For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
Parallel translations
- WEB For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
- KJV For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
- NKJV For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
- NASB For I was overjoyed when brothers came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.
- NLT Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Traveling Christians reported how Gaius was walking faithfully in the truth, which brought John great joy. Consistency between confessed faith and daily life is cause for rejoicing.
Overview
John's joy rests not merely on Gaius holding sound doctrine but on his 'walking in truth,' living it out. The phrase ties together right belief and right conduct, a recurring theme across John's letters. A life shaped by the truth of the gospel becomes visible testimony to others and gladdens those who care for the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Jn 1:4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- 1 Th 3:6–9But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
- 2 Jn 1:2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
- Rom 1:8–9First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
- 3 Jn 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
- 2 Cor 7:6–7But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
- Ps 119:11I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- 1 Th 2:19–20After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Col 1:7–8You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
- Phil 1:4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
- Eph 1:15–16For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Faithful love shown for the sake of 'the Name' is service rendered to Christ, who is the truth in which his people walk.
How 3 John 1:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.