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3 John 1

14 verses

TL;DR

3 John 1 is a brief epistle where the author, John the elder, praises the faithful Christian Gaius, condemns the self‑important Diotrephes, and encourages hospitality, truth, and good deeds.

Summary

John the elder writes to his beloved friend Gaius, expressing love and joy over Gaius’s faith and good deeds, especially his hospitality toward the brethren and strangers. He commends Gaius for following truth and doing charity, citing the testimonies of those who have seen his faith. The letter then turns to Diotrephes, who rejects the author’s authority, spreads falsehoods, and refuses to receive the brothers, even forbidding others from doing so. John urges the readers to avoid evil and to follow good, declaring that those who do good are from God. He mentions Demetrius as a trustworthy witness. Finally, John signs off with a hopeful note of meeting in person, peace, and greetings from mutual friends.

Outline
  1. Praise and commendation of Gaius for faith and hospitality
  2. Reproof of Diotrephes’ self‑importance and rejection of authority
  3. Call to follow truth, do good, and a closing friendly farewell
Themes
Christian hospitality and faithfulnessAuthority and leadership in the early churchThe call to do good and reject evil
Keywords
truthcharityhospitalityauthoritygoodevilfaithfulnesschurchpeace
People
GaiusDiotrephesDemetriusJohn (the elder)
Places
Things
truthcharityhospitalitypreeminencegood deedsevilrecordpeaceink and pen
Key Verses
  • 3 John 1:1: Introduction of the author and the beloved recipient, setting the affectionate tone.
  • 3 John 1:5: Specific praise of Gaius’s hospitality toward brothers and strangers, illustrating the value of Christian service.
  • 3 John 1:9-10: Revelation of Diotrephes’ conflict with church authority, highlighting early ecclesiastical tensions.
  • 3 John 1:11: Moral exhortation to pursue good over evil, a core ethical teaching.
  • 3 John 1:14: Closing sentiment of hope for personal meeting and peace, underscoring the human dimension of the epistle.
Questions
  • What does 3 John reveal about the role of hospitality in the early Christian community?
  • How does the conflict with Diotrephes inform our understanding of church authority and unity?
  • In what ways does John’s instruction to 'follow what is good' reflect broader biblical ethics?
  • Why does the author emphasize personal fellowship and greeting at the end of the letter?
Sentiment

mixed
Positive toward Gaius and good deeds; negative toward Diotrephes and his conduct.