“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
King James Version (KJV)
1:4 I have no greater joy than this - Such is the spirit of every true Christian pastor. To hear that my children walk in the truth - Caius probably was converted by St. Paul. Therefore when St. John speaks of him. with other believers, as his children, it may be considered as the tender style of paternal love, whoever were the instruments of their conversion. And his using this appellation, when writing under the character of the elder, has its peculiar beauty.
3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy. That which gave him the greatest joy was to know that the saints walked in the truth. My children. The aged John was wont to call the saints his children. See 1Jo 2:1,12,18,28 4:4 5:21.