3 John 13-14-Final Greetings From John (Doctrinal Bible Church in Huntsville, Alabama)

Doctrinal Bible Church

Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom

Sunday May 14, 2023

Third John: Third John 13-14-John’s Final Greetings

Lesson # 9

Verses 13-14 contain the final greetings of the epistle.

3 John 13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. (NIV84)

3 John 13 I was about to communicate to you in writing many other subjects but at the present time I by no means want to with pen and ink. (Pastor’s translation)

3 John 13 echoes the first statement in 2 John 12.

With the former, the apostle John is communicating to Gaius his total unwillingness to communicate in writing many other subjects which are in addition to the ones he is communicating in this epistle.

So after encouraging Gaius to continue practicing hospitality with regards to the itinerant communicators of the truth, John decided that other subjects would be better addressed in a face to face manner.

Undoubtedly, the issue with Diotrephes needed to be addressed swiftly and decisively, thus John was planning a trip to visit this man.

During this visit he could also see Gaius.

Thus, John puts off writing on more subjects with Gaius since he plans to see him anyway after dealing with Diotrephes.

What were these other subjects he wanted to communicate in face to face manner rather than by writing?

The contents of 1 John give us a good idea as to what John was planning to teach Gaius.

Remember, historically speaking 1 John was written after 2 and 3 John.

3 John 13 indicates that John was planning on making a personal visit to Gaius’ church in the near future.

More than likely, this trip would coincide with the trip to see Diotrephes and his church.

3 John 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. (NIV84)

3 John 14 Instead, I am absolutely certain and confidently expect to see you very soon, that is, to speak face to face. May peace continue to exist in you. The friends give their regards to you. Please, you yourself give regards to the friends individually. (Pastor’s translation)

Instead of writing to Gaius with regards to various other subjects, John informs Gaius that he is absolutely certain and confidently expects to visit him very soon in order to speak with him face to face with regards to these subjects.

When John says he will speak to Gaius to face to face, this would involve not only speaking with him regards to the situation with Diotrephes but it would also include teaching him and the rest of the church the Word of God.

The apostle desired to communicate various doctrinal subjects to Gaius which more than likely appear in the contents of the First John.

Also, speaking with Gaius face to face would involve the companionship aspect of Christian fellowship.

John closes this tiny epistle by communicating a Spirit inspired desire that the peace of God would continue to exist in Gaius and this was to encourage him.

This peace would continue to be produced in Gaius when he continued to obey John’s instructions to support itinerant communicators of the gospel who the apostle approved of.

This epistle was designed to encourage Gaius to continue to follow his instructions regarding these traveling teachers and evangelists and to warn him about Diotrephes.

Thus, if Gaius responded in obedience to the contents of this epistle which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit would continue to produce peace in him.

Then, John passes along to Gaius greetings from those who John was visiting.

The term “friends” speaks of Christian fellowship.

These Christians John was staying with were related to Gaius and the apostle through regeneration and they shared a common relationship with the triune God.

It also speaks of the fact that these Christians were obedient to John’s apostolic teaching with regards to the support of the itinerant communicators of the gospel.

So these Christians were obedient Christians which stands in stark contrast to Diotrephes who was disobedient.

Thus, these Christians were in agreement with John, which would encourage Gaius and his congregation and others following Gaius’ example, that they were not alone.

Zane Hodges remarks, “The use of the term ‘friends’ twice in these closing statements is perhaps one final reminder to Gaius that Christians in every place are or should be a network of friends who are ready to help one another whenever a need arises. It is part of the genius of Christianity that one can meet people whom he has never seen before, in places far from home, and discover through a shared faith an immediate bond of friendship.

The apostle John makes a final request of Gaius.

He asks that Gaius to pass along his regards to the Christians, who like Gaius, were obedient to his apostolic teaching with reference to the itinerant communicators of the gospel.

So we can see that John considered his friends to be those who were obedient to his apostolic teaching, however, Diotrephes was not a friend.

He was a brother in Christ but not a friend because of his disobedience.

This was not a personal problem that John had with Diotrephes since disobedience to his apostolic teaching constituted disobedience to the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father and John’s instructions to support itinerant teachers and evangelists and their families was the Father’s will.

The Spirit communicated the Father’s will through John’s teaching.

The support of these traveling teachers and evangelists and their families would be in obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ’s command to love one another.

Thus, Diotrephes’ disobedience to his apostolic teaching was in fact opposition to the Father’s will and in disobedience to the Lord Jesus Christ’s command to love one another and in disobedience to the Holy Spirit who communicated the Father’s will through John’s ministry.

Those whom John’s calls friends were obedient to the Father’s will, the Lord’s command to love one another and the Spirit’s voice who was speaking through the apostle John.

The term “friends” thus indicates that these Christians were experiencing fellowship not only with John but also the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.