3 John: fellow workers for the truth
3 John is a short letter from ‘the elder’ to his friend Gaius, praising him for welcoming brothers who travelled for the truth and rebuking Diotrephes, who shut them out. The early church's mission depended on homes like Gaius'.
About the book
With 2 John, 3 John is one of the two shortest books of the New Testament: a warm letter to one man, from the same "elder" (3 John 1:1). Both letters greet one whom the elder loves in the truth, and both end with many things he would rather say "face to face" (3 John 1:14).
The church has traditionally seen the elder as the apostle John in his old age, writing at Ephesus about AD 90, and the map under the Jesus tab sets John's three letters last in the era of the church (c. AD 30–90). Many scholars think instead of a different ‘elder John’ or a leader among John's followers. Many others, among them evangelicals, who stress the authority of Scripture and the telling of the gospel, hold that he was the apostle. The 2 John lesson gives the reasons.
Gaius was a common name: the New Testament knows a Gaius of Corinth, one of Macedonia and one of Derbe (Romans 16:23, Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4). John Wesley thought him probably the Gaius of Corinth who hosted Paul Wesley, but we cannot know.
How it unfolds
Three men appear in turn: Gaius, who walks in the truth and welcomes travelling brothers (vv. 1–8); Diotrephes, who loves to be first and shuts them out (vv. 9–11); and Demetrius, well spoken of by everyone (v. 12). The elder closes with the hope of coming soon, and greetings. At the start he prays that Gaius may "enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers" (3 John 1:2).
Key passages
The elder's greatest joy is that those he has cared for live by the truth:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4
Gaius welcomed brothers who were strangers to him. "They went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles" (3 John 1:7), so as not to burden those they reached. So the elder writes:
Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 1:8
The early church's mission ran on homes like Gaius'. Travelling workers ate and slept there and were sent on, supplied for the road, "in a manner worthy of God" (3 John 1:6). Matthew Henry writes, "Those who cannot themselves proclaim it, may yet receive, help, and countenance those who do so" Matthew Henry. Scripture urges such hospitality again and again (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2).
Diotrephes was the opposite. He "loves to be first" (3 John 1:9): he slandered the elder, refused the brothers, and put out of the church those who would welcome them (3 John 1:10). The elder does not accuse him of false teaching; his fault is pride. So, "do not imitate what is evil, but what is good" (3 John 1:11). And the elder commends Demetrius, of whom everyone speaks well.
The book and Christ
3 John never names Jesus or Christ, yet the brothers went out for the Name. The apostles too rejoiced to suffer disgrace "for the Name" (Acts 5:41), the name God gave Jesus above every name (Philippians 2:9-10). Jesus said, "He who receives you receives Me" (Matthew 10:40): the home that took in his workers took in Christ. Over against Diotrephes stands the Lord who taught, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35), and who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).
Reading it
It takes five minutes. Read 3 John after 1 John and 2 John, and ask which of its three men you would want to be like. Opening a home to guests and supporting those who take the gospel to others are ways of working together for the truth. Then go on to Jude.
Practice
- Practice 1 of 5
To whom is 3 John written?
- Practice 2 of 5
What does the elder call his greatest joy in verse 4?
- Practice 3 of 5
Why does the elder say believers ought to support the travelling brothers?
- Practice 4 of 5
Why is Diotrephes rebuked in 3 John?
- Practice 5 of 5
Which is true of 3 John?
Reading to the end marks it read; tap to switch it.
Related topics
Lessons from the Bible, the church's creeds and classic commentary. Each book's author and date are given as the church has received them, and scholars who see them otherwise are presented fairly. Scripture quotations: BSB.