1. Mon: Acts 6-7
  2. Tue: Jeremiah 38-40
  3. Wed: 2 Chronicles 19-23
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

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.

King James Version (KJV). Public domain.