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Thursday · Week 43
The Epistles & Revelation

3 John

Week 43 · about 2 min
  1. Fri: Micah 5-7
  2. Sat: Proverbs 16-19
  3. Sun: Deuteronomy 4-6

Another short letter from “the elder,” this time to a man named Gaius.

Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius

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

3 John 1:4 (KJV)

John mentions three men in this letter. Gaius is faithful and opens his home to traveling missionaries, even ones he’s never met. John prays that Gaius will “prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Diotrephes “loveth to have the preeminence.” He gossips about John, refuses to welcome traveling believers, and throws out anyone who does. Demetrius has “good report of all men, and of the truth itself.” John’s advice fits on one line: “follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”

Reflect: Which of the three men are you most like?

III John 1

1I, a ruler in the church, send word to the well loved Gaius, for whom I have true love.

2My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.

3For it gave me great joy when some of the brothers came and gave witness that you had the true faith and were walking in the true way.

4I have no greater joy than to have news that my children are walking in the true way.

5My loved one, you are doing a good work in being kind to those brothers who come from other places;

6Who have given witness to the church of your love for them: and you will do well to send them on their way well cared for, as is right for servants of God:

7For they went out for love of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8So it is right for us to take in such men as guests, so that we may take our part in the work of the true faith.

9I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.

10So if I come, I will keep in mind the things he does, talking against us with evil words: and as if this was not enough, he does not take the brothers into his house, and those who are ready to take them in, he keeps from doing so, putting them out of the church if they do.

11My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.

12Demetrius has the approval of all men and of what is true: and we give the same witness, and you are certain that our witness is true.

13I had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:

14But I am hoping to see you in a short time, and to have talk with you face to face. May you have peace. Your friends here send you their love. Give my love to our friends by name.

Bible in Basic English (BBE). Bible in Basic English (BBE), public domain in the United States.