If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 10. Nor say to him, Hail; or peace be to you, God speed you, all hail; or use any form of saluting him, as you would a friend, much less receive or entertain him in your house: this admonition is in general to forewarn persons of the dangers which may arise from a familiarity with heretics, and such as teach evil doctrine. But by this is not forbidden civility, kindness, and a sincere charity for all men, by which we ought to wish and pray for the eternal salvation of every one. I translate Ave by peace be to you, because this was the usual salutation among the Jews, and in those times, as we see Luke 24 and John 20.
3 JOHN
THE
THIRD EPISTLE OF S. JOHN,
THE APOSTLE