3 John
3 John
1 The elder to the
beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that
all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well
with your soul. 3 For
I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as
indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I
have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, it is a
faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they
are, 6 who testified
to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey
in a manner worthy of God. 7 For
they have gone out for the sake of the name,
accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these,
that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9 I have written
something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does
not acknowledge our authority. 10 So
if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against
us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also
stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
11 Beloved do not imitate
evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not
seen God. 12 Demetrius
has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also
add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had much to write to
you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to
face.
15 Peace be to you. The
friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. [1]
The letter before us today is a brief personal note from the Apostle John to a man named Gaius. It follows the letter writing template of the time. A greeting, v1, a wish for good health v2, the body of the letter vs 3-13, and a concluding section vs 14-15.
Truth and love are again themes that
run through this letter. John commends Gaius for walking in the truth. It
brought John great joy when travelling ministers brought back a good report on Gaius.
That he had given the ministers a good welcome, provided for their needs while
they stayed with him, and sent them off with provisions for their journey. A
model today’s church would do well to emulate.
John next vents his frustration with
a man named Diotrephes who apparently ran a church out of his home. John says
that this man refuses to acknowledge John’s apostolic authority and will not
receive John or any emissaries or letters from John. John says he will meet
with the man face to face next time he is at that church to work things out.
The next item on John’s agenda. Is
to say one should imitate good not evil. Stating that whoever does the right
and true thing is from God and those who do evil have not seen God. (The only 2
times God is mentioned in the letter. Jesus is not mentioned at all.) John then
provides a good example for Gaius to imitate. Demetrius who probably brought
the letter to Gaius is held up as an example of a good role model.
John then concludes the letter
sending greetings from him and his associates. Wishing him peace. That concludes
this short letter. It has the distinction of being the only 3rd
letter in the entire Bible. It is often overlooked because it is so short and
having no great Theological ideas expressed. Instead it is a practical, down to
earth letter between two brothers in the Lord. It contains advice like dealing
with opponents in a face to face manner. Imitating the good and avoiding the wicked.
The church would do well to heed its advice and follow its council.
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