Books of the Bible

The Book of 3 John

New Testament · General Epistles · Genre: Epistle · Author: Attributed by early tradition to John the apostle · Chapters: 1

Third John is a personal note commending hospitality and faithfulness. John praises a believer named Gaius for supporting traveling teachers of the gospel, rebukes a domineering man named Diotrephes, and reminds us that walking in truth means welcoming and helping God's servants.

Start reading: 3 John chapter 1

A key verse

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.3 John 1:4 (KJV)

The setting and background of 3 John

Third John is another very short personal letter from the elder, traditionally the apostle John, addressed this time to an individual believer named Gaius, whom John loves in the truth. It gives a rare and vivid glimpse into the ordinary life and tensions of an early Christian community.

The letter commends Gaius for his hospitality to traveling missionaries who went out for the sake of the name of Christ, contrasts him with a domineering man named Diotrephes who loves to be first and refuses to welcome fellow believers, and commends a third man, Demetrius, who is well spoken of by everyone. It honors the quiet faithfulness that supports the work of the gospel.

Third John was written to encourage open-handed hospitality and to warn against the pride that seeks preeminence. In the sweep of Scripture, though one of the shortest books in the Bible, it gives a valuable window into the everyday workings of the early church and its dependence on hospitality, and it has encouraged the church's care for its missionaries and travelers ever since.

The story and structure of 3 John

Third John is another very short personal letter from the elder, traditionally the apostle John, this time addressed to an individual believer named Gaius, whom John loves in the truth. It gives a rare and vivid glimpse into the ordinary life and tensions of an early Christian community.

John writes with warm affection, praying that Gaius may prosper and be in good health, and rejoicing greatly to hear that Gaius is walking in the truth. He says he has no greater joy than to hear that his children are walking in the truth, expressing the heart of a spiritual father for those he has taught.

The occasion is hospitality to traveling missionaries. John commends Gaius for faithfully supporting and sending on their way the teachers who went out for the sake of the name of Christ, accepting nothing from unbelievers. In welcoming and helping such workers, John says, Gaius becomes a fellow worker for the truth.

John contrasts Gaius with a man named Diotrephes, who loves to be first, refuses to welcome the traveling believers, speaks against John with malicious words, and even puts out of the church those who would show hospitality. John warns that such pride is a poor imitation of God, urging Gaius to imitate what is good and not what is evil.

He commends another believer, Demetrius, who is well spoken of by everyone and by the truth itself, and then, as in his second letter, closes by saying he hopes to see Gaius soon and speak face to face. In a few lines the letter quietly honors the ordinary faithfulness, generosity, and hospitality that keep the mission of the gospel going.

The great themes of 3 John

Key passages in 3 John

3 John in the sweep of Scripture

Third John, though one of the shortest and most personal books in the Bible, gives a valuable window into the everyday workings of the early church, with its dependence on hospitality and its very human tensions between the humble and the domineering. It honors the quiet faithfulness of those who support the work of the gospel and warns against the pride that seeks preeminence. Its commendation of open-handed hospitality has encouraged the church's care for its missionaries and travelers ever since.

Where Christ is in 3 John

Third John commends love shown in practical support of those who go out for the sake of the name of Jesus, honoring Christ by serving his servants. To welcome and help the messengers of the gospel is to become a fellow worker for the truth, sharing in the mission of the one whose name they carry to the world.

How to read 3 John well

Read Third John as an encouragement to open-handed hospitality and to the quiet faithfulness that supports the work of the gospel behind the scenes. Let its warning against Diotrephes keep your own service humble, free from the love of being first, and let its praise of Gaius and Demetrius inspire you to be the kind of believer who is well spoken of by the truth. In welcoming and helping God's servants, become a fellow worker for the truth yourself.

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