Three Men of Third John(1-14)

Introduction

It is not unusual for people to wonder...

What was the early church like?

We know a lot about its early leaders, such as apostles Paul and Peter; but what about the

average Christians themselves?

Were they more spiritual than Christians today? Did they experience the kind of problems seen

so often in churches today?

Several books of the New Testament reflect the life of the early church, and this is especially true of the Third Epistle of John...

It is a private letter, between the apostle John and a Christian named Gaius

It provides portraits of three different men, and in so doing gives us a glimpse of 1st century

life in a local church

When one examines the portraits found in this letter, we learn that there is not much difference between people back then, and in the church today

Therefore this epistle is very relevant, though we may live 1900 years later. In this lesson, we shall...

a. b. c. Consider some background material concerning the epistle

Notice the difference between the three men described in the letter

Summarize with some lessons that can be gleaned from this book

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THE AUTHOR - “THE ELDER”...

1. As with 2 John, the “elder” is believed by most conservative scholars to be the apostle John

2. The internal evidence...

a. The three epistles of John utilize much the same language and ideas

b. All bear similarity to concepts and language to the Gospel of John

c. The term “elder” would be a fitting description of John as the author, writing in his old age

3. The external evidence is slight, but Dionysius of Alexandria, living in the third century CE, credits John with being the author

RECIPIENT - “THE BELOVED GAIUS”...

1. Gaius was a common Roman name, and appears five times in the New Testament -

Ac 19:29; 20:4; Ro 16:23; 1 Co 1:14; 3 Jn 1

Acts 19:29 ESV

29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

Acts 20:4 ESV

4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Romans 16:23 ESV

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

1 Corinthians 1:14 ESV

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

3 John 1 ESV

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2. 3. Whether he is one of those mentioned by Luke or Paul cannot be determined

He is evidently a dear friend of John, and known for his hospitality (more below)

C. PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING...

1. Ephesus is usually suggested as the location from which John wrote this epistle, as he was

known to live there in the later years of his life

2. Estimation of the date of writing varies widely, some placing it before the destruction of

Jerusalem (70 CE), most however placing it around 90-95 CE

D. PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE...

1. To confirm that Gaius did right in supporting those teachers who came his way, encouraging

him to continue this hospitality - 3 Jn 5-8

3 John 5–8 ESV

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

2. To express his condemnation of Diotrephes for rejecting John and others whom he should

had received - 3 Jn 9-10

3 John 9–10 ESV

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

3. To encourage Gaius to imitate what is good, commending Demetrius as a good example

- 3 Jn 11-12

3 John 11–12 ESV

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

E. BRIEF OUTLINE...

1. Greetings, with an expression of great joy (1-4)

2. The confirmation of Gaius (5-8)

3. The condemnation of Diotrephes (9-10)

4. The commendation of Demetrius (11-12)

4. Concluding remarks (13-14)

F. A COMPARISON BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD JOHN...

1. Both letters focus on the words “love” and “truth” - cf. 2 Jn 1; 3 Jn 1

2 John 1 ESV

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

3 John 1 ESV

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2. But notice this difference:

a. In 2nd John, love is enjoined, but there is a warning against tolerating those who

denied the truth

b. In 3rd John, love is praised, and there is commendation for supporting those who

proclaimed the truth

3. Another comparison:

a. 2nd John condemns the departure from the truth which is known as “heresy”

b. 3rd John condemns the lack of love among Christians which results in “schism”

-- (These comparisons are from Charles R. Erdman’s commentary)

[With this brief background to the epistle, let’s take a closer look at...]

II. THE THREE MEN OF THIRD JOHN

GAIUS -- A MAN WHOM JOHN WOULD HAVE PROSPER... (1-8)

1. A dear friend of John, whom he prayed would prosper physically as well as he did

spiritually - 3 Jn 1-2

3 John 1–2 ESV

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

2. John so loved and prayed for Gaius, because he was a man who...

a. Had a good reputation - 3 Jn 3

3 John 3 (ESV)

3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, . . .

b. Walked in the truth - 3 Jn 3

3 John 3 (ESV)

. . . as indeed you are walking in the truth.

c. Gave John great joy when hearing of his faithfulness - 3 Jn 4

3 John 4 ESV

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

d. Was hospitable toward all - 3 Jn 5-6

3 John 5–6 ESV

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

e. Was encouraged to continue supporting gospel preachers - 3 Jn 6b-8

DIOTREPHES -- A MAN WHO WOULD BE PREEMINENT... (9-11)

1. A description of Diotrephes’ character...

2. a. b. c. d. Self-promoter -- he strove to be first - 3 Jn 9

3 John 9 ESV

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Insubordinate -- he would not receive the [authority of] apostles - 3 Jn 9

3 John 9 ESV

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Slanderous -- He spoke nonsense, and slandered - 3 Jn 10

3 John 10 ESV

10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Vindictive -- He would not receive certain brethren, and cast out other brethren - 3 Jn 10

3 John 10 ESV

10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Diotrephes’ character serves as a warning: “he who does evil has not seen God” - 3 Jn 11

3 John 11 ESV

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

DEMETRIUS -- A MAN WHO WOULD BE A PATTERN... (11-12)

1. 2. John encourages Gaius to imitate what is good, for he who does good is of God - 3 Jn 11

3 John 11 ESV

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Demetrius appears to be offered as a pattern for Gaius, for Demetrius had a good report...

- 3 Jn 12

3 John 12 ESV

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

a. From all the brethren

b. From the truth itself (“Demetrius lived according to the mandates of God’s Word so

that his life showed clear evidence of the truth” - Kistemaker

From John and the Apostles

[Thus we have these pen portraits of three men preserved in this letter, giving us some insight into the

life of the early church. There were some good men (Gaius, Demetrius), but sadly there some bad as

well (Diotrephes). Not much different today, is it? That being the case, then perhaps we should

remember these...]

LESSONS FROM THIRD JOHN

CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE...

1. 2. 3. We may have to serve in the face of opposition from other brethren

Will we allow this to effect our service?

Will we allow this to effect our salvation?

CHRISTIANS OFTEN IMITATE OTHER CHRISTIANS...

1. John says to imitate what is good for two reasons:

a. Those who do good are of God

b. Those who do evil do not know God

2. 3. What example are we setting in the local church? Who are we imitating?

Gaius had the example of Diotrephes and Demetrius. Who do you suppose he would seek

to imitate?

CHRISTIANS OFTEN ALLOW THE “SPIRIT OF DIOTREPHES” TO REIGN...

1. Diotrephes was successful because some of the members...

a. Allowed Diotrephes to dominate

b. Would not take a stand for the truth

c. Would not support those who took a stand for the truth

2. Diotrephes was successful because there was a certain climate of complacency and

cowardice within the local church

3. Note: That Diotrephes was able to get away with his domination strongly suggests to me

that Gaius and Diotrephes were not members of the same congregation, but in different

congregations

CONCLUSION

Note: We will consider some more truths that can be gleaned from this epistle in the next couple of lessons

But I hope that this introduction to this epistle and a brief look at “The Three Men Of Third

John” will stimulate our thinking...

a. b. What kind of example are we setting?

If John had written a letter in which your name was mentioned, what would he have said about

you?

1) Would he have prayed for your prosperity?

2) Would he have condemned your desire for prominence?

3) Or would he have set you up as a pattern for others to follow?

c. If we will but “walk in the truth” like Gaius, we will have a good “testimony” from all like

Demetrius!

A special thanks to Chris Reeves ([e-mail]) and his Expandable Outlines #37

(Three Men Of Third John), from which I borrowed heavily in preparing this outline.