3 John
June 26
Reading: 3 John
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
The Apostle John’s third letter is written to a man, Gaius. Again, the twin themes of love and truth show up in the first verse. This time, however, love and truth, or the lack, are displayed in specific people who John names.
The first person mentioned is the recipient, Gaius. (vss. 1-8) Gaius was a common Greek name in those times. We read of a Gaius in Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:14. The Gaius of 3 John may have been one of those. What we do know is that he was an effective leader in his church. He walked in the truth and was a faithful lover of others, particularly some travelling evangelists who had come to visit. He welcomed brothers in Christ who needed help as Jesus tells us to in Matthew 25:31-46.
The second person mentioned is Diotrephes, “who likes to put himself first.” (vss. 9-10) This is a dangerous man who slanders John, spreads falsehoods, and is the opposite of hospitable. He is neither truthful nor loving. Verse 11 indicates that, though he appears as part of the church, he is evil.
The third person mentioned is Demetrius, who “has received a good testimony from everyone.” (vss. 11-12) His actions are consistent with the truth and John also recommends him.
If we put all this together, we learn that it is important to evaluate people in the body of Christ, especially leaders and teachers. Do they demonstrate a commitment to the truth of God’s Word and to loving their brothers in Christ? Is a leader not teaching the truth? He needs to be corrected. If he will not respond to correction, he should be removed. Is a leader not loving the people in the church? Is he abusive, manipulative, or self-centered? If so, he must be corrected. If he will not respond to correction he should be removed.
The body of Christ ought to look like Christ, demonstrating both love and truth.