3 John
📘 New Testament
🗺️ Overview
3 John is a personal letter from the apostle John to a faithful believer named Gaius. It commends hospitality toward traveling teachers of the gospel, warns against domineering leadership like Diotrephes, and praises those who walk in truth and serve the church selflessly.
💡 3 John teaches that hospitality, faithfulness, and truth are vital to Christian community. It warns against prideful, divisive leadership and urges believers to support those who serve the gospel. The letter encourages a church culture shaped by integrity, humility, and generosity.
🏛️ Historical & Cultural Notes
Insights into the cultural, historical, or geographical background of the book.
Traveling Missionaries in the Early Church
Itinerant preachers and apostles relied on local believers for food, shelter, and support as they spread the gospel.
📚 Source: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
House Churches and Leadership Conflicts
Churches often met in homes, and authority disputes could arise — as seen with Diotrephes resisting apostolic teaching.
📚 Source: ESV Study Bible
📊 Book at a Glance
- 📝 Author
- John the Apostle
- 📅 Date
- c. AD 85–95
- 📖 Chapters
- 1
- 🏷️ Genre
- Epistle
- 📍 Location
- Written to an individual Christian (Gaius) to address issues of church support and leadership integrity
- 🧵 Main Themes
- Walking in the truth, Hospitality toward gospel workers, The danger of prideful leadership, Faithful service and testimony, Encouragement to support the truth
📚 Outline
- Greeting and Joy over Gaius’s Faithfulness (v. 1–4)
- Encouragement to Show Hospitality (v. 5–8)
- Warning Against Diotrephes (v. 9–10)
- Commendation of Demetrius and Final Greetings (v. 11–15)
📖 Key Stories
Commendation of Gaius (3 John 1:1–8)
John praises Gaius for his faithful support of Christian missionaries and his commitment to walking in truth.
Warning About Diotrephes (3 John 1:9–10)
John rebukes Diotrephes for rejecting apostolic authority and refusing hospitality to others.
Example of Demetrius (3 John 1:11–12)
John commends Demetrius as a good example, known for his integrity and truth.
👤 Key Figures
🔍 Christ Connections
How this book anticipates or reflects the person and work of Christ.
- Theme3 John 1:5–8, Matthew 10:40–42
As Gaius supports gospel workers, he participates in the mission of Christ — whose truth and love shape all faithful service.
🧠 Key Verses
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” — 3 John 1:4
“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.” — 3 John 1:11
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