02.25. THIRD JOHN

THIRD JOHN (Read the Epistle) Theme: This short Epistle gives us a glimpse of certain conditions that existed in a local church in John’s time. The story which may be gathered from the Epistle seems to be as follows. John had sent out a band of itinerant teachers with letters of commendation to the various churches, one of which was the Assembly to which Gaius and Diotrephes belonged. Diotrephes, either from jealousy for the rights of the local church or for some personal reason, refused to tender hospitality to these teachers and excommunicated those members of his church who received them. Gaius, one of the members of the church, refused to be intimidated by this spiritual autocrat, and entertained the repulsed and disheartened missionaries, who later reported his kindness to the apostle.

It seems that John was about to send forth a second time these teachers (3 John 1:6) and he exhorts Gaius to continue in his ministry of love toward them.

John himself wrote a letter of remonstrance to Diotrephes, which was ignored. Therefore the apostle expressed intention of paying a personal visit to the church and of deposing this ecclesiastical tyrant.

We shall sum up the theme as follows: the duty of hospitality toward the ministry, and the danger of domineering leadership.

Why Written: To commend Gaius for entertaining those Christian workers who were entirely dependent on the hospitality of believers, and to denounce the inhospitable, tyrannical attitude of Diotrephes.