3 John 1:13 (DRB)

Passage

I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen write to thee.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:11 Dearly beloved, follow not that which is evil: but that which is good. He that doth good is of God: he that doth evil hath not seen God.

3 John 1:12 To Demetrius, testimony is given by all, and by the truth itself: yea and we also give testimony. And thou knowest that our testimony is true.

3 John 1:13 I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen write to thee.

3 John 1:14 But I hope speedily to see thee: and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "write", and "thee". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "write", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "To Demetrius testimony is given by all..." into verse 14's "But I hope speedily to see thee...", so "things" and "write" 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 "things" and "write" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.