The book of 3 John completes the set of John's letters. The first letter was a doctrinal paper that was meant to circulate through a particular region of churches. In it, John set out tests for Christian fellowship, but also rebuked a segment of false teachers who had gone out from the church.
The second letter was John's appeal to one of the churches in that region, asking them to continue in the truth, love, and obedience. He also pleaded with them to reject the false teachers by giving them no greeting and no room to operate in the church.
The third letter, which we will read in a moment, was written to a man in one of those churches. He was a pillar figure in the church and financier of gospel-missionaries. John wanted to encourage him in his generosity.
This brief letter is one of only two personal epistles in the New Testament. 1-2 Timothy and Titus, though written to individuals, were always understood as guidelines for ministry written to the whole church. Only 3 John, written to a man named Gaius, and Philemon, were meant for one person.
But both letters are instructive for the church at large. Philemon's letter was from Paul. In it, Philemon was asked to forgive, so his letter became instructive on the radical nature of forgiveness. Gaius' letter, 3 John, encourages Gaius to continue his efforts to support regional traveling preachers, so it became instructive for the church on how and whom to support in gospel work.
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.
Here, we have John's address. He calls himself the elder, just like he'd done in 2 John (1:1). He prays for this letter's recipient, a man named Gaius, that his body and soul would be in good health (1-2).
We don't know who Gaius is -- it was a common name -- and he is likely not to be confused with other men of the same name whom Paul associated with during his ministry.
The letter continues:
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.
Here, John delays the typical pronouncement of peace and instead saves it for the end of the letter. Instead, John reports the rejoicing which came to him when some brothers, traveling gospel preachers, brought news about Gaius and the fact he was walking in the truth (3-4).
With the backdrop of 1-2 John, this helps us know that Gaius was on the right team, an opponent to all the false teachers who had left the church.
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.
Here, John celebrates the faithful thing Gaius had done in helping these traveling brothers (5). Even though they were strangers to Gaius, he'd still helped them, and they testified to John and the whole church about his love (5-6).
So Gaius was a man with a reputation as a gospel supporter. He was not a preacher himself, but he funded many of them.
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.
These brothers Gaius had supported had gone out for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ (7). The Gentiles -- or nations -- were the evangelistic target, so these missionaries would not look to them for financial support (7). And since the nations wouldn't financially support the missionaries, someone had to, so John said we ought to support people like these (8).
Unfortunately, though, John had received opposition to his goal of sending qualified gospel workers throughout that region. He wrote:
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.
A man named Diotrephes got in the way of John's mission. He formed a blockade of sorts, both of the letter John had written, and of John's authority (10). He talked wicked nonsense against John and his teachings (10). But he also blocked these missionaries by refusing to welcome the brothers, and stopping those who wanted to by putting them out of the church (10).
Diotrephes was not a good man, unworthy of imitation (11). Clearly, his actions betrayed the fact he had not seen God, because no one who's encountered God would behave like he did (11).
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.
So Diotrephes got in the way of gospel workers, but Demetrius was a gospel worker (12). He had a good testimony from everyone, so he was worthy of Gaius' support (12).
John ends the letter in a way similar to 2 John, telling Gaius he had more to say, but would rather say it face to face than with pen and ink (14, 13).
The People Involved
- John: The apostle and elder, John told the church in 2 John to make no room for traveling false teachers. But with this letter, John wants the church to support faithful gospel workers.
- Gaius: He was a financier, a man who could make a dent in eternity with the means at his disposal in the here and now.
- Brothers: Traveling gospel workers who were worthy of support, but who also brought a good report to John.
- Diotrephes: A wicked man who got in the way of Christ's kingdom, seeking to displace Jesus by putting himself on the throne. He got in the way of gospel messengers.
- Demetrius: A good missionary worthy of support.
- The church: Witnessed this battle taking place out in the gospel frontier.
The Reasons For Support
- 1 - They were faithful to Christ (7. They have gone out for the sake of the name)
- 2 - They were not supported by the nations they were called to reach (7. accepting nothing from the Gentiles)
- 3 - We become coworkers with them through support (8. that we may be fellow workers for the truth)
Ways To Support
- Finances and other forms of generosity
- Hospitality
- Prayers
- Friendliness
- Join them!