The book of Third (3rd) John is by word-count, the shortest book in the Bible. Second John has fewer verses than Third John, but in the Greek, it’s more words. Third John has only 219 words in the Greek. Which means we should finish this book in four years! HA! Just kidding! Just by way of interesting contrast, does anyone know what is the longest book in the Bible? By word-count, the longest book in the Bible is Jeremiah with 33,002 words. Then Genesis, then Psalms. So, there you go…, Bible trivia for the day!

We don’t really know when this book was written. Most likely it was written while John was a resident of Ephesus but we aren’t given enough context in this short letter to know when or from where it was written. We don’t even know if it was his “third” letter in chronological order. It’s called “3 John” simply because it’s the third letter of his that we have…

There is virtually no contention or controversy around its authorship. The first two words of this short letter identify the writer as “The Elder,” which was the common identifier for John the Apostle in the first century church.

This letter has been called, “The Tale of Three Men,” as three people are mentioned here. There is a man named Gaius, to whom the letter is written; another man named Diotrephes, and a third man named Demetrius. It’s a letter of commendation towards Gaius who possibly attended Diotrephes’ church but was perhaps excommunicated and we’ll see that as we get into the book. So, let’s dive in!

3 John Chapter 1 Verse 1

· Gaius is somewhat of a common name in the Bible. We see this name in four books and five places in scripture. Gaius in Acts 19 and Acts 20 was one of Paul’s travel companions. In Romans 16, again a man named Gaius is mentioned as Paul’s host, or the man Paul was staying with. We read in 1 Corinthians 1 that a Gaius was one of only two men baptized by Paul the Apostle. And then we have this Gaius in 3 John. Is it the same person? No real way to tell but it certainly could be. I’m going with it is but that’s just me…

· And John writes, to the “beloved” Gaius, whom he “loves in truth.” I just want to give you a principle that we see in this greeting. One that was articulated very well by the Bible commentator and scholar, Matthew Henry. The principle is, “Love expressed is want to kindle love.” What’s that mean? A lot…

· It’s important to not only love by osmosis. Just being there. Just being kind or good to someone. It’s important to express love. And as you allow yourself the vulnerability and the humility, because truly to tell someone that they are loved is to serve them, as you step forward into this very God-like, Christ-like activity, it force-multiplies the bond in a relationship. (That’s the principle)

· A relationship has two people. One (1) plus one (1). And when love is not intentionally used to serve the other person through overt expression, one plus one equals two. But when you serve them by expressing that love and building them up by reassurance and clarity as to how you feel, your bond and strength in the relationship becomes one plus one equals three. Why? Because God Himself is love… You welcome His heart for that person… And wherever God is, strengthens.

· It’s a simple concept even expressed in a Proverb…, Proverbs 18:24, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” Someone says, “Well I’ll wait until they earn my affection or they serve me…, then I will express appreciation and love towards them.” That is absolutely not the heart of God. 1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

· So, simple algorithmic conclusion, takes humility, courage, intentionality and care for others over yourself…, if you feel as if you aren’t loved by folks, guarantee it’s due to you not loving folks… Love expressed is want to kindle love… And John, the early apostles, Jesus Himself, God our Father…, they had and have no problem expressing love and it’s not just an emotional reaction but there is intentionality behind it… To make sure you know you are loved. Do you do that for others?

· Look at how John starts his next sentence. Three times in 12 words John tells Gaius that he is loved…

3 John Chapter 1 Verses 2 – 4

· It’s a simple greeting from friend to friend but I wrote this note in my Bible so many years ago and I’d like to read it to you for this verse…

· Verse two sometimes is misapplied as sort of a divine promise for healing but in context and actuality, this is a personal letter from John to his friend Gaius in which he is essentially saying, “I hope this letter finds you well.” It is however notable and profitable to point out that John does link physical health with mental well-being. In actuality, as medical science continues to improve and expand, it has been proven that bad attitudes can create and release harmful chemicals that do attack the body physically!

· A chemical that attacks the body physically, causing physical damage, we call that, “poison.” So, you could say, bad attitudes or even negativity actually are a type of poison being released in your body by YOU! Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones!”

· Doctors have even discovered that laughter aids tremendously in the body’s metabolic process! On the other hand, bitterness eats at your physical being literally. This has all been extensively proven medically and scientifically. Ulcers, destructive chemicals that slow your metabolism, affect your thinking and can alter your long-term health, all a result of an incessant irritation type of approach to life.

· Plus, its catching! Your negativity can and does affect those that are around you! I don’t know if you’ve ever even considered this!? Your critical attitude or negativity in general actually, physically, in REALITY literally poisons people around you and in the case of your family, those that you say you love!

· Consider this in who you choose to be, please AND especially consider this when there is strife. Check this out, Proverbs 17:14 says, “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore, stop contention before a quarrel starts.” What is more destructive than fire? Water… Why? Fire leaves nothing, sweep the ashes and move on… Water leaves mold, bacteria… Fire leaves a mess but water leaves a sort of disease. Unresolved hurt, pride-saturation, relationship-corrosion and ultimately unresolved issues birth and sustain suffering in a relationship. You may move on because there’s just no point in punishing someone for their own wickedness…, wickedness in itself is punishment! So, you move on and under the rug it goes but suffering never subsides… Incessant irritation…

· I want you and my kids and my friends to be aware of this so that when strife kicks up, (because it always will), you become blessed because Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers!” Dealing with issues is a God-given gift to the mature and the wise. The end of confrontation should always be resolve and the kindness of unity in love. And if its not, that strife remains…, even after the yelling ends… And John gives us a link here, the Bible is very clear, that is one of the things that poisons your spirit little by little throughout your life.

· Paul understood this principle very well which is why he wrote 1 Corinthians 6:7-8, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” Essentially what context would lead us to believe that Gaius is doing and yet God deploys John to comfort him and to confront Diotrephes!