For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
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.
- BSB For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- 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 rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
- 1 Th 3:6–9But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
- 2 Jn 1:2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
- Rom 1:8–9First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
- 3 Jn 1:4I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.
- 2 Cor 7:6–7Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
- Ps 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
- 1 Th 2:19–20For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- Col 1:7–8even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
- Phil 1:4always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy,
- Eph 1:15–16For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
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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.