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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Traveling believers brought John joyful news that Gaius was living faithfully according to the truth.
What Does 3 John 1:3 Mean?
John now explains the warmth of his greeting. Fellow believers had passed through and reported on Gaius, and their testimony filled John with great joy. What they witnessed was not merely that Gaius held the truth in his mind but that the truth was alive in how he lived.
To "walk in the truth" is to let it shape the daily steps of one's life, not only one's beliefs. The gospel is meant to be lived as well as believed. John's gladness reminds us that the faithfulness of one quiet disciple can become a source of joy to others far away. A consistent life is itself a testimony, and it gladdens the hearts of those who love Christ.
In the Original Language
aletheia (ἀλήθεια), "truth" — sounded four times in these opening verses, the keynote of the whole letter.