῦντα  walking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.