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Dave Burnette's Commentary

3 John Chapter 1

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: John the Apostle
Date Penned: (90 AD)
Overview: John Instructs Christians (c 1)
Theme: Live in Love (c 1)
Message: John Instructs Us to Live in Love (v 1-15)

3 John 1 Commentary

(1:1-4) Greetings from John - The main body of this letter has two purposes. The first paragraph (1:5-8) commends Gaius for his hospitality to the itinerant missionaries who are traveling and preaching the gospel message. The missionaries have spoken well of Gaius’s love for the church.The second paragraph (1:9-12) warns against the insubordination of a certain man named Diotrephes. His love of power and authority has led him not only to defy John’s authority but also to convince others to follow his defiance or be excommunicated. He has refused to entertain the genuine itinerant preachers. Gaius is warned not to be influenced by Diotrephes’s example.

(1:5-12) Caring for the Lord's Workers - Traveling teachers were probably sent from various churches to proclaim and teach the gospel. Because false teachers were infiltrating the churches, strong believers who taught the truth were very important. These traveling prophets, evangelists, and teachers were helped on their way by people like Gaius who housed and fed them. Finding good accommodations was very difficult for travelers who had no friends in the area. Inns were not very good places to stay. Hospitality from the believers was vital to the spread of the gospel. As noted in 2 John, however, the believers were not to show such hospitality to false teachers.

(1:13-15) John's Final Words - The letter closes with a promise of further, personal communication, followed by some greetings


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Walk in Truth

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Start the book of 3rd John with Chapter 1 and today we see John explaining that God's Children are to live by the standards of the Gospel. In making application we see that we are follow verse 4 and that we are to walk in truth. Today with so many things that are grabbing for our attention it is important that we walk, or make decisions, according to the pages of the Bible. How about you? Do you see the importance to walk in truth? Let us learn from our text today and the instruction penned by John to live by the standards of the Gospel and to walk in truth of the pages of the Bible.

 

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3 John 1

3 John 1

 1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

 2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

 5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

 6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

 7Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

 9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

 11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

 12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

 13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

 14But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.