3 John 1:11 (KJV)

What does 3 John 1:11 mean?

3 John 1:11 urges the reader not to imitate evil but to imitate what is good, explaining that those who do good belong to God, while those who do evil have not truly known or seen God. The verse draws a clear line between good and evil actions as evidence of one’s relationship with God.

John, writing to his friend Gaius, is addressing a situation where some people in the church are behaving selfishly or harmfully, while others are acting faithfully and kindly. John encourages Gaius to follow the example of those who do good, rather than those who do harm, making it clear that actions reveal a person’s true connection to God.

The Greek behind 3 John 1:11

• "Beloved" (ἀγαπητέ, agapēte): This is a warm, personal address, showing John’s affection and care for Gaius, making the advice that follows both gentle and earnest.
• "Follow" (μιμέου, mimeou): This Greek word means to imitate or model oneself after someone or something. John is not just warning against doing evil, but against copying the behavior or example of those who do evil.
• "Seen" (ἑώρακεν, heōraken): The Greek carries the sense of having truly perceived or experienced. Saying someone who does evil "has not seen God" means they have not genuinely encountered or understood God, not just that they lack physical sight.

Why 3 John 1:11 matters

• 3 John 1:11 clarifies that faith is shown by actions, not just beliefs or words; doing good is a sign of truly belonging to God.
• The verse helps the reader understand that John is not only warning against evil deeds but also against following the example of people who act wrongly, which was a real issue in the church at the time.
• This verse connects to the wider letter, where John contrasts the good example of Demetrius with the bad example of Diotrephes, making the advice practical and immediate for Gaius.