The book of Third John gives us a look at the early church.
Since it was written several decades after Christ ascended into heaven the
author, the apostle John, was probably one of the few people still alive that
actually knew Jesus. This book talks about three different people in the
church, two of which are examples that we can learn from, and the other, even
though it was only a short time after Christ ascended, is an example that there
are false teachers who desire to infiltrate the church.
The first person talked about is a man named Gaius. We read in 3 John 1-8 - "The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth."
John mentions several good things about Gaius.
He walks in truth. In other words, he lives what he believes. The book of James talks a lot about this, faith accompanied with works. James 2:17 says - "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." 2:20 - "faith without works is useless." 2:24 - "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." 2:26 - "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
Just like in the early church, a true disciple is one that lives what he believes. Not just in word, but also in deed.
We're also told that Gaius acts faithfully in whatever he accomplishes. Of course, he is accomplishing things because he is doing something.(walking in truth) In James 1:22-25 it says - "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
Again, he lives what he believes. It talks about his hospitality for his fellow Christians, even people he doesn't know. But by faith they are united in one body for one purpose, the furtherance of the gospel. Again, in James chapter 2 verses 15-17 it says - "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
A true disciple doesn't just speak encouragement to a brother or sister, but a true christian says, "what can I do to help?"
Jesus said in John 13:35 -"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." And 1 John 3:18 says - "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." The evidence of our discipleship is our love for one another, and the evidence of our love for one another is our deeds.
Let me just says real quick that I'm not saying we're saved by works. Scripture plainly says "By grace you have been saved through faith... not of works..." Ephesians 2:8-9. But scripture also plainly teaches that if we have faith, it will be shown by our works. Hebrews chapter 11 talks about several people who lived by faith, and over and over again it says "by faith..." and then it says something that they did. All I'm saying is what we believe determines what we do. Gaius was obviously a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Any true disciple, both in the early church, and in the church today, is known by their works.
The second person talked about in this book, is a fellow by the name of Diotrephes. 3 John 9-11 - "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. 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."
Diotrephes is also known by his works. The first problem we see with Diotrephes is that he "loves to be first among them". The king James version says that he "loves to have the preeminence." Does that ring any bells? In Colossians 1:18 it says, speaking of Christ, - "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." or "that in all things he might have the preeminence." (KJV). This man Diotrephes, apparently a leader of a local church, rather than putting Christ first showed by his deeds that he wanted to be first. He made himself before Christ, and as a result he didn't trust what anyone else said. Even the apostle John, a man who walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, followed Him wherever He went. The only disciple that was at the scene of the cross. The disciple who leaned on His breast His last night on earth. Diotrephes wouldn't even accept what he said! Now granted, whatever someone tells us we need to check with Scripture to see whether it's true or not. But this man obviously was not checking the scriptures and he was blinded by his desire to be first. We see that he falsely accuses John and his fellow workers, he's inhospitable, and above that he forbids other people from being hospitable and puts them out of the church if they are. He's that insecure. He's afraid that if someone is welcomed in they may try to take over his church.
Just like Gaius, and just like us, Diotrephes is known by his works. John said that he would "call attention to his deeds," and it's no accident that he ends this portion by saying "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." Again, it comes down to works. If you do what is good it's evidence that you are of God, and If you do evil it's evidence that you don't know Him.
The third and final person talked about in this book is a man by the name of Demetrius. 3 John 12-14 - "Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."
Demetrius is only talked about here in one verse, but notice what it says. "Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone." That's not only believers, but everyone. No one has anything bad to say about this guy. In Romans 12:18 it says - "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Hebrews 12:14 says - "Pursue peace with all men." In Colossians 4:5-6 we're instructed to - "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
We should seek to be like this man. We should be living in such a way that believers can see our faith being lived out, and unbelievers can tell that there is something different about us.
I'm thankful for this letter. Short though it may be, it gives us a picture of the early church. And I wonder, if I were alive back then, am I living in such a way that the apostle John under inspiration of the Holy Spirit would take note? Would he mention me along with Gaius and Demetrius, or perhaps with Diotrephes? One thing remains unchanged in the church over the last 2000 years. At the beginning of the church up to this point, everyone is known by their works.
"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."
The first person talked about is a man named Gaius. We read in 3 John 1-8 - "The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth."
John mentions several good things about Gaius.
He walks in truth. In other words, he lives what he believes. The book of James talks a lot about this, faith accompanied with works. James 2:17 says - "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." 2:20 - "faith without works is useless." 2:24 - "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." 2:26 - "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
Just like in the early church, a true disciple is one that lives what he believes. Not just in word, but also in deed.
We're also told that Gaius acts faithfully in whatever he accomplishes. Of course, he is accomplishing things because he is doing something.(walking in truth) In James 1:22-25 it says - "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
Again, he lives what he believes. It talks about his hospitality for his fellow Christians, even people he doesn't know. But by faith they are united in one body for one purpose, the furtherance of the gospel. Again, in James chapter 2 verses 15-17 it says - "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
A true disciple doesn't just speak encouragement to a brother or sister, but a true christian says, "what can I do to help?"
Jesus said in John 13:35 -"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." And 1 John 3:18 says - "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." The evidence of our discipleship is our love for one another, and the evidence of our love for one another is our deeds.
Let me just says real quick that I'm not saying we're saved by works. Scripture plainly says "By grace you have been saved through faith... not of works..." Ephesians 2:8-9. But scripture also plainly teaches that if we have faith, it will be shown by our works. Hebrews chapter 11 talks about several people who lived by faith, and over and over again it says "by faith..." and then it says something that they did. All I'm saying is what we believe determines what we do. Gaius was obviously a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Any true disciple, both in the early church, and in the church today, is known by their works.
The second person talked about in this book, is a fellow by the name of Diotrephes. 3 John 9-11 - "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. 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."
Diotrephes is also known by his works. The first problem we see with Diotrephes is that he "loves to be first among them". The king James version says that he "loves to have the preeminence." Does that ring any bells? In Colossians 1:18 it says, speaking of Christ, - "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." or "that in all things he might have the preeminence." (KJV). This man Diotrephes, apparently a leader of a local church, rather than putting Christ first showed by his deeds that he wanted to be first. He made himself before Christ, and as a result he didn't trust what anyone else said. Even the apostle John, a man who walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, followed Him wherever He went. The only disciple that was at the scene of the cross. The disciple who leaned on His breast His last night on earth. Diotrephes wouldn't even accept what he said! Now granted, whatever someone tells us we need to check with Scripture to see whether it's true or not. But this man obviously was not checking the scriptures and he was blinded by his desire to be first. We see that he falsely accuses John and his fellow workers, he's inhospitable, and above that he forbids other people from being hospitable and puts them out of the church if they are. He's that insecure. He's afraid that if someone is welcomed in they may try to take over his church.
Just like Gaius, and just like us, Diotrephes is known by his works. John said that he would "call attention to his deeds," and it's no accident that he ends this portion by saying "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." Again, it comes down to works. If you do what is good it's evidence that you are of God, and If you do evil it's evidence that you don't know Him.
The third and final person talked about in this book is a man by the name of Demetrius. 3 John 12-14 - "Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."
Demetrius is only talked about here in one verse, but notice what it says. "Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone." That's not only believers, but everyone. No one has anything bad to say about this guy. In Romans 12:18 it says - "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Hebrews 12:14 says - "Pursue peace with all men." In Colossians 4:5-6 we're instructed to - "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
We should seek to be like this man. We should be living in such a way that believers can see our faith being lived out, and unbelievers can tell that there is something different about us.
I'm thankful for this letter. Short though it may be, it gives us a picture of the early church. And I wonder, if I were alive back then, am I living in such a way that the apostle John under inspiration of the Holy Spirit would take note? Would he mention me along with Gaius and Demetrius, or perhaps with Diotrephes? One thing remains unchanged in the church over the last 2000 years. At the beginning of the church up to this point, everyone is known by their works.
"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."
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