Tertullian, who died in 215, and Clement of Alexandria, in addition to quoting 1 John, wrote a commentary on 2 John in his Adumbrationes. All three Johannine epistles were recognized by the 39th festal letter of Athanasius, the Synod of Hippo and the Council of Carthage (397). Additionally Didymus the Blind wrote a commentary on all three epistles, showing that by the early 5th century they were being considered as a single unit. The first reference to 3 John is in the middle of the third century; Eusebius says that Origen knew of both 2 and 3 John, however Origen is reported as saying "all do not consider them genuine". Similarly, Pope Dionysius of Alexandria, Origen's pupil, was aware of a "reputed Second or Third Epistle of John". Also around this time 3 John is thought to have been known in North Africa as it was referred to in the Sententiae Episcoporum produced by the Seventh Council of Carthage. There was doubt about the authority of 3 John, however, with Eusebius listing it and 2 John as "disputed books" despite describing them as "well-known and acknowledged by most". Although Eusebius believed the Apostle wrote the Gospel and the epistles, it is likely that doubt about the fidelity of the author of 2 and 3 John was a factor in causing them to be disputed. By the end of the fourth century the Presbyter (author of 2 and 3 John) was thought to be a different person than the Apostle John. This opinion, although reported by Jerome, was not held by all, as Jerome himself attributed the epistles to John the Apostle. See also John the Apostle Textual variants in the Third Epistle of John Notes References Bibliography External links Online translations Read 3 John at Bible Gateway (various versions) Kirby, Peter. "3 John." Early Christian Writings. 2006: 3 John: text, on-line and print resources Various versions Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 Commentaries The Third Epistle of the Apostle John: Exegesis and Commentary by Luke C. Werre The Third General Epistle of John from Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible Other The Letters of John by Colin Kruse (Preview at Google Book Search) Johannine bibliography 2nd-century Christian texts John3 Johannine literature John 3 Antilegomena