3 John:1_1-14 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs!
Today we are looking at 3 John, a very short letter most likely written by the apostle John to his friend Gaius. Today’s passage is 3 John 1:1-13. Let’s go!
3 John 1:1 (NIV)
1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
On verse 1: In this short letter John refers to Gaius as his “dear friend” four times. Notice how affectionate John is in his words to Gaius. Through this letter we learn several lessons on what it means to be a great friend who points others to Jesus. We find the first one here: if you want to be a great friend, speak affectionate words that let the other person know how much they mean to you.
3 John 1:2 (NIV)
2 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.
On verse 2: Notice here that John isn’t just concerned about Gaius’ spiritual health (“even as your soul is getting along well”), but also about his physical health (“I pray that you may enjoy good health”) and his life in general (“that all may go well with you”). If you want to be a great friend, be concerned about the other person’s entire well being, not just how they are doing in one area.
3 John 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
On verses 3-4: The fact that John says “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (v4) suggests that John was Gaius’ pastor and may also have been the one to lead Gaius’ to faith in Christ. What can we learn from this? If you want to be a great friend, celebrate the other person’s victories and rejoice when the other person takes steps forward in their relationship with Jesus.
3 John 1:5-8 (NIV)
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.
6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.
8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
On verses 5-8: Here John commends Gaius on his ministry of hosting a group of Christians that John had sent to him, even though Gaius had never met these Christians before (v5). He encourages Gaius to keep on in this ministry and “to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God” (v6). In verses 7-8 John reminds Gaius why Gaius ought to serve these brothers. What is John doing? John is encouraging Gaius to live for Jesus and to use his talents to serve others. If you want to be a great friend to someone, encourage them to use what they have to make a positive impact on others and, if they’re already doing so, encourage them not to give up.
3 John 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.
10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
On verses 9-10: Diotrephes was likely a leader who hosted John’s church in his home. However, for some reason, Diotrephes had a change of heart toward the apostle John and his teammates. The fact that John says that Diotrephes “loves to be first” (v9) may indicate that Diotrephes was not happy with his position or power in the church. As a result Diotrephes cut off ties with John and the other apostles (“will have nothing to do with us” – v10) and had been gossiping maliciously about his former spiritual leaders (v10). On top of this, Diotrephes refused to welcome any other representatives or friends of John into his home to talk (v10). Diotrephes even tries to stop others from welcoming people from John’s group, threatening them by saying “If you welcome John and his group, you’re not welcome at the church meeting in my house” (v10).
While Diotrephes’ strength was probably his willingness to serve, his major weakness was his failure to deal with conflict in a healthy way. It is for this weakness that Diotrephes would be remembered the most.
What can we learn from this? Because Christians are people too, in the church of Jesus Christ there is bound to be conflict between people from time to time. The question is: how do you deal with conflict when it happens? Do you deal with hurt feelings in a healthy way or an unhealthy way? When you have an issue with someone, do you bear with that person in love, speak the truth in love and forgive? Or do you slander them behind their back, attempt to turn others against them, and act out in bitterness? How you deal with conflict is just as important as your willingness to serve. If you want to be a great friend, be committed to dealing with conflict in a healthy way.
3 John 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
12 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.
On verses 11-12: In telling Gaius not to imitate what is evil but what is good, John is indirectly encouraging Gaius not to imitate divisive Diotrephes and instead to imitate Demetrius. John says that Demetrius “is well spoken of by everyone” (v12), meaning he has a great reputation among the people, “and even by the truth itself” (v12), suggesting that in John’s prayers he has sensed the Lord commending Demetrius. “We also speak well of him” (v12) means that John and his fellow apostles also think highly of Demetrius.
What can we learn from this? Great leaders warn those in their care about whom to learn from and whom not to learn from.
Also, when deciding whom to appoint as a leader and whom to let influence your life, consider the person’s reputation among people, consider what God says to you about how to deal with that person when you pray, and consider what your spiritual leaders say about that person.
3 John 1:13-14 (NIV)
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.
14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
On verses 13-14: There are certain things that are best to be discussed face to face rather than in writing. Great friends know when it is best to talk face to face and when it is better to address an issue in writing. May God give you wisdom in this area.
Instead of focusing on finding a “bff” (best friend forever), may you focus on being a “ggf” (great godly friend) to others. When you do, in His time God will bring you the friends God knows you need.
Father, thank You for showing me through 3 John the characteristics of a great godly friend. I pray I would be a great godly friend like John was to Gaius. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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