The Book of Third John

The Good and The Bad

Introduction and 1-8

Howard BuckJuly 17, 2011

As mentioned 2 weeks ago2 John is actually the shortest book

in the NT while 3 John is the second shortest

Again making 2 John first and 3 John second… (ha ha)

This book is a logical follow-up toboth of the other letters

This one probablyProviding more clarity

to 2 JohnApparently there is still an issue

About who to let in yourHouse!!

In 2 John, the elder explains that we should not offer false teachers the hospitality of our home

In 3 John, we have a guy taking this commandment to an extreme and beyond what

John intends..

Probably written in that 90-95 AD window

No question of to whom it is intended as the intended recipient is clearly named:

Gaius

The people of the letter:The elder the writer 1Gaius the one the letter is addressed to 1 Brethren who delivered the report of Gaius to

John 3My children those led to Christ by John 4Travel/brethrenbore witness of Gaius & were rejected

by Diotrephes 5Travel/brethren who are strangers

also bearing witness of Gaius 5The church the place where the travelers reported

the walk of Gaius and where John is 6

The people of the letter continued:God/His as the standard of measure relating to

treatment of others And, as the standard of measure relating to salvation 6

Gentiles standard of measure of the travelers motives 7

Church as the recipient of the first/missing letter 9Diotrephes the source of the problem 9Demetrius probably the letter carrier 12All believers that have testified about

Demetrius 12Friends who greet members where John is 14Friends to be greeted members where Gaius is 14

3 John 1:1-14 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 

3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 

6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 

7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 

8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 

10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 

14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

So, what is the problem being addressed in this letter?…

Diotrephes is teaching that ANY of the traveling brethren are not to be received in their homes or

even in the church

What is the status of Gaius?… He is doing the right thing

Gaius Diotrephes

3 John 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Who is the writer?… An elder, probably John the apostle

Written to?.. Gaius

What does John mean by the “love in truth” statement?..

Gaius is a believer.And remember as we discussed in 2 John, the

“in truth” is the same as “in Christ”

3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just

as your soul prospers.

Is this a personal letter?… Yes

Do you think that John knows Gaius?... Probably based on the term beloved

What is John’s prayer for Gaius?...That his health and prosperity are of the same quality as

his spiritual condition!!!!!

How good is the soul (spiritual condition) of Gaius?... GREAT

Could our brothers in Christ pray the same for us?

If they did, how healthy would you be right now?

Is that maybe a bit scary??

If John prayed for your prosperity to be the same as your spiritual condition

How prosperous would you be:

In

Broke

On

Prosperous?

If he prayed that your physical health would be the same as your

spiritual condition

Would you be:

Slightly wounded?

Have just a little cold?

In need of a Doctor?

In need of emergency help?

Dying?

Dead?

Any chance his prayer would find you in perfect shape?

What is your spiritual condition right now?

3 John 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how

you are walking in truth.Who is doing the testifying about Gaius?..

brethren (believers)What is their standard for this testimony?…

God’s commandments (in truth)What did they use as a measurement?..

His walkDo you think these traveling brethren knew Gaius

before their visit?… Possibly but probably not

If that is the case, what does their comments say about the Christian character of Gaius?..

It is extraordinary!!!He believes the truth, understands the truth and

acts it out in his daily walk

If a believer from some other town came and lived in your house, what report would they carry

back to their church about you?

CHRISTIAN HOUSEGUEST CHECKLIST. PLEASE RATE YOUR HOST CHRISTIAN BROTHER IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS.

1-10, 10 BEING BEST.

1. TREATS OTHERS WELL 2. TREATS FAMILY WELL 3. SHOWS LOVE IN ALL THINGS 4. PUTS HOUSEGUEST FIRST IN ALL

THINGS 5. PUTS GOD BEFORE HOUSEGUEST 6. IS A GOOD ROLE MODEL 7. SEEKS GOD’S GLORY IN EVERY

ACTIVITY 8. IS KIND AND UNDERSTANDING 9. WOULD RECOMMEND THIS HOUSE TO

OTHERS 10. ETC, ETC, ETC.

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

Now, do you think John knew Gaius personally? Do you think that John led him to Christ?...

Sure, that is the reason for John’s reference of him (them) as his (child) children

What does walking in the truth mean?… Exercising your faith

3 John 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and

especially when they are strangers;

Again, the very personal reference belovedThe word when indicates that the travelling brethren are

both known and unknown by the beloved

What is acting faithfully?... Showing the love John described IN DETAIL in his first

letterIn what area is Gaius being faithful?...

For sure in all areas of his treatment of the visiting brethren..

3 John 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their

way in a manner worthy of God.

Not only did the travelers report to John but, they reported to the entire church of the walk of Gaius

measured by the love shown by Gaius

Again, Gaius walks in truth and adheres to the teaching of John:

1John 3:18My little children, let us not love in word or in

tongue, but in deed and in truth

How was Gaius treating the travelers?.. In the same way God would

What would you think that consisted of?… Food, clothing, shelter etc

Again, the question is how would missionaries report of our love, before the church?

Could they say that you have faithfully supported them?

Praying, offering financial aid, writing to them…

When was the last time we prayed for a missionary?

The last time we financially supported a missionary?

When was the last time we wrote to one?

When was the last time we were involved in ANY way with a missionary?

How then do we send them on their way?

In a manner worthy of God or in the way of the world which lies in the power of the evil one (1John 5:19)

3 John 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Who is the, the Name?...Jesus Christ (1John 5:1)

Why did the people choose to go out?… Because they sought to spread the gospel, the good

news of salvation

Was the spreading of the gospel more important to them then their personal comfort?..

Yes – no one will choose the life of a missionary without a true and deep love of God!

How comfortable are we in spreading the gospel?What does accepting nothing from the Gentiles

mean?… In the day, philosophers would travel the country spreading their teachings and theories for cash and expenses. They were in essence supported by the

Gentiles they taught

A measure of one teaching the true gospel is that they depended solely on the support of the sending church

and the churches along the way..

What has changed today?..Nothing

We have multitudes of teachers putting on seminars who are supported by the organizers

of the events And the true missionaries spreading the real gospel being solely supported by the church

3 John 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

These men went out for the sake of the Name and what does John believe we should do for them?…

support them

What does that mean?…Prayer, money etc.

When we do support them, what does that make us?.. Fellow workers.

Which means that by supporting them in the ways that they need support, we are helpers in the cause.

Remember, we are soldiers in a spiritual battle

As in any army, some are on the front lines fighting, while others are behind the lines providing the

necessary support to keep the troops in the battle!!!!!!

Again, the question is: what are we doing to keep the army fighting??

What do we leave with?1. Am I taking care of my soul as well as my

health?2. Am I treating my brethren well?3. Am I acting faithfully to them?

4. Am I supporting the Christian troops?