3 John Simplified

Author & Audience

The Author of this Letter is the Same as the Previous Letter

And We have Good Reason to Believe that is the Apostle John

The Recipient is a Man Named Gaius

He May have Been a Leader in One of the House Churches…

in or Around the City of Ephesus

Purpose

3 John is a Personal Letter that Revolves Around 3 People

Gaius - The Recipient

Diotrephes - A Trouble-Making Brother

Demetrius - The Deliverer of the Letter

Gaius Showed Hospitality to and Helped Support Traveling Teachers

Diotrephes on the Other Hand Did Not

And He Even Excommunicated Those Who Did

The Purpose of the Letter was to:

Commend and Encourage Gaius to Keep Showing Hospitality

Encourage Gaius to Not Imitate Diotrephes

Read 3 John

3 John 1–4 (NASB95)

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

John Loves Gaius

John Prays that Things will Go Well for Gaius

Others have Told John that Gaius Walks/Lives in the Truth

He’s Faithful to Jesus

Nothing Brings John Greater Joy…

Than to Hear of the Faithfulness of Those He Led to Jesus

It’s Obvious that Gaius is a Great Man of Faith Whom John Loves

3 John 5–8 (NASB95)

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Gaius has a Reputation for Showing Hospitality to Traveling Teachers

John Asks Him to “Send Them on Their Way in a Manner Worthy of God”

That is, to Support Them By Meeting Their Needs Until They Leave

Providing Lodging, Food, and Financial Support

Hospitality was Crucial for Christian Missionaries in the 1st Century

They Needed Believers to Help/Support Them

Jesus Told His Disciples This Before Sending Them Out to Preach

Matthew 10:9–11 (NASB95)

9 “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. 11 “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

(Put 3 John 5-8 Back Up)

These Missionary Teachers are Travelling for the Sake of “the Name”

This was a Way of Referring to Jesus

They Were Travelling and Preaching the Gospel for Jesus’ Sake

And They Accepted No Help From Unbelievers

John Tells Gaius that We Should Help Such Men

They Need Our Support…

And When We Help, We Become Fellow Workers/Helpers…

In the Spreading of the Gospel

3 John 9–11 (NASB95)

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 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.

Diotrephes Like to Be in Charge of the Church

He is a Usurper of Authority

John Wrote to that Church, But Diotrephes Refuses to Listen

If John Comes to Visit that House Church…

He’s Going to Call Out Diotrephes…

For the Wicked Things He is Doing and Saying

And for Refusing to Show Hospitality to the Travelling Teachers

Even Going as Far as Excommunicating…

Those in the Church Who Want to Show Hospitality to Them

John Tells Gaius Not to Imitate this Evil Man…

But to Continue Doing What is Good

Those Who Do Good Belong to God

The Letter Ends with John Commending Demetrius

3 John 12–15 (NASB95)

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Application

There are Good Lessons in this Letter

Lessons Such as:

Use Your Means to Support the Spreading of the Gospel

Show Hospitality and Care for the Needs of Siblings in Christ

Be Humble and Don’t Usurp Authority Over a Congregation

Walk in the Truth and Love One Another Like Gaius

But I Want Us to Think About John’s Prayer for Gaius

3 John 2 (NASB95)

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

He Prayed for Gaius’ Life and Health to Prosper…

To the Same Extent that His Soul Prospers

“May Your Wealth and Health Be as Great as Your Walk with Jesus”

Would You Want Someone Saying that Prayer for You?

John Meant it as a Blessing…

Because He Knew Gaius Walked Very Closely with Jesus

But What About You?

Would that Prayer Be a Wonderful Blessing to You…

Or a Horrible Curse?

If Your Bank Account Matched Your Faithfulness to Jesus…

Would You Be Luxuriously Rich or Completely Broke?

If Your Health Matched Your Faithfulness to Jesus…

Would You Be in Perfect Health or On Your Death Bed?

May We All Live in Such a Way that We could Joyfully Say this Prayer for One Another