Third John

Third John Outline Address: 1:1 Gauis: An Example of Service in Truth and Love: 1:2-8  Truth: 1:3  Love: 1:6 Diotrephes: An Example of Pride and Strife: 1:9-11  Loves to have the pre-eminence: 1:9  Causes Division: 1:10  The Commendation of one: 1:12 Parting Words: 1:13-14

3 John 1 “The elder “: Once more John introduces himself by the title “the elder” rather than by his personal name. Clearly it is a title or phrase that the readers would immediately recognize as referring to John the apostle. “To the beloved Gaius”: This was one of the most popular names in the First Century world.

Several men by this name have appeared earlier in the New Testament, including Gaius of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14), Gaius of Macedonia, who is linked with Aristarchus as one of Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 19:19); and Gaius of Derbe (Acts 20:4). “The beloved”: Gaius was beloved by God, John and other members of the church. “Whom I love in truth”: John truly loved this member, and the

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truth was the sphere in which this love existed and flourished. That is, John was drawn to the life of this faithful Christian.

3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health”: So there is nothing wrong with praying for a person’s good health, job prospects, a safe and successful journey or recovery from an illness. “Just as your soul prospers”: So here is biblical justification for desiring both the physical as well as the spiritual welfare of our Christian friends.

3 John 3 “For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth”: Other Christians had reported to John how faithful this was man in his walk with God. He was a faithful Christian, he was sound in the faith, he was obedient to the will of God. Those are the type of things that need to be reported among Christians.

3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth”: Nothing could make John happier or more well-pleased than hearing that another Christian was faithful to the truth. Nothing tops this or is more important than this. This is why some parents will tell their children, “I really don’t care where you live or what career you select—as long as you are a faithful Christian that is all that really matters”. “Walking in the truth”: Means far more than just agreeing with the truth. It means to apply it to one’s life. In such a person’s life there is an exact agreement between faith and practice. To John truth mattered and he did not regard theological issues as unimportant. “My children”: Indicating that John may have started the congregation in which Gaius attended or at least had converted Gaius at some time in the past.

3 John 5 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers”: Particularly John focuses on how Gaius was very hospitable (1 Peter 4:9), especially for traveling Christians.

3 John 6 “And they bear witness to your love”: Travelling Christians had returned and told John how well Gaius had treated them. “Before the church”: How Gaius had treated them had been publically proclaimed in a local congregation. “And you do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God”: Here John 2

may be encouraging Gaius (in light of the bad example being set by Diotrephes) to continue such hospitality to faithful men. “In a manner worthy of God”: “They are not just to be received when they arrive, but to be so refreshed and provided for as to be sent forward on the next stage of their journey after a godly sort, i.e., as befits God’s service. They are servants of God and represent him. We must treat them as we would treat Him” (Stott p. 221).

3 John 7 “For they went out for the sake of the Name”: That is, they went out to spread the news about the Name of Christ. They are travelling preachers spreading the good news. “Accepting nothing from the Gentiles”: That is, the heathen or unbelievers. Unlike the other traveling teachers of the time who begged and collecting money from the public, these Christians did not live off the masses, rather they worked with their hands, and needed places to stay and food from men like Gaius. This does not mean that preachers are not to be paid, for they can be (1 Corinthians 9; 1 Timothy 5:17-18), but it means that we support our men rather than our men having to beg from the world.

3 John 8 “Therefore we ought to support such men”: Because they are doing God’s work and are not being supported by the world. “We must do for them what they will not ask the heathen to do” (Stott p. 223). The work of Christ should be supported by Christians—and not by the world. “That we may be”: Here is another reason for supporting such men. “Fellow-workers with the truth”: We saw the opposite of this in the last letter. Supporting a false teacher —makes me a fellow-worker when it comes to evil (2 John 11). Supporting a faithful man makes me a fellow-worker in the spread of the truth. This means that no Christian is left out in the spread of the gospel. If I cannot preach or travel or plant churches, I can still be involved in that process when I help, contribute, encourage and extend hospitality to those who can.

3 John 9 “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say” “I wrote something to the church”: It would appear that Gaius was in the same congregation as Diotrephes. That is, “I wrote something to the congregation there, and Diotrephes refused to read it, have it read, allow the other members to see it, 3

or obey it”. This was very serious, because the writings of the apostles were Scripture and were to be obeyed (2 Thess. 3:14). “But Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them”: John immediately gives the motivation as to why Diotrephes would reject a letter from an apostle. He did not like submitting to anyone, rather, he wanted to be the final authority. The name Diotrephes was about as rare as Gaius was a common name. It means “Zeus-reared” and was only found in noble and ancient families. While Diotrephes loved to place himself in first place, God said that His Son is to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). He wanted the preeminence for himself, greedy for place and power.

Instead of wanting the congregation to submit to the authority of the apostles writings—he wanted to rule the congregation. “Does not accept what we say”: Rejects the teaching of the apostles.

3 John 10 “For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does”: If or when I show up I will expose him and his wicked deeds. John cannot overlook this challenge to apostolic authority. “Unjustly accusing us with wicked words”: The idea is that the accusations brought by Diotrephes are nonsense, they are not only wicked accusations but senseless accusations as well.

“Diotrephes evidently regarded John as a dangerous rival to his own assumed position in the church and sought to undermine his position by slanderous gossip” (Stott p. 227). “And not satisfied with this”: Not satisfied with trying to undermine John’s reputation with slander and gossip. “Neither does he himself receive the brethren”: He rejects not only John but anyone associated with John and other faithful traveling preachers. “And he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church”: Anyone in the local congregation who tries to stand up for John and other faithful preachers—Diotrephes removes from the congregation. He slandered John, cold-shouldered faithful preachers, and excommunicated loyal believers because he loved himself and wanted to have all the power in this congregation.

3 John 11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil”: Gaius, do not follow the bad example of Diotrephes. Do not get drawn in with those who want power. “But what is good”: Keep on doing what you have been doing. “The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God”: Doing good is 4

evidence that we are serving God and doing evil is clear evidence that we do not even know God. 3 John 12 “Demetrius has received a good testimony from every one”: Yet there are faithful Christians, like Demetrius who is well spoken of by all sound brethren.

“And from the truth itself”: The truth equally speaks well of Demetrius, for his man is obeying the truth. “We also bear witness”: The apostle and those with him also have seen how faithful this man is. “And you know that our witness is true”: Gaius knows that John is an honest man. He knew and trusted the judgment of this apostle.

3 John 13 “I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen an ink”: I have a lot of other things I would love to talk to you about, but I really want to enjoy your company and talk face to face. Compare with 2 John 12.

3 John 14 “But I hope to see you shortly, we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name”: I believe it is important to note that John the apostle associated with and had dear friends in a local congregation. He knew these people by name.

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