3 John 1:12
in 3 John 1Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 3 John 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseIn my opinion this Demetrius is the same man who made silver idols of Artemis and who once led a riot against the apostle Paul.
This site's exposition
do not imitate what is evil
on 3 John 1:11-12
The one who does good is of God, so Gaius is to imitate the good and not the evil. Demetrius is the example, with a threefold witness from everyone, from the truth itself and from the elder, the standard of Deuteronomy 19:15. Diotrephes and Demetrius are the letter's two leaders.
This site's exposition
Demetrius
Demetrius is the good example verse 11 asks for. Andreas of Caesarea took him for the silversmith of Ephesus who stirred a riot against Paul in Acts 19. John Gill judges him a different man and names a second option, the one who carried this letter from the elder.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Demetrius was highly regarded by everybody because of his virtue. Some people take this verse to mean that he was criticized by everyone, but I cannot see how such an interpretation is possible.
Demetrius has been testified by all, and by the very truth itself: but we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. "by all:" say those who keep the truth. "and by the very truth itself:" which is the effectiveness of speech. …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone. That is, he himself welcomed the weak and supported the needy for the sake of the truth. Therefore, Gaius should also imitate him, so that he too may be worthy of the praise of all.
By "all," that is, those who possess the truth, "and from the truth itself," that is, in word and in deed; for although the virtue of some is testified to, the testimony proves to be false, because the words do not correspond to the reality. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Demetrius hath good report of all men, This man was of a quite different cast from Diotrephes, and therefore the apostle makes mention of him to Gaius, to be followed by him, and not the other; he was either the same with Demas, which is a contraction of this name, or the person that John sent from Ephesus with this letter: we read of an Ephesian of this name, Act 19:24; though not the same person; or else one that also was a member of the same church with Gaius and Diotrephes; and he being kind and beneficent, obtained a good report of the generality of men, not only of the brethren, but of those that were without; for a liberal man is universally respected.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Happy are those whose spirit and conduct commend them before God and men. Confirmed by the apostle's and his friends' testimony: Yea, and we also bear record; and that with an appeal to Gaius's own knowledge: And you (you and your friends) know that our record is true. Probably this Demetrius was known to the church where the apostle now resided, and to that where Gaius was.
And from the truth itself - That is, what they testify is the very truth. Yea, we also bear testimony - I and they that are with me.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
of all men--who have had opportunity of knowing his character. of the truth itself--The Gospel standard of truth bears witness to him that he walks conformably to it, in acts of real love, hospitality to the brethren (in contrast to Diotrephes), &c.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Demetrius hath good report - Perhaps another member of the Church where Caius was; or he might have been one of those whom the apostle recommends to Caius; or, possibly, the bearer of this letter from John to Caius. He seems to have been an excellent person: all testified of his righteousness; the truth - Christianity, itself bore testimony to him; and the apostles themselves added theirs also.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Demetrius hath good report of all men - Little is known of Demetrius. Lucke supposes that he resided near the place where the author of this Epistle lived, and was connected with the church there, and was probably the bearer of this Epistle. It is impossible to determine with certainty on this point, but there is one circumstance which seems to make it probable that he was a member of the same church with Gaius, and had united with him in showing Christian hospitality to these strangers. It is the use of the phrase “hath good report of all,” implying that some testimony was borne to his character beyond what the writer personally knew. It is possible, indeed, that the writer would have used this term respecting him if he lived in the same place with himself, as expressing the fact that he bore a good character, but it is a phrase which would be more appropriately used if we suppose that he was a member of the same church with Gaius, and that John means to say than an honorable testimony was borne of his character by all those brethren, and by all others as far as he knew. And of the truth itself - Not only by men, who might possibly be deceived in the estimate of character, but by fact. It was not merely a reputation founded on what “appeared” in his conduct, but in truth and reality. His deportment, his life, his deeds of benevolence, all concurred with the testimony which was borne by men to the excellency of his character. There is, perhaps, particular reference here to his kind and hospitable treatment of those brethren. Yea, and we also bear record - John himself had personally known him. […]
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Δημητρίῳ | demetrio | To Demetrius | G1216 → | |
| μεμαρτύρηται | memarturetai | witness has been given | G3140 → | 76 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | |
| πάντων | panton | all | G3956 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | |
| αὐτῆς | autes | itself | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀληθείας· | aletheias | truth; | G225 → | 109 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δὲ | de | also | G1161 → | |
| μαρτυροῦμεν, | marturoumen | bear witness, | G3140 → | 76 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἶδας | oidas | you know | ||
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μαρτυρία | marturia | testimony | G3141 → | |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀληθής | alethes | true | G227 → | |
| ἐστιν.¶ | estin | is. | G1510 → |
ΔημητρίῳTo Demetrius
demetrioG1216 →
μεμαρτύρηταιwitness has been given
memarturetaiG3140 →76 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →
πάντωνall
pantonG3956 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →
αὐτῆςitself
autesG846 →5565 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἀληθείας·truth;
aletheiasG225 →109 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
δὲalso
deG1161 →
μαρτυροῦμεν,bear witness,
marturoumenG3140 →76 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἶδαςyou know
oidas
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
μαρτυρίαtestimony
marturiaG3141 →
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἀληθήςtrue
alethesG227 →
ἐστιν.¶is.
estinG1510 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 3:7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- Acts 6:3
Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 4:5
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- 2 Timothy 2:26
Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
Through
John 21:24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
it leads to
- John 15:27
And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 15:27
Through
John 19:35The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
it leads to
- John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
- John 21:24
Through
Acts 22:12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
it leads to
- Acts 10:22
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in…
- Acts 10:22
Through
Acts 10:22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in…
it leads to
- Acts 11:14
He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
- Acts 11:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About 3 John
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Andreas of Caesarea, Catena; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 3 John.