3 John 1
1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
This short letter is written by someone identifying themselves as The Elder. The church, during this period of writing (between 85 and 95 AD), easily identified this as John. But why would they have referred to John as Elder?
By this time, John was quite old and well-known. He had outlived all of the other apostles and was well known in Jerusalem. It is possible that he was revered by practicing Christians. Later in his mission he would be arrested by the Roman officials and sent to the island of Patmos. There he would draft the ultimate book of eschatology, Revelation.
Unlike 2 John, John addresses this letter to his friend Gaius. This may or may not be the same person mentioned in Paul’s writings (Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, 1 Corinthians 1:14 ad Romans 16:23).
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Si vales, bene est; ego valeo was a very common phrase during this time period, and it is the one John uses. It literally means “If you are well, it is good; I am well.” By using this common phrase, it is sometime viewed that John is preaching prosperity here. This is not true. John is wishing health, both physically and spiritually, to his friend.
John’s joy comes not from the material wealth of circumstances of Gaius, but from the reports he receives: that he is walking in faithfulness to the truth. Paul draws this distinction in Romans 2:13: God desires us not only to hear the word, but to obey the word.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
Gaius’ hospitality is praised by John. This is an outward display of an inward condition. When we are hospitable, we are showing love to others. Love is the foundation of our Christian faith. If there is no love, then it has little meaning (1 Corinthians 13).
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
The rebuking of Diotrephes may seem hypocritical. But John is working well within the means of his authority (Romans 16:17, 2 Timothy 4:14-15). As a Christian, our duty to rebuke those who cause division in the church. The rebuking must be careful, however, for we cannot judge someone by a standard we aren’t willing to be judged by (Matthew 7:1-2). John is rebuking his inhospitable spirit, his maligning nature and his pride. These are all characteristics that John can call out and stay in step with his Christian authority.
12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Diotrephes’ example is contrasted with the good example of Demetrius. His example is so good that he is well known by all, and the truth itself bears witness to him. And since John’s testimony is true, and they even speak well of him, then Demetrius is walking in the truth.
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
John’s final salutation is simple and direct: he wants to see them in person and talk together, share experiences, teach and learn from each other.
1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
This short letter is written by someone identifying themselves as The Elder. The church, during this period of writing (between 85 and 95 AD), easily identified this as John. But why would they have referred to John as Elder?
By this time, John was quite old and well-known. He had outlived all of the other apostles and was well known in Jerusalem. It is possible that he was revered by practicing Christians. Later in his mission he would be arrested by the Roman officials and sent to the island of Patmos. There he would draft the ultimate book of eschatology, Revelation.
Unlike 2 John, John addresses this letter to his friend Gaius. This may or may not be the same person mentioned in Paul’s writings (Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, 1 Corinthians 1:14 ad Romans 16:23).
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Si vales, bene est; ego valeo was a very common phrase during this time period, and it is the one John uses. It literally means “If you are well, it is good; I am well.” By using this common phrase, it is sometime viewed that John is preaching prosperity here. This is not true. John is wishing health, both physically and spiritually, to his friend.
John’s joy comes not from the material wealth of circumstances of Gaius, but from the reports he receives: that he is walking in faithfulness to the truth. Paul draws this distinction in Romans 2:13: God desires us not only to hear the word, but to obey the word.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
Gaius’ hospitality is praised by John. This is an outward display of an inward condition. When we are hospitable, we are showing love to others. Love is the foundation of our Christian faith. If there is no love, then it has little meaning (1 Corinthians 13).
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
The rebuking of Diotrephes may seem hypocritical. But John is working well within the means of his authority (Romans 16:17, 2 Timothy 4:14-15). As a Christian, our duty to rebuke those who cause division in the church. The rebuking must be careful, however, for we cannot judge someone by a standard we aren’t willing to be judged by (Matthew 7:1-2). John is rebuking his inhospitable spirit, his maligning nature and his pride. These are all characteristics that John can call out and stay in step with his Christian authority.
12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Diotrephes’ example is contrasted with the good example of Demetrius. His example is so good that he is well known by all, and the truth itself bears witness to him. And since John’s testimony is true, and they even speak well of him, then Demetrius is walking in the truth.
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
John’s final salutation is simple and direct: he wants to see them in person and talk together, share experiences, teach and learn from each other.