For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
- Third John is a personal letter written from one friend (the elder) to another (Gaius).
- Gaius was a common name in the ancient world.
- For example, it was the name of the emperor Caligula (37-41 AD).
- A conflict has arisen between supporters of Demetrius and supporters of Diotrephes.
- This little letter yields many insights into early Christianity.
- First, John emphasizes his love for the Christians to whom he is writing.
- Loving relationships are rooted in truth (v.1).
- Without truth -- and this includes others' being truthful -- a solid relationship is not a realistic possibility
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
- Health is a legitimate concern (v.2). Do we inquire after people's physical condition, or only after their spiritual health?
- "Friend" (v.3) is a technical term.
- Truth is something in which we "walk" (live in day to day), not just something to which we give assent (v.3).
- With regard to verse 4, Paul had similar sentiments in 1 Thess 3:8. The "children" are probably not be John's literal offspring, but rather children in the faith.
- With regard to verse 3, what do we call fellow believers?
- There are many acceptable words to describe followers of Jesus Christ: disciples, friends, believers, the church, the assembly, the Way, brothers, and more.
- Our term of choice reveals how we conceive of our relationship to fellow believers.
- Note: the term "disciples" seems to have been current in the book of Acts, yet not once does it appear in any of the letters. This would suggest that our options are considerably broader than we may have been led to believe.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends,even though they are strangers to you; 6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; 7 for they began their journey for the sake of Christ,accepting no support from non-believers.8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.
- That "friends" may be strangers (v.5) strongly supports the special use of this alternate term for Christians.
- Financially supporting true disciples, even those they have never met, is commendable (vv.5-6).
- "Sending them on their way" indicates financial support (Matt 10:10; 1 Cor 9:14; Gal 6:6).
- Evangelists often (if not usually) were compensated for their work, since they moved from city to city and needed room and board. Elders too seem to have been paid (1 Pet 5; 1 Tim 5).
- These early missionaries did not accept assistance from non-believers (v.7). The church family takes care of the church family.
- One way these men were assisted was in room and board (v.8). Hospitality is a high virtue in the Bible.
- In v.7, "for the name of" has been rendered "for the sake of" (NRSV). If we follow the Greek NT more literally, the phrase the name (v.7) probably refers to the divinity of Christ.
- See Deut 12:5; Exod 23:20-23; Judg 2:1-5; Deut 4:37; John 17:11.
- God gave his "name" to Jesus.
- This is only one of many NT passages supporting the truth that Christ is God.
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 call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
- Diotrephes is unfortunately not so generously minded (v.9).
- He "loves to be first."
- Ego is a driving factor in much of church history and church politics.
- John uses the rare word philoprōteuōn, appearing only here in the NT.
- In classical Greek it means "strive to be first or in the front rank."
- In ecclesiastical Greek (well after the 1st century), the word came to mean "love to be the leader."
- Striving to be first is a negative leadership quality. Modesty more often than not characterizes the men and women of the Bible whom the Lord uses to do great things.
- Diotrephes' doctrinal persuasion is a matter for speculation (v.10). This letter does not seem to be connected the world of Docetism. It's Diotrephes' world that is the issue -- with Diotrephes as star actor and lead commander.
- He expels those who disagree with him from the church.
- These were false instances of church discipline.
- Click for more on the subject of church discipline.
- John has no hesitation in dealing publicly with the wicked actions of Diotrephes.
- This ego-driven leader seems to pervert the good principle of 2 John 10 for his own purposes.
- Before siding with a teacher, we should examine the fruit of his life (v.11). (See also Matt 7:15-20.) There is a connection.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him,and you know that our testimony is true.
- Demetrius, the righteous leader, has a good reputation (v.12).
- This was a requirement for overseers and ministers (deacons, servants) in 1 Tim 3 and Titus
- There are three reasons Gaius and his friends should trust Demetrius:
- He is highly regarded by the church at large.
- Demetrius' life is in accord with the truth.
- John speaks well of him.
- The friends should weigh this triple testimony: that of John, the church, and the truth itself.
- "Whoever does good is from God" (v.11) refers to Demetrius. Moral character lies at the heart of Christian leadership, not forcefulness, persuasiveness, good looks, or popularity.
13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.
15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.
- As he indicated in his previous letter, John prefers to deal with certain matters face to face (vv.13-14)
- "Pen and ink" here, "paper and ink" in 2 John 12.
- See also 2 Cor 10:9-11.
- "Friends" (v.14), once more, was an epithet of the early Christians.
- The friends were to be greeted not generally, but by name (v.14). There is something special about remembering people's names and praying for them by name (2 Tim 1:3).
Finally:
- Though 3 John is quite a short letter, there is much for us today.
- Every chapter of the Bible -- 1189 in all! -- is inspired and useful (2 Tim 3:16).
- That means we need 3 John. Without it, our Bibles would not be complete. This letter anticipates many situations facing us today.
Thought questions:
- Do we care about how others are doing physically, emotionally, and spiritually? (See 1 Thess 5:23.) Spiritual interest alone is lopsided. God created the body and its emotional, volitional, and intellectual faculties, not just the spirit.
- Am I a Demetrius, or a Diotrephes? Do I love to be first, or are am I well spoken of by others for being selfless? Am I a team player?
- How do we feel about paid staff? Christian workers are worth their wages. It is also right for us to support (at a distance) Christian workers we may never have met.
- What is our "favorite" term for a follower of Christ? There are many available designations for a Christian. Biblically there is no warrant for limiting ourselves to just one term (like disciple or Christian).