3 John 1:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To hear that my children— There is no occasion to understand hereby that they were all St. John's own converts: (see 1 John 2:1) he had styled himself the elder; there was therefore a beauty in his calling all those his children, who were under his apostolic care, or paternal inspection; and he rejoiced like a tender father over a wise son. The apostle seems to have alluded to Proverbs 10:1 with which compare Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 19:13. Baxter's note on this verse is, "True ministers rejoice more for the welfare of men's souls, than in preferments, wealth, or worldly honour."