3 John 1

General context

The letter runs to fourteen verses and concerns three named men. It is sent from the elder to the wellbeloved Gaius, with the wish that he prosper and be in health as his soul prospers. The writer says he rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth in Gaius, and that he has no greater joy than hearing that his children walk in truth. Gaius is commended for what he does for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of his charity before the church, and he is asked to bring them forward on their journey after a godly sort, because they went forth for the name's sake taking nothing of the Gentiles, so that those who receive such men become fellowhelpers to the truth. The tone changes. The writer says he wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive him, and if he comes he will remember what Diotrephes does: prating against him with malicious words, refusing to receive the brethren himself, forbidding those who would, and casting them out of the church. Gaius is told not to follow what is evil but what is good, since the one who does good is of God while the one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius is then named as having a good report of all men and of the truth itself, with the writer adding his own record and saying the readers know that record is true. The letter ends as the second one does, with many things to write but no wish to use ink and pen, a hope to see him shortly and speak face to face, peace, a greeting from friends, and a request to greet the friends by name.

Cited passages: 3 John 1:1, 3 John 1:2, 3 John 1:3, 3 John 1:4, 3 John 1:5, 3 John 1:6, 3 John 1:7, 3 John 1:8, 3 John 1:9, 3 John 1:10, 3 John 1:11, 3 John 1:12, 3 John 1:13, 3 John 1:14

3 John 1 (KJV)

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Historical context

The writer again calls himself "The elder" and gives no name. Three other men are named: Gaius, the addressee; Diotrephes, who "loveth to have the preeminence among them" and does not receive the writer; and Demetrius, who has a good report. The letter does not say what any of them does for a living, where they live, or how they are related to each other. It refers to an earlier letter, "I wrote unto the church", and does not say which church or what that letter contained. The charges against Diotrephes are conduct rather than teaching: refusing the writer, speaking malicious words, refusing the brethren, forbidding others and casting them out. No doctrinal dispute is named. The travelling brethren "went forth" for the name's sake "taking nothing of the Gentiles", which is why receiving them is being asked for. The writer says he may come and will then remember the deeds, without saying when. No scripture is quoted and the letter gives no date.

Cited passages: 3 John 1:1, 3 John 1:9, 3 John 1:10, 3 John 1:12, 3 John 1:7, 3 John 1:14

Literary context

The letter is organised around receiving people, and it holds up three men to make the point without stating it as a rule. Gaius receives strangers, Diotrephes receives nobody, "receiveth us not", and Demetrius is someone worth receiving. Verse 11 is the only general statement in the letter, and it is short enough to act as a hinge between the two portraits: good and evil, of God and not having seen God. The complaint about Diotrephes is made in a single long sentence that keeps adding clauses, not content therewith, and forbiddeth, and casteth out, so the offence grows as the sentence runs. Nothing is threatened beyond a visit and a memory. The ending runs parallel to the second letter, ink refused and a meeting hoped for, and the last words ask for greetings to be delivered individually, which is the same concern for particular people that the letter has been making its argument out of.

Cited passages: 3 John 1:5, 3 John 1:8, 3 John 1:9, 3 John 1:10, 3 John 1:11, 3 John 1:12, 3 John 1:13, 3 John 1:14

Key moments

1. A wish for health (3 John 1:2). The letter opens with a personal wish rather than an argument.
2. Walking in truth (3 John 1:4). The writer names hearing this as his greatest joy.
3. Taking nothing of the Gentiles (3 John 1:7). The travellers' refusal of outside support is the reason for support.
4. Diotrephes receives us not (3 John 1:9). A named man is said to refuse the writer and seek preeminence.
5. Casting them out (3 John 1:10). The complaint lists a chain of refusals and expulsions.
6. Demetrius well reported (3 John 1:12). A third man is commended by everyone and by the writer.
7. Greet the friends by name (3 John 1:14). The letter ends on individual greetings rather than a summary.

For reflection

The trouble in this letter is not what anyone teaches but who is let in and who is pushed out. How often does a conflict that looks doctrinal turn out to be about that instead?

People in this chapter

Also indexed here:

• Demetrius
• Diotrephes
• Gaius