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III. S. JOHN.-NOTES.

I. Like the second Letter and most others in the New Testament, this one also has a definite address.

2. "I am praying," etc.

This verse is a model for all friendly wishes of good fortune to others.

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7. Taking nothing of the heathen."

Hence the necessity for men like Gaius to help.

9.

"I wrote something to the Church."

This reference seems to be to a letter not now in exist

ence.

The Church seems to be the one to which Diotrephes belonged.

IO. "Is casting them out of the Church."

Diotrephes seems to have had sufficient influence in some congregation to exclude from it those who received brother Christians of whom he did not approve.

II. "He who keeps doing good is of God."

Such a one has God as the source of his moral and spiritual life. He is a child of God.

12. "Demetrius has the witness of all men."

Diotrephes sets an example to be abhorred, but Demetrius sets one to be imitated. Who Demetrius was we know nothing further. That he was the silversmith of Ephesus who caused S. Paul so much trouble, now become the fellow-helper of those he once persecuted is only the barest conjecture, yet one worth mentioning because of its furnishing a possible parallel to S. Paul (Acts 19: 24).

And of the truth.

The witness given Demetrius was in the first place that of disciples. But there was another witness. This was the spirit of truth which guided and illumined them in their estimate.

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Instead of the usual farewell we have here an ordinary blessing with Christian fulness of meaning. Compare S. John 20: 19, 26; 1 S. Peter 5: 14; Ephesians 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Galatians 6: 16.

By name.

This phrase occurs in the New Testament in only one other place (S. John 10: 3). As shepherd of the Churches of Asia S. John would imitate the Good Shepherd and know all his sheep by name.

REVELATION.-NOTES.

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