(This post is Part 2 of Day 358. Please make sure to read 2 John (Part 1 of Day 358) before continuing with 3 John.)
(Like John's first and second epistles, this third epistle was believed to have been written from Ephesus around 90 AD. This third epistle was written to a specific person: Gaius.)
3 John 1
1 The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
(John wrote to Gaius. It was not known if this was the same Gaius as in Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:14. John mentioned three areas that we all need to work on: soul, health, and finances. Notice, John made the soul the cause ("even as") and the physical health and physical resources were effects. Some people interpreted the Greek root word for Salvation as covering all three of these areas: soul, health, and prosperity.)
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
4 Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
(These verses were right in line with 1 John and 2 John. He wrote about walking in truth and how much joy it gave him.)
5 Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
6 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
7 because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
(John mentioned fellowship and that this group went on a journey to evangelize for Christ's Name's sake.)
8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.
(John said we ought to welcome such people so we can be in community with the truth.)
9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
(John had written to Diotrephes who did not receive John and his group. Diotrephes loved preeminence which meant "to desire to be first." It seemed that there were contentions in the churches John dealt with decades after the Book of Acts.)
10 Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church.
(This was the only threat that was recorded connected to John. John said that if he went, he would confront Diotrephes face-to-face. Diotrephes had been casting out believers from the church.)
11 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
(Verse 11 was very similar to what was written in 1 John. John was more specific stating that we ought to imitate good, not imitate evil.)
12 Demetrius hath the witness of all men , and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.
13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
14 but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
(John supported Demetrius. There were many things John did not write because he trusted that he would see them face-to-face.)
(Like John's first and second epistles, this third epistle was believed to have been written from Ephesus around 90 AD. This third epistle was written to a specific person: Gaius.)
Day 358 (Part 3)
ReplyDelete13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
John uses the word 'unwilling' - Do you think he may have had serious things that he didn't want in writing that might be taken the wrong way or hurt someone?
I believe John had some things he wanted to discuss but he wanted to do it face-to-face. It's possible it is because he did not want them to take what he wrote in the wrong way.
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