Sermon Tone Analysis

A Brief Intro to a Brief Letter

We are at the 64th book of the Bible.

This is 25 of 27 in the New Testament.

Some scholars and pastors believe 2 John and 3 John are twin letters.

Most likely they were really postcards, since they were written on piece of papyrus.

Today you might prefer to call them twin text messages, twin tweets.

Because of the brevity of this postcard, we will read the entire postcard.

Read the Letter

Statistics

Author: John

Date: 90 A.D.

Date: 90 A.D.

Key Verses: and Key Words: see below

Key Verses:

Key Words: Truth or true is used 7 Times

14 verses, 294 words

verses, 303 words and verses, 294 words

Similarities between 2 and 3 John

Let me first tell you how much these books look alike.

It will not take us a long time to cover 3rd John since it is just a postcard, and the twin of 2nd John.

Let me first tell you how much these books look alike.

When you study 3rd John, you will see some characteristics in common with 2nd John:

When you study 3rd John, you will see some characteristics in common with 2nd John:

Both postcards are from the elder, John.

1.

Both postcards are from the elder, John.

The recipient of each of these postcards is someone whom the elder loves in truth.

2. The recipient of each of these postcards is someone whom the elder loves in truth.

The relationship each recipient has with the elder causes great rejoicing in his life.

3. The relationship each recipient has with the elder causes great rejoicing in his life.

The children of these recipients are walking in the truth.

4. The children of these recipients are walking in the truth.

The elder has heard good reports of both recipients from other people.

5. The elder has heard good reports of both recipients from other people.

Both postcards also contain a warning about something.

6.

Both postcards also contain a warning about something.

In the conclusion of each postcard, the elder makes the same statement that he really wishes to see them face to face.

7.

In the conclusion of each postcard, the elder makes the same statement that he really wishes to see them face to face.

He has so much more he would love to say to them, but he will not do so with pen and ink.

He will wait until he actually sees them face to face.

In the Greek text, the literal meaning is mouth-to-mouth, close proximity.

He wants to be with them.

He has so much more he would love to say to them, but he will not do so with pen and ink.

He will wait until he actually sees them face to face.

In the Greek text, the literal meaning is mouth-to-mouth, close proximity.

8.

Each of these postcards ends with a greeting from someone else.

He wants to be with them.

Each of these postcards ends with a greeting from someone else.

What’s Different?

But the main difference is that in 2nd John, the elder is warning about supporting those people who have a ministry that teaches a false gospel.

They do not teach the truth about Jesus Christ.

But the main difference is that in 2nd John, the elder is warning about supporting those people who have a ministry that teaches a false gospel.

They do not teach the truth about Jesus Christ.

But in John’s twin postcard, 3rd John, he is writing to encourage us to support those who teach the truth about Jesus Christ.

So one is written to warn us not to support people who teach false gospel, but

But in 3rd John, he is writing to encourage us to support those who teach the truth about Jesus Christ.

So one is written to warn us not to support people who teach false gospel, but the other is written to a beloved man encouraging him to continue what he is already doing, which is supporting people who are teaching and preaching the true gospel.

the other is written to a beloved man encouraging him to continue what he is already doing, which is supporting people who are teaching and preaching the true gospel.

If someone asks you why 3rd John is in the Bible, you should say that we are encouraged to send on those who are sent out, just as Gaius was.

3rd John

This little postcard breaks down quite simply:

With that in mind, the theme of this little postcard is “Please Send on Those Sent Out.”

If someone asks you why 3rd John is in the Bible, you should say that we are encouraged to send on those who are sent out, just as Gaius was.

This little postcard breaks down quite simply:

The Introduction: Verses 1-4

Outline

The Introduction: Verses 1-4

The Body (John’s message): Verses 5-12

The Body (John’s message): Verses 5-12 The Conclusion: Verses 13-15

The Conclusion: Verses 13-15

Joy in Gaius walking in the truth

When this postcard opens up, you quickly realize that Gaius has a special relationship with the elder.

He calls him “beloved” three times in this little postcard.

He calls him one of his children who brings great rejoicing to him because he hears that as his child, he is walking in the truth.

You have to recognize the Apostle John as an elder statesman of the church, and he is writing to Gaius.

You get this picture that the elder believes he is a spiritual father to this young man.

That is the image he has.

There are two distinct possibilities of why the elder, John, would call Gaius his child and tell him there is no greater joy that can come to him than to know his child, Gaius, is walking in the truth.

The first is that spiritually, John may have played a part in his salvation.

The elder, John, may have been the very person who personally shared Christ with Gaius, and Gaius repented from a lifestyle of sin, and put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

There are two distinct possibilities of why the elder, John, would call Gaius his child and tell him there is no greater joy that can come to him than to know his child, Gaius, is walking in the truth.

The first is that spiritually, John may have played a part in his salvation.

The elder, John, may have been the very person who personally shared Christ with Gaius, and Gaius repented from a lifestyle of sin, and put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

The elder may have personally baptized him or witnessed his baptism.

The elder may have personally baptized him or witnessed his baptism.

But he saw him come to faith in Christ, and because he played a part in it, he felt like a spiritual father to him.

Remember that the Apostle Paul, on three different occasions, wrote to the church at Corinth, to the church at Galatia, and to the church at Philippi, and because of the role he played in their salvation, he looked at them as his children and they as their spiritual father.

But sometimes people come to know the Lord under the ministry of one pastor, but then come under the leadership of another pastor who plays such a critical role in their sanctification that they develop a spiritual bond that it is almost like a spiritual father and spiritual son relationship.

So the two possibilities are that John was either Gaius’ spiritual father because he personally led him to Christ, or he was the one influencing him in his growth in Christ.

It could have possibly been both.

But you need to recognize that this postcard isn’t just written to anyone.

It is written to a person who has a special unique relationship with the elder.

But he saw him come to faith in Christ, and because he played a part in it, he felt like a spiritual father to him.

So the two possibilities are that John was either Gaius’ spiritual father because he personally led him to Christ, or he was the one influencing him in his growth in Christ.

It could have possibly been both.

But you need to recognize that this postcard isn’t just written to anyone.

It is written to a person who has a special unique relationship with the elder.

I don’t know if you have ever had the privilege of sharing Jesus with someone who is in sin, and right before your very eyes, they turn from a lifestyle of sin, and put their faith and trust in Jesus.

You get to hug them for the first time as a newborn baby in Christ.

When you get that privilege, there is a special bond that takes place.

For you, the one that led them to Christ, it is as if you are their spiritual father.