Introduction to 3 John

A major concern of 3 John, like 2 John, is hospitality. This time, instead of discouraging hospitality to false teachers (2 John 10), John wants to encourage hospitality for traveling missionaries who speak the truth (3 John 8). John contrasts one man’s inhospitable actions with another’s faithfulness—and in the process, John demonstrates the need for godly leadership like his own.

Background

Third John, the shortest letter in the New Testament, concerns four individuals: John, Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius. The author introduces himself as John and is likely the same person responsible for 2 John. (For a discussion of authorship and dating, see the “Introduction to 2 John.”) Third John is written to a man named Gaius to encourage him to continue in faithfulness. There are multiple people named Gaius in the New Testament (Acts 19:29; 1 Cor 1:14), but it was a common name, and the Gaius of 3 John cannot clearly be identified with any of them. If the Apostle John wrote the letter, it is likely that Gaius was part of a church community in Asia Minor, where John lived in his later life.

Unlike 1–2 John, it is not clear that the primary issue behind this letter is false teachers. Instead, there seems to be some kind of power struggle in the church. A man named Diotrephes has tried to take control, while others such as Gaius are walking in the truth (3 John 4). John, who clearly has some kind of authority over this community, is attempting to straighten out the issue from afar. John also rebukes Diotrephes for refusing to acknowledge his authority or to welcome his fellow ministers (9–10). In response to this situation, John has sent a man named Demetrius to represent him (12), but the letter says that he might come himself (10).

Structure

Third John follows the standard format of a Graeco-Roman letter: introduction (1–4), body (5–12), and conclusion (13–14). The body includes John’s instructions for Gaius to welcome missionaries visiting the community (5–8); John’s criticism of Diotrephes, whose selfishness and desire for control implicate him in evil (9–11); and John’s recommendation of Demetrius, who probably was the letter’s carrier (12). John closes by expressing his hope that he and Gaius can soon speak face-to-face (13–14).

Outline

• Greeting (1–4)

• Gaius is instructed (5–8)

• Diotrephes is criticized (9–11)

• Demetrius is recommended (12)

• Conclusion (13–15)

Themes

Third John—like 1–2 John—highlights love and hospitality: Gaius is encouraged to give a warm welcome to the missionaries, who are strangers to him but who are doing good work. His actions should be the opposite of Diotrephes, who not only refuses to help the travelers, but also slanders and opposes those who disagree with him, including John.

Another theme of 3 John is the nature of church leadership. Diotrephes wants to be in control. He rejects others’ authority and spreads lies about them. People like Diotrephes, who want to do battle with anyone who might challenge them, do not exhibit the self-sacrificial love that church leadership requires. John, on the other hand, provides a better model. He encourages Gaius to exercise hospitality and warns him to steer clear of Diotrephes and his arrogant ways. He clearly loves Gaius and gains joy from hearing that he is living out the truth (4).

Like 1–2 John, 3 John connects intimacy with God to right actions. When people do evil, their claims about knowing God lose all merit. A genuine relationship with God always bears the fruit of right actions: loving others (1 John 4:7), remaining in Christ’s teachings (2 John 9), and doing good (3 John 11). This means getting out of our comfort zone for the sake of God’s work. As John encourages us, we should embrace the blessing of welcoming missionaries into our lives and homes; we must then empower them to continue their efforts elsewhere (5–8). We confirm that we know God by our deeds: love, hospitality, and walking in the truth.

Further Reading

The Gospel of John and the Johannine Letters

John, Third Letter of CLBD

John, Letters of CLBD