Moments That Motivate: 3 John Overview (Sunday School Notes)

3 John

Read 3 John

What do you see about this letter?

Personal letter, he names names,

Mixed letter of friendly, advisory and commendation

Themes- hospitality, truth, love.

Here is the outline:

By the people it Characters

Gaius- prosperous Christian

Diotrephes- proud christian

Demetrius- pleasant christian

By its Content

A letter that confirmed, condemned, commended

By its Theme

Gaius the man who showed hospitality

Diotrephes the man who refused hospitality

Demetrius the man who received hospitality.

Comparatively

1 John a general letter to a church

2 John a specific letter to a family – be loyal to the truth

3 John an individual letter to a person- be loyal to the truth.

Why do you think that Hospitality is such a big deal?

Consider this

In Romans 12:13

1 Timothy 3:2

1 Peter 4:9

The Greek word for hospitality is love of strangers, love of strangers. It's just basic to the Christian responsibility to open up our home to those we don't know, particularly other believers who are strangers to us.

Comparatively

2 John emphasizes the negative—who not to be hospitably to- false teacher V10

3 John emphasizes the positive—who to be hospitable to those who are caring the gospel truth

On the day of Pentecost, you remember, there were all kinds of pilgrims in Jerusalem who had come to celebrate the Passover. They stayed through Pentecost. When Peter preached, three thousand of them were saved. Three thousand of them then brought into the church of Jesus Christ and that was the only church that existed on planet earth at that time, the only and only. They didn't want to go back to where they came from because they now were a part of the body of Christ and the only place they could meet and fellowship was there with the Apostles in Jerusalem. And so the church there, those that had come to Christ prior to the day of Pentecost, the 120 in the upper room, and those who came to Christ on the day of Pentecost had to absorb all those believers and care for them and meet their needs. That's why later on the Apostle Paul took a collection in order help the church support the strangers who never went back to where they came from because there new reason to live was singularly located in Jerusalem.

In fact, in the early church, the home was the center of everything, absolutely everything. As you read the New Testament you don't find any church buildings. You finish the New Testament and there hasn't been a church building built

This was a basic responsibility, a basic expression of Christian love

V 1. The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

How do we know that 3 John is written by the apostle John?

· There is an argument made that there are two John’s mentioned in the Ecclesiatical History by Eusebius. (He’s using a quote from Papias, the Bishop of Hierapolis) He wrote this about 100 years later from the letters time 85-95 ad)

· John was in a unique category- a disciple who followed Christ while here on earth, an apostle of the church. And alive!

· Early Church fathers like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian and Origen give us the earliest identification as being John and no other name really was suggested.

· In the letter its self there are similar phrases that are characteristic of the Gospel of John- love in the truth, walk in the truth.

· The name elder he gives himself is to refer primarily to his ageliterall “old man”- probably 90. As the last living disciple elder could have been a title but chances are his title was Apostle.

· Also there is an authority in his words that appear to be apostolic- specially in the instruction in vs 11.

Who is Gaius?

· He was common member of the Church in Asia minor- modern day Turkey. Maybe even a leader. There are a number of men named Gaius in the New Testament.

· Gaius of Corinth who was the host of Paul and of the church in Corinth.

· Gaius of Macedonia who was one of Paul's companions who suffered in the riot at Ephesus.

· Gaius of a town called Derbe, who traveled with Paul on his last missionary tour.

We don’t truly know anything else about Gaius other than his actions of love and how loved he is by the apostle John.

These are not the Gaius being addressed here. Gaius, I found out, was one of the most common of all names in the Roman Empire.

If I was write a letter to the most common name in this congregation(LEFC) it would be to Susan. But which one? Harm, Butterfield, Zielke, Defrane, Ewing?

V 2. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Three of the first eleven Greek words refer to love. John as you remember is a very balanced emotional guy who is here expressing a sincere and genuine care for Gaius through this prayer.

· Now this type of greeting was typical in the early world to bestow a well wish.

· But I believe it is sincere because he is referencing a blessing or prosperity physically based on the fact that he knew that his soul was in “good health”.

· Some commentators and scholars have said that peraps he was sick- but there is nothing to prove that.

Do you pray for good and spiritual health- how do you bless and pray for those who you love?

V 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.

How did John know that Gaius soul was strong and healthy?

2 indicators:

First through the testimony of the brothers.

Who were these brothers? Look within the context of the letter.

V 5. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are

· To be hospitable means to have a love for strangers

V 6. who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

· The word church is used only here in all of John’s writings

V 7.For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

V 9. I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Context: What had happened was some traveling preachers had come to wherever Gaius was. And Gaius had opened his home to these traveling preachers, traveling proclaimers of the gospel. And he had given them hospitality and taken them in. They most likely had a letter from John- where is that letter? LOST!

Notice: What did the brothers testify about? Was it his love? No it was the testimony of his faithfulness to truth and walking in it.

Gaius was strong in the adhering to the truth. That’s how John knew that he was strong spiritually.

V 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

So How did John know that Gaius soul was strong and healthy?

1. Through the testimony of Gaius faithfulness to the truth from the brothers.

What else was an indicator?. Found in this verse. Walking in the truth

In Greek It literally is, "My own children, I have no greater joy...he says...this is my highest joy, I understand this, folks, I really do. I really understand this. I have no greater joy than this to hear of my own children walking in the truth."

Whether you're talking about physical children or spiritual children, anybody who has been a part of the ministry that God has given to me, there is no higher joy, there is no greater joy than to know they know the truth, believe the truth and walk in the truth.

That's what we are after her at LEFC. That when truth is revealed and conviction of the Holy Spirit comes that you begin to adjust and repent of lifestyle and attitudes that don’t correspond with the truth. And then Walk in the Truth.

What does that look like?

WALK

Worship that is deeper: The revealed truth that our life ambitions and goal is the glory of God. That revealed truth of the attributes of God will causes us to worship with greater passion and confidence.

Adherence to the truth: That you possess- that is take for yourself- the truth of Scripture- not mom and dads or your pastor or favorite speaker- but that you would possess the truth of Scripture and have it control you. That we would cling to, stick to truth and that we would defend it when need- die for it if needed be persecuted for it to live radical for it.

Love that flows from Truth- You say, "Well why isn't he concerned about love?" Because if you walk in the truth, what's going to happen? You're going to love because it's part of the truth it's part of the truth. Revealed truth will cause you to love what God loves and to hate what God hates.

Gaius there was every minister's dream, every minister's greatest joy.

Another reason Why John knew that Gaius was strong spiritually is found in verse 5-8

He had a practical ministry

V 5. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are

· Faithfulness indicates a a correlation between Gaius’s truth and Gaius’s love. He was counted on. His efforts were an outcome of his faith.

There was an exact correspondence between his creed and his conduct. He knew it, he believed it and he lived it. No dichotomy between profession and practice. And it starts with not being doctrinally confused. The greatest joy of the ministry is not to teach the truth, the greatest joy in ministry is not to know that your people understand the truth, the greatest joy in ministry is to see your people...what?...walk in it.

V 6. who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

· Gaius love and hospitality was reported back in the church where john was a part of. Of course he didn’t do this to gain renown- but the brothers report it to show his example and to encourage many. His kindness was to serve as a reflection of God’s own kindness that he experienced

Has the Grace of God so gripped your heart that his kindness toward you is overflowing over to others?

How do you display the grace of God in your life? Is it an obligation or a true love for others that come out of a love given to you from God?

· "You will do well" is an idiom equivalent to the English word "please." "Please send them on their way in a manner worthy of God." That is to say, give them the support they need. It's sort of,

"Send them on their way" is a technical term in the early church for missionaries. These are missionaries. Now we're getting down to where we live, right? We understand that word, don't we? It implies receiving them, caring for them, meeting their needs, and then giving all that is required to send them on their way to accomplish their next objective in the next stage of their journey. This is why churches support missionaries, this is where this comes from. This is a real part of the early church, traveling preachers going everywhere proclaiming the gospel, planting churches, strengthening churches. And they had to be supported, they had to be cared for. They needed money and clothing and supplies.

· verse 6, "Send them on their way in a manner worthy of God."
What do you mean by that? Treat them the way you think God would treat them. That's pretty clear, isn't it? How would God treat them? Treat them the way God would treat them. I would think he would be generous, wouldn't you? I would think he'd give them everything they need, and probably more.

· Listen to this, Jesus' words, Matthew 10:40, "He who receives you, receives Me. And he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward."

V 7.For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

The "Name" here is, of course, that of Jesus which was now exalted above every name (Phil 2:9-11). To go out on behalf of that Name was a supreme honor (cf. Acts 5:41 for the honor of suffering for it). Naturally, it was inappropriate for those who did so to seek support from those who did not believe in or honor that Name. Thus the Lord's servants went out, receiving no help from the pagans. Even in the present day, there is something unseemly in a preacher of the gospel soliciting funds from people to whom he offers God's free salvation.

V 8. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

· We - in contradistinction to "the Gentiles" (3 John 7).

· Therefore - as they take nothing from the Gentiles.

· Receive. 'Aleph (<START HEBREW>a<END HEBREW>) A B C read, 'take up.' As they take nothing from the Gentiles, we ought to take up their support.

· Fellow-helpers - with them.

· To the truth - i.e., to promote the truth.

V 9. I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Who is Diotrephes? What do we know about him?

He likes to be first- prominence prestige promotion of self

· puting himself first: pre eminence Used in Colossians 1:18 and there it talks about the preeminence of Christ. So here is a man who is competing with Christ. Here is one who doesn't believe that Jesus alone is first, but seeks to supplant Christ and to rule the church in the place of Christ. He's like New Testament Absalom, so power hungry that he would murder his own father to take the throne.

· He had the final say-so about everything in the church, and his decisions were determined by one thing. "What will this do for Diotrephes?

What is Diotrophes problem? Look at vs 10

V 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

1. He gossiped maliciously and senselessly against the apostle and those who he sent (the brothers)

· "unjustly accusing us with wicked words." This is characteristic in every occasion of these people who rise to preeminence. They falsely accuse other people. This is how they gain trust. They don't gain trust by the virtue of their life. They don't gain trust by their character. They don't gain trust the long, slow, true way by exposing all that they are to people and letting people make a judgment on their righteousness and on their integrity. They get the trust of the people by destroying the people's trust in everybody else. They are malicious and destructive, accusing...the word accusing here is actually a word that occurs only here in the entire New Testament but a cognate form of it occurs in 1 Timothy 5:13 where it can be translated tattlers. They are tattlers. They go around telling malicious, gossiping tales

2. He refused to welcome the brothers and John’s letter of recommendation

3. He also stopped those who did welcome the traveling preacher and put them out of the church. Gaius may well have been one of them.

His actions are ll very disturbing of a leader/ even a pastor. He displays CULT like behavior What’s a CULT Congregations under leaders teaching and tyranny-

I’m going to be very careful but a shepherd displaying this type of me first mentality should not be listened to and John was gong to bring it up to him.

What Diotrophes is doing is very different then loving church discipline. And doctrinal protection.

What is the purpose of Church discipline? Loving Restoration.By causing sincere repentance through church discipline What is he doing? Throwing out dissentors to his will!

What is the purpose of doctrinal protection? To have the truth be preached and to guard against false teaching. What is he doing? Denying those who know the truth to bring the truth to his congregation.

Ever play king of the Hill what’s the goal of king of the hill?

protecting his power base. Anybody who is a threat, he figures out a way to get them off.

Diotrophes is trying to throw out of the church people who are threat to his kingdom-- through the use of malicious gossip, through destruction of their personality, their character, their integrity, pretty soon they're gone.

Appears to be personal not church or theologically related but sinful and personal.

Why is John bringing this up in a personal letter to Gaius?

Look at v 11

(As a negative example)

V 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

· The repeat of the word Beloved is no taking the topic of the letter back to Gaius,

· Seems to be a personal word of counsel. Don’t let Diotrophes be your example or the influence in your life.

· To do good is evidence again of divine birth true Christians are described as either been from God or have seen God. When the eyes of our hearts are opened to the Gospel and to God’s goodness we show goodness.- Again the grace of God manifesting itself- In this letter- first through truth than love now goodness.

Make sure you are discerning of that even when your growing in other areas of your life- not just the spiritual area. Who do you look up to at work, school for how things are done. How about your training? Are you imitating good biblical perspectives, attitudes and habits that reflect God glory?

V 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

What do we know about Demetrius?

Everyone like Demetrius 12(a)

He is most likely not the silversmith of Ephesus (Acts 19;24,28). Why? No support to prove that.

He is not Demas, Paul’s failed companion (Col 4:14, 2 Tim 4:10 Phlm 24).

Speculation:

He is the bearer of the letter to Gaius or the object of Diotrophes wrath. Not sure but eitherway- Gaius will encounter Demetrius.

What does it mean “and from the truth itself?

“Even his commitment to the truth speaks well of him” again a lifestyle of Truth walking

The testimony of everyone to Demetrius in the past remains valid in the present, perfect passive. He has received an ongoing and continually good testimony from everyone. Second witness, "And from the truth itself." That is to say you can measure him by his doctrine, you can measure him by the truth. He is loyal to the truth. And again, it's an ongoing thing, the truth he professes and the truth he preaches is the truth he embodies and lives. It is self-evident and always has been. And thirdly, verse 12, he says, "And we also bear witness." John says we bear witness. We continue to bear witness. Gaius, if you have any question about this man, everybody will testify to his character and his faithfulness. The truth will testify to his character and faithfulness, he can be measured against it. And we also as an Apostle bear witness and you know that our witness is true. You know you can trust me.

How do you know a man's worth?

What does everybody say about him?

How does his life match up with Scripture?

And what do Christian leaders say about him?

And when you get a man who passes muster on all three of those, open your arms, notwithstanding Diotrephes or anybody else, and embrace the man.

NOTE:How we choose elders at LEFC if we have time…

V 13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. V 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

· Said the same thing in 2 John.

· Somethings are better said face to face (lit mouth to mouth)

· Notice john’s planning…See him shortly.

V 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.

· Typical ending But note again Peace—DO YOU PRAY FOR PEACE OVER YOUR LOVED ONES? GOD’S PEACE.

· Friend: unusual expression used for believers. Only used here Mayb e derived from John 15:13-15

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

It is a good reflection of friendship among believers—

Do you have friends like this- who are so close you’d die for each other?

An Overview of 3 John