3 John 1:3 (KJV)

Passage

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "rejoiced", "greatly", "brethren", "came", "testified", "truth", "thee", and "even". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "rejoiced" and "greatly", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "Beloved I wish above all things that..." into verse 4's "I have no greater joy than to...", so "rejoiced" and "greatly" belong inside that flow. In 3 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "rejoiced" and "greatly" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.