The Book of

3 John

Commends faithfulness and hospitality within the church.

3 John

WHEN CHURCH LEADERS ABUSE POWER

You're Gaius. A faithful believer. Known for your hospitality. You've opened your home to travelling teachers and missionaries. You've supported gospel workers. You've walked in the truth. John's heard about you. He's proud of you.

But there's a problem in your church. A serious problem. A leader named Diotrephes.

Diotrephes loves to be first. He refuses to welcome travelling teachers. He spreads malicious nonsense about John and other apostles. He stops others from showing hospitality. He even throws people out of the church who dare to welcome these teachers.

He's abusing his power. Controlling the church. Silencing dissent. Creating fear.

John writes to commend Gaius, condemn Diotrephes, and commend Demetrius. In fourteen verses, he addresses a specific situation of church leadership gone wrong. And in doing so, he gives us a window into first century church dynamics and timeless principles about godly leadership.

Third John is about godly leadership versus abusive leadership. Gaius walks in the truth and shows hospitality. Diotrephes loves to be first and abuses his authority. Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone. These three men represent three responses to truth: embrace it and support it, oppose it and suppress it, or live it and commend it.

If you've experienced abusive church leadership, if you've seen leaders who love to be first, if you've needed encouragement to keep supporting gospel work despite opposition, read 3 John. In just fourteen verses, John will show you what godly leadership looks like and what it doesn't.

A note before we begin:

Third John is only one chapter, just fourteen verses, but it addresses crucial issues of church leadership and hospitality. This summary covers the letter, but John's brief words deserve careful attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all fourteen verses of 3 John. It will only take three minutes. Let John's example guide your understanding of godly leadership.

Greeting

The elder writes to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John writes to Gaius, his dear friend, whom he loves in the truth. He prays for Gaius's good health and that all would go well with him, even as his soul is getting along well. John received great joy when believers testified about Gaius's faithfulness to the truth. He continues to walk in it. John has no greater joy than hearing his children walk in the truth.

Gaius Commended for His Hospitality

Dear friend, you're faithful in what you're doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they're strangers to you. They've told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honours God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Gaius is faithful in what he's doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they're strangers. They've told the church about his love. John asks Gaius to send them on their way in a manner that honours God. They went out for the sake of the Name, receiving no help from pagans. We ought to show hospitality to such people so we work together for the truth.

Diotrephes Opposed to the Apostles

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, won't welcome us. So when I come, I'll call attention to what he's doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

John wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, won't welcome them. When John comes, he'll call attention to what Diotrephes is doing. He's spreading malicious nonsense about John and the apostles. He refuses to welcome other believers. He stops those who want to welcome them. He throws them out of the church.

Dear friend, don't imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil hasn't seen God.

Don't imitate what is evil. Imitate what is good. Anyone who does good is from God. Anyone who does evil hasn't seen God.

Demetrius Commended

Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone, and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone and by the truth itself. John speaks well of him. His testimony is true.

Conclusion

I have much to write to you, but I don't want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we'll talk face to face.

Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

What This Means for You

Third John is about godly leadership versus abusive leadership. Gaius walks in truth and shows hospitality. Diotrephes loves to be first and abuses authority. Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone.

Here's what 3 John teaches you:

Walk in the truth. This brings joy to those who love you.

Be faithful in showing hospitality to gospel workers, even strangers. Send them on their way in a manner that honours God.

Support those who go out for the sake of the Name. Show hospitality so you work together for the truth.

Don't love to be first. Diotrephes loved to be first. He spread malicious nonsense. He refused to welcome believers. He stopped others from showing hospitality. He threw people out of the church. This is evil leadership.

Don't imitate what is evil. Imitate what is good. Anyone who does good is from God. Anyone who does evil hasn't seen God.

Have a good testimony. Demetrius was well spoken of by everyone and by the truth itself.

Your Next Steps

Third John challenges you to support gospel work, resist abusive leadership, and imitate what is good.

Are you walking in the truth? This brings joy to those who love you.

Are you showing hospitality to gospel workers? Or closing your doors? Support those who go out for the sake of the Name.

Do you love to be first? Or do you serve? Leaders who love to be first abuse their authority, spread malicious talk, refuse to welcome, stop others from serving, and throw people out.

Are you imitating what is good? Or what is evil? Imitate good. Anyone who does evil hasn't seen God.

Do you have a good testimony? From everyone? From the truth itself? Let your life speak well of you.

Read It Yourself

Third John is only fourteen verses. You can read the entire letter in three minutes. But these fourteen verses give us a window into church dynamics and leadership that's still relevant today.

Don't just read about 3 John. Read 3 John. Open your Bible and read all fourteen verses. Let John's example guide your understanding of godly versus abusive leadership.

Support the Truth, Resist the Evil

That's the message of 3 John. Support those who work for the truth. Resist those who abuse authority.

Be like Gaius. Walk in truth. Show hospitality. Support gospel workers.

Don't be like Diotrephes. Don't love to be first. Don't abuse authority. Don't spread malicious talk. Don't stop others from serving.

Be like Demetrius. Have a good testimony. From everyone. From the truth itself.

Imitate what is good.

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer