Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

We are looking once again at John’s third epistle

Please take God’s Word and turn to 3 John

Today we are looking at the third man mentioned in this letter

His name is Demetrius

He is mentioned in verse 12

We are also considering the final verses in verses 13-15

John says…

How important is a good testimony?

I’m not talking about the one you have about your coming to Christ

I’m talking about what others say about you?

John tells us that Demetrius “has received a good testimony”

This is the opposite of Diotrephes

What others said about him was not good

He loved to be first

He didn’t accept what John said when he sent a letter to the church

He unjustly accused John and his colleagues with wicked words

And he did not receive the brethren but put those who did out of the church

John said what he was doing was pure “evil” (v.11)

John also didn’t want anyone imitating his evil behavior

Demetrius, on the other hand, was “good” and demonstrated he was “of God” (v.11)

The Proverbs mentions how important a good name is

In fact, it says it is “more desired than great wealth” (Prov.22:1)

Did you hear that?

A good name is better than all the money in the world!

Now before I say more, I need to tell you that I am not literally talking about your name or my name

I am talking about what your name implies

When people hear your name mentioned, what do they immediately think about you?

A good name is talking about your reputation and your character

It identifies who you are from a moral and ethical standpoint

Essentially it is what you are all about

Solomon further added in Ecclesiastes 7:1 that “a good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth”

In the words of Rabbi Simon who said...

Rabbi Simon said, “There are three crowns: the crown of [the study of] the Law, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty, but the crown of a good name surpasses them all” (Mishnah Avoth 4.13).

Just like Proverbs 22:1, it is greater than all the wealth in the world

So your name has reference to your character and reputation

Someone said, “Good character = good name; bad character = bad name” (https://www.preaching.com/common-lectionary/the-value-of-a-good-name)

All of us remember Jacob

The Bible tells us his name meant “supplanter” or “deceiver”

His name fit his character well because in the beginning he was a trickster (Gen.27)

He tricked Esau out of his birth right and deceived his father out of Esau’s blessing

But God later changed him and renamed him Israel because he had “striven with God and with men, and [had] prevailed” (Gen.32:22-32)

Another name we all know is “Judas”

What does his name mean?

No, not traitor but “praised, let Him (God) be praised”

It comes from the Hebrew word yada which means “to praise”

But there was no praise from his heart or lips

It was rather deceit, deception, lies, and hate, for he was a traitor to the Lord Jesus betraying Him with just “thirty pieces of silver.”

The thirty pieces of silver is mentioned in Matthew 26:15, Judas asked, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?”

And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.”

Thomas Shepherd says “The parallel passage in Zechariah (11:12, 13) appears to point, however, to shekels [which] was equivalent to four drachma, or about sixty cents” (Westminster Bible Dictionary)

Lenski agrees and says, the “30 shekels, or 60 drachmas or denarii, [would be] about $10.”

John MacArthur says...

The Jews of Jesus’ day who offered that amount were saying He was worth no more than a common slave.

Albert Barnes says this sum was fixed...

to show their contempt of Jesus, and that they regarded him as of little value.

You can see from these two examples, that names are important because they are attached to reputation and character

On the other hand, the Greek word dokeo, which is translated “an opinion” refers to “someone or something” [and] was used as a term of great esteem or regard (Chandler)

This was used to speak of Gamaliel in Acts 5:34, “But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.”

It was also used of the Jerusalem apostles in Galatians 2:2, “It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.”

It was also used to speak of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:29, “Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;”

We get the idea of a good reputation also from verse 11 where John says, “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.”

What others think can be important

It can affect your livelihood

It can affect where you live

It can also affect your ability to lead the church

1 Timothy 3:7 says elders “must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

It can also affect our decision when including others in a ministry other than pastoral

Before Timothy became the pastor at Ephesus, Acts 16:2, said Timothy was “well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.”

As we begin our look at 3 John 12, we hear John mention 3 testimonies in this verse

All three have to do with a good name or reputation

John said they came from others, from the truth, and from John and his colleagues about Demetrius

Let’s notice the first testimony about Demetrius

John says...

LESSON

I.

He Has Received a Good Testimony From Others (v.12a)

“Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone”

Like Gaius, Demetrius’ reputation was well known in the region.

The word “testimony” (martureo, perf.pass.ind.)

generally means “to testify” (Mounce) or “to bear witness” (BDAG), It also means “to speak well of” (Louw-Nida).

It carries that meaning here with the thought of being “approvingly testified of” (BWS)

When people spoke Demetrius’ name, they spoke well of him

But what made Demetrius receive such a good testimony from others?

He was a godly man and “an example of one [who was] loyal to the gospel and [one] who does good” (LCC NT) Because of this, he “can be followed with confidence” (WBC Vol.51)

The verb “well spoken” (memarturētai) is in the perfect tense and “implies that the testimony to Demetrius had been given over a period of time, and it was still effective.”

As a preacher, he fulfilled what 1 Timothy 3:7 said: “And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Before we look further at Demetrius, let’s ask a second question:

What makes a good reputation?

How does one get a good reputation?

First...

It is based on integrity

This is being blameless and upright in heart

The basic meaning of “integrity” in the OT is “soundness of character and adherence to moral principle,” i.e., uprightness and honesty (ISBC), “sincerity, purity of heart and purity of motive” (NNIBD), “upright in character” (PDE)

When you hear the phrase “to walk in integrity,” it is indicating an habitual manner of life” (ISBC) that is upright, honest, pure and sincere

Listen to what...

God said to Satan about Job in Job 2:3, “...“Have you considered My servant Job?

For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil.

And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.””