Some Key Words

Was Glad (chairo [5463]):

to rejoice, as if joy is a direct result of God's grace, to skip about like a young lamb; to rejoice exceedingly, to greet or salute; to be cheerful, calmly happy or well-off

Truth (aletheia [225]):

the unveiled reality agreeing with the appearance, the essence, integrity; what is true in any matter, moral truth, personal candor, free of pretence and deceit; truth

Joy (chara [5479]):

the cause of rejoicing; the joy received from you, the cause of joy; cheerfulness, calm delight

Children (teknon [5043]):

child - pointing to the fact of birth; a son, an indication of the relationship formed by the bonds of love and trust, an affectionate means of address by a teacher or helper, the disciples of a given teacher; a child - as produced of a parent

Walking (peripateo [4043]):

to make one's way, progress, make use of opportunity, to regulate one's life, conduct oneself; to tread all around, to walk - as proof of ability, to live, deport oneself, follow as a companion or votary

 

 

Paraphrase

3 It brings me great pleasure to hear others testify to your commitment to Christ. 4 Nothing could make me happier than to see one whom I taught running in that teaching.

Key Verse

4 - It combines the blessing of the teacher and the taught; the teacher in knowing he has not taught in vain, the taught in being recognized by the teacher.

Some Parallel Verses

3

2Jn 4 - He also found joy in hearing of another's children walking in truth. Ac 1:15 - Peter stood amidst his brothers in Christ to speak. Gal 6:10 - We should do good to all, but especially to our brothers.

4

1Co 4:14 - The church in Corinth were children of Paul inasmuch as he was their first teacher. 2Co 6:13 - Paul appeals to the Corinthians to listen as he would have appealed to a child. Gal 4:19 - The Galatians were also viewed by Paul as his children, and he struggled as if in labor again when he heard of them falling into old habits. 1Th 2:11 - He exhibited a care for the Thessalonians like that of a father for his children. 1Ti 1:2 - Timothy was also a spiritual child of Paul's. 2Ti 1:2 - and well loved at that. Philem 10 - Onesimus, too. 1Jn 2:1 - And those John wrote to. 2Jn 4 - As well as those of the Lady, who also conducted themselves as companions of truth.

 

 

New Thoughts

Oh, to know ourselves to be fruitful in having many spiritual children! Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them! Oh, how we need to learn the ways of the loving teacher and father. How to balance the nurture of encouragement with the need for admonishment. How much could we reduce the need for the latter by better exercising the former? I also really like the imagery of walking in truth. To make one's way and progress in having our unveiled reality agree with our appearance! To follow truth as a companion! Now there's a beautiful thought! Companion to the Essence. God, that's what I want to be. I want to be so essentially Your child - so completely - but I stumble so badly. How quickly I slip into grumbling and anger, when You would not have it so. Help me to find better ways to train and react. In many ways, You've not only given me my daughter as a child, but You've asked me to also become father to my wife. This is a hard thing, oh God, as You know. It's uncomfortable to have such a role in an adult's life. It's hard for them to allow that role. How difficult it must be for a pastor, who has been entrusted with parenting an entire church full of adult children! God, let Your grace abound in me, that I may properly fill the purpose You have placed before me. Give me the calm to be merciful, the peace to be a blessing to those in my charge. Help me to set aside the pride that would make me more a dictator than a teacher, more a drill sergeant than a father. God, You know how greatly I need Your assistance to do this. Come quickly to my aid, for I know it, too. Help me, too, to remember my need.