IT'S THE TRUTH

3 JOHN

Characteristics of the Letter: This is a very personal letter, addressed to Gaius, which focuses on an ecclesiastical problem regarding traveling teachers. Gaius had given them hospitality, whereas Diotrephes, a self-assertive leader in one of the churches, had refused to receive them. John exhibits his apostolic authority in his rebuke of Diotrephes (v. 10). Demetrius, who himself may have been a traveling teacher, probably delivered the letter to Gaius.

The battle for truth and against apostasy is fought not only in the home (2 John) but especially in the local church; and that is where 3 John comes in. This little letter (the shortest New Testament epistle in the original Greek) gives us a glimpse into an early assembly, its people, and its problems. As you read this brief letter, you find yourself saying, "Times have not changed very much!" We have similar people and problems today!

One of the key words in this letter is witness (3 John 3, "testified"; 3 John 6,12, "report, bear record, record"). It means not only the words that we say but the lives that we live. Each Christian is a witness, either a good me or a bad one. We are either helping the truth (3 John 8) or hindering it.

This letter was addressed to Gaius, one of the leaders of the assembly. But John also discussed two other men in these verses - Diotrephes and Demetrius. Wherever there are people, there are problems - and the potential for solving problems. Each of us must honestly face the question, "Am I a part of the problem or a part of the answer?"

Consider the three men involved in this letter and note the kinds of Christians they were.

Gaius the Encourager (3 John 1-8)

There is no question that the Apostle John dearly loved this man! He called him "the well beloved" in his greeting, and "beloved" in 3 John 5. It is unlikely that these were merely formal terms, Like our "Dear Mr. Jones." (We may not even know Mr. Jones personally!) Third John 4 suggests that Gaius may have been one of John's converts, and, of course, those we lead to faith in Christ are especially precious to us. However, the beloved apostle looked on all the believers as his "little children" (1 John 2:1,12,18), so we must not press this too far.

Spiritual health (v. 2). John may be hinting here that his dear friend was not well and that John was praying for restored health. "I want you to be as healthy in body as you are in soul!" If this is the case, then it is evidence that it is possible to be spiritually healthy and physically sick, However, this kind of a greeting was very common in that day, so we must not build too much on it.

However, it is clear that Gaius was a man whose "spiritual health" was evident to all. "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Cor 4:16). Physical health is the result of nutrition, exercise, cleanliness, proper rest, and the disciplined order of a balanced life. Spiritual health is the result of similar factors. We must nourish ourselves with the Word, and then "work out" that nourishment in godly exercise (1 Tim 4:6-7). We must keep ourselves clean (2 Cor 7:1) and avoid the contamination and pollution that is in the world

(2 Peter 1:4; James 1:27). While exercise and service are important, it is also important that we rest in the Lord and gain new strength through fellowship with Him (Matt 11:18-30). A balanced life is a healthy and happy life, a life that honors God.

A good testimony (vv. 3-4). Gaius was recognized as a man who obeyed the Word of God and "walked in truth" (2 John 4). Some of the brethren had made several visits to John, and they had joyfully reported that Gaius was a glowing example of what a Christian ought to be.

What made Gaius such a good testimony? Gods’ truth. The truth was "in him" and enabled him to walk in obedience to God's will. Gaius read the Word, meditated on it, delighted in it, and then practiced it in his daffy life (Ps 1:1-3). What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul. It is not enough merely to hear the Word or read the Word. We must inwardly "digest it" and make it part of our inner persons (1 Thess 2:13).

It is clear that Gaius' entire life was wrapped up in the truth. True living comes from the living truth. Jesus Christ, the truth (John 14:6), is revealed in the Word, which is God's truth (John 17:17). The Holy Spirit is also truth (1 John 5:6), and He teaches us the truth. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the Son of God, and then to enable us to obey the will of God and "walk in truth. "

Practical ministry (vv. 5-8). Gaius was also a fellow helper to the truth (3 John 8). In practical ways, he assisted those who were ministering the Word. We have no indication that Gaius himself was a preacher or teacher, but he opened his heart and home to those who were.

We have learned from John's second letter the importance of Christian hospitality in that day. John warned "the elect lady" against entertaining false teachers (2 John 7-11), but in this letter he commended Gaius for showing hospitality to the true ministers of the Word. Gaius was an encouragement, not only to the brethren in general, but especially to "strangers" who came to fellowship with the church and to minister (Heb 13:2).

In this day of fear and violence, it is not easy to welcome strangers into our homes. Of course, in the early church, traveling ministers carried letters of recommendation from their own assemblies (Rom 16:1); so, it is important that we know something about the people we plan to entertain. However, it does take faith and love.

Gaius not only opened his home, but he also opened his heart and his hand to give financial help to his guests. The phrase brings forward on their journey means "to assist on their journey." This could have included providing money and food as well as washing and mending clothing (1 Cor 16:6; Titus 3:13). After all, our faith must be proved by our works (James 2:14-16), and our love must be expressed by deeds, not just words (1 John 3:16-18).

What is the motivation for this kind of practical ministry to the saints? First of all., it honors God. The phrase after a godly sort in 3 John 6 means "worthy of God, as befits God." We are never more "godlike" than when we are sacrificing to serve others. "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" (Col 1:10). Since these itinerant ministers were representing the name of the Lord, any ministry to them was really a service to Jesus Christ (Matt 10:40; 25:34-40).

A second motive is that the support of God's servants is a witness to the lost (3 John 7). Keep in mind that there were many wandering teachers in that day, sharing their ideas and begging for money While the Lord Jesus taught definitely that God's servants deserve support (Luke 10:7), the standard in the New Testament is that this support comes from God's people. "Taking nothing of the Gentiles" means that these itinerant workers would not solicit help from the unsaved. Abraham had this same policy (Gen 14:21-24), though he did not force his associates to adopt his policy. Many pastors make it clear, when the offering is being received, that they are not asking anything from the unbelievers in the congregation.

When God's people adequately support God's servants, it is a powerful testimony to the lost. But when ministers, churches, and other religious organizations go about soliciting from unsaved people and various businesses, it makes Christianity look cheap and commercial. This does not mean that God's servants should refuse a voluntary gift from an unconverted person, as long as the person understands that the gift will not purchase salvation. Even then, we must be very cautious. The king of Sodom's offer was voluntary, but Abraham rejected it! (Gem 14:17-24)

The third motivation for serving is obedience to God, "We therefore ought to receive such" (3 John 8). This ministry of hospitality and support is not only an opportunity, but also an obligation. Gal 6:6-10 makes it clear that those who receive spiritual blessings from the minister of the Word ought to share with him in material blessings; 1 Cor 9:7-11 further explains this principle. It is unbiblical for church members to send their tithes and offerings all over the world and neglect to support the ministry of their own local church.

John gave a fourth motivation in 3 John 8: "That we might be fellow helpers to the truth." Gaius not only received the truth and walked in the truth, but he was a "joint worker" who helped to further the truth. We do not know what his spiritual gifts were or how he served in the congregation, but we do know that Gaius helped extend and defend the truth by assisting those who taught and preached it.

It is one thing to fight apostasy and refuse to entertain false teachers, but quite another thing to open our homes (and wallets) to promote the truth. We need both the negative and the positive. We need more people like Gaius who are spiritually healthy, obedient to the Word, and sharing what they have for the furtherance of the truth. But, alas, not everybody is a Gaius! We turn now to an entirely different kind of Christian.

Diotrephes the Dictator (3 John 9-10)

It seems like many churches have members who insist on "being boss" and having their own way. Sometimes it is the pastor who assumes dictatorial powers and forgets that the word minister means "a servant." Sometimes it is an officer, perhaps a longtime member of the church who thinks he or she has "seniority rights."

Our Lord's disciples often argued over which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom (Matt 18:1). Jesus had to remind them that their model for ministry was not the Roman official who 'lorded it over" people, but the Saviour Himself who came as a humble servant (Phil 2:1). It appears that the "successful minister" today is more like a Madison Avenue tycoon than a submissive servant. In his hand he holds a wireless telephone, not a towel; in his heart is selfish ambition, not a love for lost souls and for God's sheep.

Diotrephes was motivated by pride. Instead of giving the preeminence to Jesus Christ (Col 1:18), he claimed it for himself. He had the final say-so about everything in the church, and his decisions were determined by one thing. "What will this do for Diotrephes?" He was most unlike John the Baptist who said, "He [Jesus Christ] must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). The Greek verb indicates that it was the constant attitude of Diotrephes to promote himself.

Whenever a church has a resident dictator in its membership there are bound to be problems, because people who are spiritually minded will not tolerate that kind of leadership.

The Holy Spirit is grieved when the members of the body are not permitted to exercise their gifts because one member must have His own way. At the judgment Seat of Christ, we will discover how many hearts have been broken and churches destroyed because of the arrogant "ministries" of people like Diotrephes. Consider what this man was doing.

He would not receive John (v. 9). It is incredible to think that a church leader (Diotrephes may have been an elder) would not have fellowship with one of our Lord's own apostles! How much Diotrephes could have learned from John! But Jesus Christ was not preeminent in his life, therefore Diotrephes could afford to treat the aged apostle this way.

Why did Diotrephes reject John? The obvious reason seems to be that John challenged the man's right to be dictator in the church. John was a threat to Diotrephes, because John had the authority of an apostle. John knew the truth about Diotrephes and was willing to make it known. Satan was at work in the church because Diotrephes was operating on the basis of pride and self-glorification, two of the devil's chief tools. If John appeared on the scene, Satan would be the loser.

He lied about John (v. 10 a). The phrase prating against us with malicious words means "bringing false and empty charges against us." What Diotrephes was saying about John was sheer nonsense, but there are people who love to hear such talk and who will believe it! Apparently, Diotrephes had made these accusations against John at one of the church meetings when John was not present to defend himself. But John warned that the day would soon come when he would settle accounts with Diotrephes the dictator Christians must be careful not to believe everything that they read or hear about God's servants, particularly those servants who have a wide ministry and are well known.

He rejected John's associates (v. 10 b). Diotrephes would not even receive the other brethren because they were in fellowship with John! It was "guilt by association." It is impossible to practice this kind of "separation" with any degree of consistency, because nobody can always know all that be needs to know about what his brother is doing!

Scripture makes it clear that we should have no fellowship with apostates (we studied this in 2 Peter), and that we must refrain from entangling alliances with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14). We must also avoid those whose doctrinal position is contrary to Scripture (Rom 16:17-19). This does not mean that we cooperate only with those believers who interpret Scripture exactly as we do, because even good and godly people disagree on some matters such as church government or prophecy. All true Christians can agree on the fundamental doctrines of the faith and, in love, give latitude for disagreement on other matters.

However, to break personal fellowship with a brother because I disagree with his circle of friends is going beyond Scripture. Diotrephes rejected John, and then rejected the believers associated with John! But he went even further.

He disciplined those who disagreed with him (v. 10 c). The church members who received John's associates were dismissed from the church! Again, it was guilt by association. Diotrephes had neither the authority nor the biblical basis for throwing these people out of the church, but he did it. Even "religious dictators" have to be careful lest the opposition become too strong!

The New Testament does teach church discipline, and these instructions ought to be obeyed. But church discipline is not a weapon for a dictator to use to protect himself. It is a tool for a congregation to use to promote purity and glorify God. It is not a pastor "throwing weight around," or a church board acting like a police court. It is the Lord exercising spiritual authority through a local church in order to rescue and restore an erring child of God.

Church "dictators" are dangerous people but, fortunately, they are easy to recognize. They Like to talk about themselves and what they have "done for the Lord." They also have the habit of judging and condemning those who disagree with them. They are experts in putting labels on other Christians and classifying them into neat little, categories of their own intention. They base their fellowship on personalities, not the doctrines that are fundamental to the faith. The tragedy is that these "dictators" actually believe that they are serving God and glorifying Jesus Christ.

If only we would return to the New Testament principle of making the person and work of Jesus Christ our test for fellowship, rather than associations and interpretations of nonessential doctrines. But people like Diotrephes will always have their enthusiastic followers because many sincere but immature and untaught believers prefer to follow such leaders.

Demetrius the Exemplar (3 John 11-14) According to the dictionary, an exemplar is "an ideal, a model, an example worthy to be imitated." Demetrius was that kind of a Christian. John warned his readers not to imitate Diotrephes. "If you want to imitate an example, then follow Demetrius!"

But is it tight for us to irritate human leaders? Yes, if they in turn are imitating Jesus Christ. "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example" (Phil 3:17). "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor 11:1). You and I cannot see God, but we can see God at work in the lives of His children. The godly life and dedicated service of another believer is always an encouragement and a stimulus. By our good example, we can "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Heb 10:24).

Demetrius was a man worth imitating because he had a "good report" (witness) from the church fellowship. All the members knew him, loved him, and thanked God for his consistent life and ministry. While it is a dangerous thing when "all men shall speak well of you" (Luke 6:26), it is a wonderful thing when all the believers in a local church can agree to commend your life and testimony. If all men, saved and lost, good and evil, speak well of us, it may mean that we are compromising and masquerading.

But Demetrius not only had a good witness from the believers in the church, but he also had a good witness from the Word (truth) itself.

Like Gaius, Demetrius walked in the truth and obeyed the Word of God. This does not mean that either of these men was perfect, but it does mean that they were consistent in their lives, seeking to honor the Lord.

Both the church and the Word bore witness to Demetrius' Christian life, and so did the Apostle John himself. (This meant that Demetrius would be in trouble with Diotrephes!) The beloved apostle knew firsthand that Demetrius was a man of God, and John was not ashamed to confess it.

John had warned that he was going to visit the church and confront Diotrephes (3 John 10), and no doubt both Gaius and Demetrius would stand with John in opposing the "dictator." They were the kind of men who would support the truth and submit themselves to authentic spiritual authority. Because they followed the truth, they could safely be imitated by other believers.

The conclusion of the letter (3 John 13-14) is similar to the conclusion of 2 John, and perhaps was a standard way to end letters in John’s Day. The apostle planned to visit the church "shortly" (soon), which certainly was a warning to Diotrephes and an encouragement to Gaius and Demetrius. The beloved John had "many things" to discuss with the assembly and its leaders, things he would rather deal with personally rather than by means of a letter.

"Peace be to thee" (3 John 14) must have been a benediction of real encouragement to Gaius! No doubt his own heart and mind were distressed because of the division in the church and the unspiritual way Diotrephes was abusing its members. Peace is the possession of adequate resources. The believer can enjoy the "peace of God" because he has adequate resources in Jesus Christ (Phil 4:6-7,13,19).

John was careful to send greetings from the believers in the assembly with which he was associated at that time. "The friends send their greeting!" What a blessing it is to have Christian friends! When Paul arrived near Rome, some of the brethren went to meet him, "whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15). Both Paul and John were not only soul winners, but also friend-makers. Diotrephes was so dictatorial that he had fewer and fewer friends, but John had more and more friends as he shared the love of Christ.

"Greet the friends by name". The aged apostle did not want to write a long letter; besides, he was planning a visit. Paul sometimes ended his letters with a list of personal greetings (Rom 16), but John did not do this, at least in this letter. He wanted to have Gaius convey his greetings to his friends personally and individually, as though John was doing it himself, John was not concerned about a church only, but also the individuals within that church.

It is interesting to contrast these two little letters and to see the balance of truth that John presented. Second John was written to a godly woman about her family, while 3 John was written to a godly man about his church. John warned "the elect lady" about false teachers from the outside, but he warned Gaius about dictatorial leaders inside the fellowship. The false teachers in 2 John would appeal to love so that they might deny truth, while Diotrephes would appeal to truth as, in a most unloving way, he would attack the brethren.

How important it is to walk "in truth and love" (2 John 3) and hold the truth in love! (Eph 4:15) To claim to love the truth and yet hate the brethren is to confess ignorance of what the Christian life is all about.

When God's people love Him, the truth, and one another, then the Spirit of God can work in that assembly to glorify Jesus Christ. But when any member of that assembly, including the pastor, becomes proud and tries to have "the preeminence," then the Spirit is grieved, and He cannot bless. The church may outwardly appear successful, but inwardly it will lack the true unity of the Spirit that makes for a healthy fellowship.

What we need are more people Like Gaius and Demetrius - and fewer like Diotrephes!