3 John

Purpose & theme

Third John is the shortest book in the Bible, a brief personal letter of just fourteen verses written by the aged apostle John — again calling himself “the elder” — to a beloved individual named Gaius. Where 2 John warned a church not to welcome false teachers, 3 John encourages a faithful believer to welcome true ones, addressing the flip side of Christian hospitality. Its occasion is a specific situation involving three men: Gaius, whom John commends for his faithful support of traveling missionaries; Diotrephes, a domineering church leader who refused such hospitality and opposed John’s authority; and Demetrius, a man of good reputation whom John commends. Through these three figures, the letter teaches enduring lessons about supporting gospel work, resisting pride and love of preeminence, and imitating good rather than evil.

The letter’s warmth centers on Gaius, whom John loves “in truth” and for whom he prays that all may go well with him, as his soul goes well. Gaius is walking in the truth — John’s greatest joy is “to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (v. 4) — and showing that truth in action by his faithful care for the traveling brothers, “for the sake of the name,” who “have gone out... accepting nothing from the Gentiles” (vv. 5-8). Such believers, John says, become “fellow workers for the truth” by supporting those who carry the gospel. Against this shining example stands Diotrephes, “who likes to put himself first,” who refuses to welcome the missionaries, talks wickedly against John, and even puts out of the church those who would receive them — a sobering picture of how pride and love of power can corrupt even Christian leadership. John’s counsel is simple and timeless: “Do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God” (v. 11). Third John thus commends generous, truth-driven hospitality and the humble support of gospel work, while warning against the self-exalting spirit that opposes it.