Letters · Act VI
3 John: Become a partner in the truth
Support faithful workers who go out for the Name, imitate what is good and resist the self-promoting exclusion that obstructs the truth.
Where 3 John sits
- In the story
- Act VI, Church · Last Apostle, Later first century
- In the Bible
- New Testament · Letters · book 64 of 66
- Before it in the story
- 2 John
- After it in the story
- Revelation
As Christ's messengers travel, local believers participate through faithful provision. The apostolic truth shapes both the mission and the conduct of the churches that support it.
3 John summary
The elder greets Gaius with love, prays for his welfare and rejoices that he walks in truth (1–4). His faithful care for traveling brothers should continue, since those who support their work become partners in the truth (5–8). Diotrephes loves first place, rejects the elder's instruction, slanders him and excludes those who welcome the brothers (9–10). Gaius must imitate good rather than evil, and Demetrius receives a strong commendation (11–12). The elder hopes to meet soon and sends peace and personal greetings (13–14).
3 John in context
- Written by
- The elder (1), traditionally the apostle John. The letter itself does not give his name.
- Written to
- Gaius, a beloved believer who hosts traveling Christian workers. Identification with another New Testament Gaius is uncertain.
- Setting
- Faithful hospitality meets resistance from Diotrephes, who seeks prominence and excludes willing hosts. Demetrius is commended, but his precise role is not stated.
- When
- Usually placed in the later first century with John's other letters; exact date, place and composition order are unknown.
- Why
- To encourage continued support of faithful messengers, expose Diotrephes's conduct and commend a good example in Demetrius.
Themes of 3 John
- Walking in truth
- Missionary partnership
- Ambition and exclusion
- Imitating good
Key verses in 3 John
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:8
Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 1:11
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
3 John chapter by chapter
- 13 John 1: Welcome workers for the truth
Support faithful messengers, reject self-serving exclusion and imitate the good that agrees with the truth.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for 3 John
- How 3 John points to Christ
- How it connects to 3 other books: 2 John, Acts and Philippians
- What each of its 4 themes means, with its verses
- 3 debated questions, with the main views, such as “Does the prayer for prosperity guarantee wealth and health?”
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