The Book of 3 John is the 64th book of the Bible and the shortest book in the New Testament. It was written by the apostle John to a man named Gaius, who was part of the early Christian church. Here is a summary of the key events and themes found in 3 John:
Purpose of the Book
John wrote this short letter to commend Gaius for his hospitality and generosity to traveling preachers, and to encourage him to continue supporting these brothers even though a church leader named Diotrephes was refusing to welcome them. John wanted to highlight the importance of showing Christian love through practical help and hospitality.
Outline
1. Opening Greeting (v1-4) – John opens his letter by expressing his love for Gaius and praying for his health and prosperity. He commends Gaius for his faithful walk in the truth.
2. Commendation for Gaius’ Hospitality (v5-8) – John praises Gaius for providing lodging and support to traveling preachers, though they were strangers to him. He encourages Gaius to continue this generous hospitality.
3. Condemnation of Diotrephes (v9-11) – John condemns a church leader named Diotrephes who refused to welcome the traveling preachers and had excommunicated church members who did welcome them. John said he would confront Diotrephes face to face.
4. Commendation of Demetrius (v12) – John commends another church leader named Demetrius, who had a good testimony from everyone. This implies Demetrius supported the traveling preachers.
5. Conclusion (v13-14) – John ends his letter by expressing his hope to visit Gaius in person soon. He passes along greetings from friends.
Key Themes
Some of the major themes in 3 John include:
- Hospitality – John commends Gaius for showing hospitality to traveling preachers even though he did not know them. This reflects the broader biblical emphasis on hospitality, as travelers often relied on the generosity of strangers for food and lodging.
- Supporting Fellow Christians – Gaius is praised for providing material support to aid preachers traveling to spread the gospel. John wants Gaius to persist even when others oppose this.
- Imitating Goodness – John points to Demetrius as someone who also does good by aiding the preachers. He subtly urges Gaius to imitate Demetrius’ godly example of hospitality.
- Conflicts in the Early Church – John reveals some of the relational tensions faced by early Christians, as Diotrephes refuses to welcome the preachers and even excommunicates those who do.
- Christian Leadership – Diotrephes seems to have desired preeminence and control in the church, something John condemns. Demetrius models better leadership.
Gaius in the Early Church
According to tradition, Gaius was the bishop of Pergamon. He was likely a convert of the apostle John and probably a fairly wealthy man based on his ability to provide support for the preachers traveling through his town. His charitable hospitality was still remembered years later as a shining example for other Christians to follow.
The church leader Diotrephes is described as loving to be first, refusing to welcome the traveling preachers, and expelling people from the church who disagreed with him. This provides insight into some of the emerging hierarchical structures and conflicts in local church leadership in the late first century.
While the letter reveals tensions, it also shows the priority of hospitality in the early church. Providing food, lodging, and material support for traveling preachers was considered an essential way to participate in the larger mission of spreading the gospel.
3 John and the Other Letters of John
3 John has a very different style and purpose than John’s other two letters, 1 John and 2 John. While those two letters were written to address theological and ethical issues being promoted by false teachers, 3 John focuses on commending Christian hospitality and condemning the refusal to welcome traveling preachers.
However, 3 John does share some common vocabulary and themes with John’s other letters, such as:
- Emphasis on truth and living according to Christ’s commands
- The importance of loving one another
- The concept of walking in truth, which reflects living out the gospel faithfully
- Warnings against false teachers who threaten the church
So while 3 John has a unique style and occasion, it shares some theological perspective and language with the broader writings of the apostle John.
Bible Quotes from 3 John
Here are some notable verses from 3 John (ESV):
“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are…” (v5)
“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” (v8)
“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” (v11)
Lessons and Applications
Here are some key lessons that can be drawn from 3 John:
- We should show hospitality and generosity to support Christian workers, even those we don’t know personally.
- Caring for fellow believers is an important way to partner in God’s work and walk in truth.
- While avoiding conflict, we must stand firm against church leaders who create division or hinder gospel ministry.
- Christian leaders should not seek preeminence but ought to model sacrifice and service to others.
- Imitating godly character is just as important as avoiding explicit sin.
The themes and principles in this short letter still provide valuable guidance for Christians today regarding hospitality, supporting ministry, charity, handling conflict, and healthy church leadership.
Overview of 3 John
In summary, here is an overview of the key aspects of the Book of 3 John:
- Genre – Epistle
- Author – The apostle John
- Date – Approximately 90-95 AD
- Recipient – Gaius, likely a church leader in Pergamon
- Purpose – To commend Gaius for his hospitality, encourage him to keep supporting traveling ministers, and condemn Diotrephes for his domineering leadership.
- Key themes – Hospitality, supporting fellow Christians, imitation of good character, healthy vs. domineering church leadership.
- Outline –
- 1. Opening Greeting (v1-4)
- 2. Commendation of Gaius (v5-8)
- 3. Condemnation of Diotrephes (v9-11)
- 4. Commendation of Demetrius (v12)
- 5. Conclusion (v13-14)
This short personal letter provides valuable insights into the character of Gaius and Diotrephes, the practice of hospitality in the early church, and important principles for how Christians should live and lead.
Detailed Commentary on 3 John
1. Opening Greeting (3 John 1-4)
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. (v1)
John refers to himself simply as “the elder,” highlighting his authority and maturity. Gaius is described as “beloved,” reflecting John’s fondness for him. John loved Gaius “in truth,” meaning he had a sincere and righteous Christlike love for him.
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. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (v2-4)
John prays for Gaius’ total wellbeing – both physical health and spiritual prosperity. He rejoiced when he heard brothers (traveling ministers) testify to Gaius’ faithfulness to the truth. As a spiritual father to Gaius, John has no greater joy than seeing his children walking faithfully with Christ.
2. Commendation for Gaius’ Hospitality (3 John 5-8)
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (v5-8)
John commends Gaius for providing hospitality and support to traveling ministers who were strangers to him. They testified to the church about Gaius’ love shown through this hospitality. Since they were traveling for the sake of Christ, relying on support from believers, John says Gaius should continue to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. By supporting them, Gaius becomes a fellow worker partnering in the advancement of the gospel.
3. Condemnation of Diotrephes (3 John 9-11)
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 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. (v9-10)
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (v11)
John condemns a church leader named Diotrephes, who refuses to welcome the traveling ministers and even excommunicates those in the church who do welcome them. Diotrephes seems to desire preeminence and control. But John says his behavior is wicked evil, and warns Gaius not to imitate him but rather to imitate good. True believers will embrace hospitality and support gospel ministry rather than hinder it.
4. Commendation of Demetrius (3 John 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. (v12)
In contrast to Diotrephes, John commends Demetrius as someone who has a good reputation for walking in the truth. The implication seems to be that Demetrius supported the traveling ministers, since he is placed in contrast to Diotrephes who turned them away.
5. Conclusion (3 John 13-14)
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them. (v13-14)
John chooses not to say more in this letter, preferring to speak in person soon. He closes with a blessing of peace, and sends greetings to Gaius from all the friends (believers) there with John.
Relevant Principles for Christians Today
While written in a specific context, 3 John provides relevant principles for Christians today, such as:
- Be hospitable: Open your home to support gospel ministry and build relationships with fellow believers (Heb 13:2).
- Faithfully use resources to advance God’s work, not just personal comforts (Matt 6:19-21).
- Avoid arrogance and self-promotion in church leadership (1 Pet 5:3).
- Remove leaders who create division, spread false teaching, or hinder ministry.
- Imitate and commend those who live righteously to encourage goodness in the church (Heb 10:24-25).
While dealing with troubling circumstances, John focuses on gospel priorities and righteous conduct. He promotes healthy patterns for hospitality, ministry support, and Christlike leadership still beneficial for churches today.
Conclusion
In summary, 3 John provides a short personal look at the contexts and characters influencing early church life. Though brief, it highlights the vital practice of hospitality in supporting gospel ministry. It also reveals tensions surrounding church leadership and conflicting responses to traveling preachers. John confronts domineering leadership while commending sacrificial service and hospitality. He stresses imitation of righteousness, warning against those who hinder gospel work. The principles in this short letter provide guidance for Christlike living and relationships in the church today.