Passage
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
3 John 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
3 John 1:13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
3 John 1:14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
The verse centers on "trust", "shall", "shortly", "thee", "speak", and "face". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "trust" and "shall", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The prior verse says "I had many things to write but...", giving immediate footing for "trust" and "shall". In 3 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "trust" and "shall" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.