3 John 1 15

3 John 1:15 esv

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

3 John 1:15 nlt

Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

3 John 1 verses

3 John 1 15 Meaning

This concluding verse of John's third epistle offers a personal and heartfelt farewell. It conveys a traditional blessing of "peace" from the apostle, signifying holistic well-being and divine favor. Furthermore, it exchanges greetings between the friends present with John and the friends of Gaius, with a specific emphasis on recognizing and addressing individuals "by name," highlighting the deep, personal fellowship and loving care within the early Christian community.

3 John 1 15 Context

Third John is a brief letter written by "The Elder" (traditionally John the Apostle) to Gaius, a faithful believer commended for his hospitality, especially to traveling missionaries. The letter addresses the issues of welcoming true evangelists and confronting those who resist them within the church. It introduces Diotrephes, who rejects the Elder's authority, speaks evil of him, refuses hospitality, and excommunicates those who offer it. Conversely, Demetrius is presented as a model believer. This concluding verse follows John's commendation of Demetrius and sets a forward-looking tone for a personal visit, offering final blessings and reinforcing the strong relational bonds crucial for the Christian community's health, in stark contrast to Diotrephes' divisive behavior.

3 John 1 15 Word Analysis

• Peace (Ειρήνη - Eirēnē): This term is a common biblical salutation, akin to the Hebrew "shalom." Beyond the absence of conflict, "Eirēnē" signifies wholeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, and a state of right relationship, especially with God. In the New Testament, it is deeply connected to the gospel (Eph 2:17) and the person of Christ (Col 1:20), embodying God's gift to believers (Phil 4:7). John offers this profound blessing, typical of apostolic closing greetings, extending God's holistic favor to Gaius and his community.
• to you (σοι - soi): A direct, singular personal pronoun, addressing Gaius specifically. It emphasizes the personal nature of the greeting and the deep affection John holds for him.
• The friends (οἱ φίλοι - hoi philoi): Unusually, John uses "friends" instead of the more common "brothers" (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi) to describe fellow believers. This choice is significant. While "brothers" highlights familial solidarity in Christ, "friends" often suggests a deeper, more intimate, and voluntary bond of affection and loyalty, echoing Jesus's designation of His disciples as "friends" in Jn 15:14-15. This term underscores a warm, personal relationship within the Christian fellowship, implying shared love and commitment. These "friends" are likely believers who are currently with John.
• greet (ἀσπάζονται - aspazontai / ἀσπάζου - aspazou): From "aspazomai," meaning to embrace, salute, welcome, or greet. It conveys affection and well wishes. The first instance ("aspazontai") is plural (the friends greet you), referring to those with John. The second ("aspazou") is imperative and singular (you greet), directing Gaius.
• greet the friends (ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους - aspazou tous philous): Here, "the friends" refers to the community in Gaius's locality. John directs Gaius to convey the same warm, affectionate greetings back to them. The repetition of "friends" emphasizes the close-knit, loving nature of their fellowship, aligning with the "agape" (love) emphasized in John's writings.
• by name (κατ' ὄνομα - kat' onoma): This phrase explicitly means "each one by name" or "personally." It's crucial for understanding the intimacy and pastoral concern behind the verse. Instead of a general, collective salutation, John desires Gaius to greet each specific individual. This practice fosters deeper bonds, recognizes individual value, and prevents anonymity within the body of believers. It signifies genuine care and remembrance, reinforcing the personal nature of Christian fellowship and ministry.

3 John 1 15 Bonus section

This final verse, simple as it may seem, is a potent expression of early Christian community values. It underscores that spiritual truth is inseparable from relational health. The specific request to greet individuals "by name" could be seen as an early instruction on the importance of personal connection in ministry and pastoring, reflecting God's own intimate knowledge of His people (e.g., Ex 33:17, Isa 43:1). In a world where many might feel overlooked, the principle embedded in this greeting promotes active acknowledgment, affirming each person's worth in the body of Christ. It implies that true fellowship requires moving beyond collective generalities to specific, intentional interactions.

3 John 1 15 Commentary

The concluding words of 3 John 1:15, "Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name," encapsulate profound themes of Christian fellowship and personal care. The initial blessing of "peace" (Ειρήνη - Eirēnē) is more than a social custom; it's a deep prayer for spiritual and holistic well-being, rooted in God's grace, contrasting sharply with the strife caused by Diotrephes earlier in the letter. John's deliberate use of "friends" (φίλοι - philoi) instead of the typical "brothers" (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi) suggests a bond of particular warmth, intimacy, and shared devotion, reminiscent of Jesus calling His disciples "friends." This choice elevates the nature of their communal ties beyond mere association to genuine affection. The instruction for Gaius to "greet the friends by name" is highly significant. It underlines John's pastoral heart, emphasizing individual recognition and the value of each person within the church. This personal touch fosters a true sense of belonging and community, countering any tendency towards depersonalization or anonymity. In essence, the verse is a beautiful portrayal of genuine Christian fellowship: divine peace as its foundation, deep affection as its bond, and personal care as its practical expression. It reminds believers that the Church is not merely an organization but a living community where individuals are known, loved, and valued personally.