3 John 1:14

“But I trust I shall shortly see thee, etc] Either at Ephesus, where John was, or rather at the place where Gaius lived, (see <640110>3 John 1:10); and we shall speak face to face; freely and familiarly converse together about these things, which were not thought proper to be committed to writing: peace [be] to thee; which was the usual form of salutation with the Jews, and John was one; (see Gill on “<432019>John 20:19”); [our] friends salute thee; or send their Christian salutation to thee, wishing all health and prosperity in soul and body; meaning the members of the church at Ephesus: the Arabic version reads, “thy friends”; such at Ephesus as had a particular knowledge of him, and…”

“face to face--Greek, "mouth to mouth." Peace--peace inward of conscience, peace fraternal of friendship, peace supernal of glory [LYRA]. friends--a title seldom used in the New Testament, as it is absorbed in the higher titles of "brother, brethren." Still Christ recognizes the relation of friend also, based on the highest grounds, obedience to Him from love, and entailing the highest privileges, admission to the intimacy of the holy and glorious God, and sympathizing Saviour; so Christians have "friends" in Christ. Here in a friendly letter, mention of "friends" appropriately occurs. by name--not less than if their names were written [BENGEL]. Next: Jude Introduction”

“But I trust I shall shortly see thee ... - Notes at 2 John 1:12. Our friends salute thee - That is, your friends and mine. This would seem rather to refer to private friends of John and Gaius than to Christians as such. They had, doubtless, their warm personal friends in both places. Greet the friends by name - That is, each one individually. He remembered them as individuals, but did not deem it proper to specify them. Practical Remarks On 3 John (1) It is proper to desire for our friends all temporal good; to wish their happiness in every respect, 3 John 1:2. The welfare of the soul is indeed the great object, and the first desire in regard to a friend should be that his salvation may be…”

“Salute the friends by name - That is, in the same manner as if I had named them one by one. The word friend does not often occur in the New Testament, being swallowed up in the more endearing one of brother. Next: Jude Chapter 1”

“1:14 Our English idiom face to face parallels the Greek idiom used here (literally mouth to mouth; see also 2 Jn 1:12).”

“face to face: Gr. mouth to mouth Peace: Gen 43:23; Dan 4:1; Gal 5:16; Eph 6:23; Pe1 5:14 Our: Rom 16:10, Rom 16:11 \*marg. friends: Instead of φιλοι and φιλους, friends, an appellation used no where else as a mutual address among Christians, several manuscripts read αδελφοι \[Strong's G80\], and αδελφους \[Strong's G81\], brethren. Greet: Rom. 16:1-16 Next: Jude Introduction”