3 John 1:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"As you walk in the truth." The one who walks in the truth is he who walks according to Gospel simplicity. By the word "walk," one should understand not the movement of feet. Such movement from place to place belongs to every animal that has feet. Rather, it means an orderly and chaste progress in the soul's aspirations, which few attain, even among those who possess reason.

"Concerning your faithfulness," that is, in carrying out your labors. "As you walk in the truth," that is, without any deceit in labor, word, and thought. You also fulfill all God's commandments excellently.

The one who walks in the truth is he who walks in Gospel simplicity. By the word "walk," the Apostle understands not the movement of the feet, since such ability to move from place to place is common to all living beings that have feet. Rather, he means moral perfection in the thoughts of the soul, which is accessible to few.

"For I rejoiced greatly," and so forth: here is set forth the reason, or foundation, of the Apostle's good wish for Gaius's bodily and spiritual salvation and for success in everything. The foundation is that the Apostle rejoiced greatly when he received reliable information about Gaius's high qualities and life. Who the brethren were who bore witness before the Apostle about Gaius is not stated, or is stated only obscurely (3 Jn 1:5-7). "Concerning the faithfulness," and so forth: this is an intensified statement about Gaius's firmness in fulfilling or preserving purity and steadfastness in Christian truth. In everything he acts according to the Gospel truth (cf. the note on 2 Jn 1:4).

After honoring Gaius for the excellent qualities of his soul, the Apostle expresses his great feeling on this occasion. Perhaps Gaius was especially close to the Apostle, either because he had been instructed by him or because he was generally a member of the Church of Asia Minor, which was so close to the Apostle's heart.

At the same time the Apostle indicates how he learned of Gaius's goodness and of his piety in general, and also of his firmness in the faith. The Apostle learned all this from his brethren. By these one should understand heralds of the faith whom he sent to preach the Gospel in various parts of Asia Minor.

What does it mean to walk in truth? It means to receive truth into the heart, and then to conduct oneself in thoughts and feelings as truth requires.

Thus, it is a truth that God is everywhere and sees everything. Whoever receives this truth with the heart, and begins to conduct himself inwardly and outwardly as though God Himself were before him and saw everything in him, will walk in this truth.

It is a truth that God upholds all things, and that without Him we can do nothing successfully. Whoever receives this with the heart, and in everything he does turns in prayer to God for help, and accepts whatever happens to him as from the Lord's hand, will walk in this truth.