3 John 1:12

Demetrius. The name means “belonging to Demeter,” that is, to the goddess of agriculture, known to the Latins as Ceres. John’s commendation of Demetrius removes any suspicion that the retention of his pagan name indicates any lingering sympathy with heathen religion (cf. on “Diotrephes,” v. 9).

There is no certain knowledge of Demetrius apart from what is found in this epistle. Some have suggested that he is identical with “Demetrius, a silversmith” (Acts 19:24), and that he had been converted under John’s ministry at Ephesus. Others have sought to identify him with Demas (Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10; Philemon 24), but there is no scriptural support for either of these views. Since John is commending him to Gaius, it may be that he was the bearer of the letter in which he is mentioned, but even this is conjectural. The most that can be said with certainty is that Demetrius was a faithful Christian, loyal to the apostle, and that John felt impelled to give Gaius a specific and strong recommendation concerning him. This makes it reasonable to suppose that Demetrius’ conduct had been under suspicion, and needed to be cleared by John before he would be unreservedly accepted by the apostolic party in the church of which Gaius was a member.

Hath good report. Literally, “has been witnessed to.”

Of the truth itself. That is, Demetrius lived in harmony with Christian standards. John here personifies truth, and makes it witness to the excellence of his friend’s character.

We also bear record. Gaius does not have to rely on a general commendation only concerning Demetrius, but is here given the personal testimony of John and his associates.

Ye know. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading, “thou knowest,” in harmony with the fact that the epistle is addressed to an individual, Gaius (cf. v. 13).