3 John
Overview. Brief pastoral letter. Considered appendices. In 1 Jn. a nature that loves, in 2 and 3 Jn it loves “in the truth”. Both connect with “receiving”. In 2 Jn “receive not”. In 3 Jn “receive”, positive aspect. A sister, prone to nurture, vs a brother, prone to harsh. Gaius dear to John. Walked in truth, good state of soul. Commended for receiving, hospitality. Challenges: physical health, in assembly with dictator. John writes to encourage, footsteps for faith, encouraged fellowship with Dimetrius.
Greeting (v.1)
v.1 Greeting. Style and content indicate John writer. Writes as an elder, a seasoned saint, a pastoral ministry. Divine love exists in God’s family. Love “in truth”; love proven genuine by obedience (1 Jn 5:1-3). True love for brethren based on love for God, the begetter. If in disobedience to truth, not divine love.
Commendation of Gaius and Encouragement (vv.2-8)
v.2 Prospering in Health and Soul. Healthy spiritually, not medically. Cannot blame state of soul on environment. Maintained soul in communion, self-judgment, word abiding in him. John desired his body prosper in proportion. Would we want? Spiritual health more important.
v.3 Holding and Walking in Truth. (1) “Held” the truth fast, precious, taken seriously. (2) “walked” in it, a practical manifestation, lived out. Not hypocritical. Not merely intellectual. Seen by others (perhaps locals in Ephesus?) or visitors. A source of joy.
v.4 No Greater Joy. Profound statement. Testament to the divine love of elder for spiritual children. Not a self-interested joy, a higher thing to desire God’s rights granted by those we love. When truth recognized and practiced, the love follows is wonderful. Christ the truth (John 14:6), perfectly revealed truth about God, all things brought into light. He who walks in truth is judged by measure of God revealed by Christ. Positionally “in him that is true” (1 John 5:20), practically walking in the truth.
vv.5-7 Love through Hospitality. Hospitality toward visiting brethren. “The brethren” and “the strangers” are same people. Previously unknown. If the Gaius in Rom. 16:23, then opened home to Paul’s amanuensis. A major way love shown. Might entertain angels (Heb. 13:2 see Luke 24:29). The household gets blessed (e.g. Obededom). Love of God in Gaius. Witnessed love before all in assembly. In v.7 additional details. Great distance away. Travelling expensive (Prov. 6:10-11; 24:33-34). “For the name”; serving the Lord as called by Him. Took no financial support. Truth remains a gift; not for profit. Still blessed thing to support laborers. Set forward, thereby having fellowship (v.8). “Worthily of God” conveys approval of God.
v.8 Receiving Fellow-Workers. General exhortation for all believers: receive when genuine. Have fellowship in their labor and “with the truth”.
Diotrephes, the Terrible Condition, His Judgment (vv.9-10)
vv.9-10 Diotrephes. John had written, Diotrephes refused. Loved the preeminence, not the brethren as Gaius. One should have it (Col. 1:18). He rejected God-given authority, excommunicated those who would (v.10). Total contrast to Gaius. Former refused, latter received. The truth itself became test for both. A positive antagonist. Did not receive apostles’ witness (1 Jn. 4:6), not manifest eternal life, love brethren. Cannot assume a believer. Tares among wheat. Wolves entering the flock. How resolved? Not governmentally struck (1 Cor. 11:30), allowed to go on. Not start a movement to overthrow. If John came, with apostolic authority (1 Cor. 4:21). Not “when” but “if”. Must be prepared to continue while things not right in assembly. Duty to separate (2 Tim. 2:19), judge evil (1 Cor. 5:12), but 3 John shows believer can continue committing judgment to Christ (Heb. 3:6).
Instructions to Gaius: Footsteps for Faith in a Dark Day (vv.11-12)
v.11 Do Good and Not Evil. Danger of evil affecting us (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13). Two ways: (1) normalize bad behavior, flesh tempted, (2) frustrated and respond with evil. Either “overcome by evil” (Rom. 12:21). Instead, overcome evil with good. Abstract truth: doing good characterizes the family, evil the unbeliever.
v.12 Fellowship. Individual faithfulness, yet companions encourage. Power to walk alone, yet with fellowship. Tenderly, John encourages fellowship. Demetrius four witnesses. (1) “all”, public testimony, include Diotrephes! Example Daniel (Rom. 12:20). (2) “the truth itself”, conduct in line with scripture. (3) apostles, this letter an example. (4) Gaius’ observations.
Conclusion (vv.13-14)
vv.13-14 Conclusion. Much better face-to-face. In person, a bond of fellowship strengthened. Desired peace, given circumstances. Greetings important, including names. A mark of genuineness.