3 John 1-14 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 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. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors 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 people so that we may work together for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 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. 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.
The Apostle John here again describes himself as “The elder.”
“To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” He is writing to his dear friend Gaius, whom he loves in truth. Certainly John is writing that his love for Gaius is based in the truth. Remembering the binding relationship between love and truth as reviewed in 2 John.
“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.” The “name and claim” group uses this verse to propound their false beliefs. They use this verse as if John is laying a doctrine. Clearly he is not doing so as he writes that he is praying that all things physical and spiritual go well with them. We all pray for that our beloved family and friends have things go well. This is a prayer and not a doctrine. We pray for our beloved that they have times of rest, well-being and recuperation, but we know that trying times comes to all whom God loves. We know that God uses tough times to mold us and teach us. Primarily, the Lord uses tough times to point our focus to him, or to deepen the lesson that we are completely dependent on Him. We may pray for good times, but we willingly acknowledge that hard times will also come upon all (John 16:33). The absolute peace of God resides within us through hard and good times. If we are focused and if we are wise and understanding in the knowledge of who and what God is peace never leaves us.
“3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.” The highest honor of acknowledgement is from God, who calls us His own and has His own name for us. Among men, the highest honor that can be expressed about a believer in Christ is that the believer is faithful and walks in the truth. May that be said about all of us! As we desire that, we must remember the binding of truth and love. Truth without love is no truth, it is impotent.
“4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” John considers those that he led to the Lord, or those whom he has authority and responsibility for, his children. We understand that there is no higher desire for our children than that they walk closely and faithfully with God. We want our children to prosper financially and to be in good health, but walking with God is eternal and the others are temporary. We choose the higher and eternal blessing for those we love. We take pleasure in their obedience to the Truth.
“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. receiving no help from the pagans.” John is writing that he knows that Gaius is faithful because fellow believers tell him so. His faithfulness is evident by his hospitality, and his love for the brethren.
“9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” Whether it is on a job, or in the church, pride and kingdom building are ugly and unproductive. Especially in the church. They can be observed by their controlling nature and their me-first ways. It must be their way and they are easily threatened and usually unyielding. Don’t get on the wrong side of these people, love of self rather than love of others rules in their lives. This can be observed at work, and also amongst the brethren. Here, Diotrephes seems to be in a position of authority and his controlling nature, with probably insecurity involved, will not even allow room for the apostle John, or his disciples, to minister. It is one thing to protect the flock, it is another to withstand the will of God. People who are threatened by other people will often speak wrong of they whom they are threatened by. That is not the will of God. People of the ilk of Diotrephes will even go so far as to run those who differ with them out of the church. Oh, they will have very “pious” reasons for doing so, but what is underneath is not of God. John condemns those like Diotrephes. We ought to be gracious, but also beware.
“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.” John said do not be like Diotrephes. Do not imitate evil, but do what is good. He says the person who acts like Diotrephes is not doing good as children of God do, but is practicing evil. Don’t align with such a person.
“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. John first lists someone who is gracious and hospital, as he speaks of Gaius. Then he mentions someone working against Godly people – Diotrephes. Then he mentions Demetrius who is a lover of the people of God, not filled with controlling pride, and is open to guidance by the Apostle John. He commends two and opposes the third.
“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.” The Apostle John has much to say to them. He will encourage those who are doing well and he will oppose the proud empire builder. He looks forward to seeing them face to face. Until then, he and those with him send their greeting.
People let us be gracious, be humble and love each other. Let us not attempt to control and build of our own will, but be led be the Holy Spirit. Therein is peace within and with others. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.