‏ 3 John 10

 If I come ( εαν ελθω ). Condition of third class with  εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of  ερχομα. He hopes to come (verse 14), as he had said in 2Jo 1:12 (one argument for identifying II John with the letter in 3Jo 1:9).

 I will bring to remembrance ( υπομνησω ). Future active indicative of  υπομιμνησκω, old compound (Joh 14:26; 2Pe 1:12). The aged apostle is not afraid of Diotrephes and here defies him.

 Which he doeth ( α ποιε ). Present active indicative, "which he keeps on doing."

 Prating against us ( φλυαρων ημας ). Present active participle of old verb (from  φλυαρος, babbling 1Ti 5:13), to accuse idly and so falsely, here only in N.T. with accusative  ημας (us).

 With wicked words ( λογοις πονηροις ). Instrumental case. Not simply foolish chatter, but malevolent words.

 Not content ( μη αρκουμενος ). Present passive participle of  αρκεω with usual negative  μη. For this verb in this sense see 1Ti 6:8; Heb 13:5, only there  επ is absent. John knows that the conduct of Diotrephes will not stand the light. See Paul's threats of exposure (1Co 4:21; 2Co 10:11; 13:1-3). And John is the apostle of love all the same.

 He himself ( αυτος ). That was bad enough.

 Them that would ( τους βουλομενους ). "Those willing or wishing or receive the brethren" from John.

 He forbiddeth ( κωλυε ). "He hinders." Present active indicative of  κωλυω and means either actual success in one case (punctiliar use of the present indicative) or repetition in several instances (linear action) or conative action attempted, but not successful as in Mt 3:14 (this same verb) and Joh 10:32.

 Casteth them out of the church ( εκ της εκκλησιας εκβαλλε ). Here again  εκβαλλε can be understood in various ways, like  κωλυε. This verb occurs in Joh 2:15 for casting out of the temple the profaners of it and for casting the blind man out of the synagogue (Joh 9:34f.). If this ancient "church-boss" did not succeed in expelling John's adherents from the church, he certainly tried to do it.

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