Contrasting Leaders 3rd John

Text: 3rd John Key Verse: Topic: Leadership Theme: Godly leaders are characterized by love and selflessness 1. The support of traveling Christian workers is noble and needful (5-8) 2. Church discipline can be necessary for healthy ministry to flourish (9-10) 3. The integrity of faith is proven by actions (vs 11) ESV Study Bible outline: 1. Greeting: The Elders Joy at Gaiuss Faithfulness (14) 2. Praise for Gaiuss Support for Itinerant Christian Workers (58) 3. Concern about Diotrephes (910) 4. Advice and Commendation of Demetrius (1112) 5. Closing with Promise to Visit (1315) Outline: 1. The Hospitality of Gaius (3 John 1-8) 2. The Censure of Diotrephes (3 John 9-10) 3. Recommendation of Demetrius (3 John 11-12) 4. Closing Words (3 John 13-14)

Introduction: 1. Authorship: a. The Elder ('the Presbyter) (vs 1) b. Authorship tied with the 1st and 2nd epistles c. Acceptance of their Johannine authorship is early but not universal 2. Addressee: Gaius of whom nothing is known: Four other references to a Gaius in the NT a. At Ephesus riot (Acts 19, specifically vs 29, So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Pauls travel companions) b. Acts 20:4, Gaius of Derbe c. Romans 16:23, Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother d. 1 Corinthians 1:14, I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius 3. Occasion: It has been suggested that 2 and 3 John were originally preserved because they were part of a single packet containing all three Johannine letters. On this view, 3 John was a personal letter to Gaius commending the courier of the shipment, Demetrius (v. 12); 2 John was to be read aloud to Gaiuss church; and 1 John was a sermon for general distribution and not a letter in the strict sense. This scenario cannot be verified but is a useful hypothesis in envisioning how Johns letters could have arisen and been preserved in early Christianity (ESV Study Bible)

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1. The Hospitality of Gaius (3 John 1-8) a. Text: The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. d. Comments: i. 2 John warns against receiving false teachers (10,11; If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds ii. 3 John addresses the different side of the issue not receiving true brethren (RBP sees as traveling missionaries) iii. Here John commends Gaius. This commendation is instructive for us e. Salutation (1) i. beloved note 4 fold: 1,2,5,11 ii. : adjective: beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love iii. John loves him in truth. Truth is the basis for genuine fellowship iv. The relationship between the three persons mentioned in the letter: 1. Gaius an esteemed and faithful church leader 2. Diotrephes church leader in either same church as Gaius or a neighboring assembly 3. Demetrius = courier (??) of the epistle

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f. Walking in the Truth (2-4) i. Three levels of prosperity 1. John prays: that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers 2. Prosper: a. Greek b. Compare (same word) i. Romans 1:10, Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. (KJV) ii. 1 Corinthians 16:2, On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come ii. Chart
Levels of prosperity
Temporal Eternal External Body Soul Material Physical Spiritual "prosper in all things" "be in health" "just as your soul prospers"

iii. Health: GK (Cf English = hygiene)

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Contrasting Leaders 3rd John

iv. About Gaius 1. Others see and testify of Gaius character: brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you 2. True integrity: you walk in the truth 3. John rejoices: a. Specifically about him: I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you b. Generally: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth g. Supporting missionaries (5-8) i. Text: 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His names sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. ii. Persons mentioned: brothers and strangers iii. On a journey ordained of God for His names sake iv. They refused to take from Gentiles (presume this to mean unbelievers) 1. Greek (cf English ethnic). Often translated gentiles 2. Christians are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) 3. NIV: receiving no help from the pagans v. Material help probably financial is in view. Help them go forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God 1. Cf Titus 3:13, Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 2. vi. By helping out become fellow workers for the truth
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Contrasting Leaders 3rd John

vii. Mission of the church (note action of the whole assembly): 1. Receive 2. send them forward 3. Participate in their ministry become fellow workers for the truth 4. To do faithfully 2. The Censure of Diotrephes (3 John 9-10) a. Text: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. b. Loving preeminence (9) i. His position: Church leader. Presumably a gifted individual! ii. His motive: loves to have the preeminence among them 1. (hapax: love + first) Literally loves to be first) 2. RBP: inflated ego, dictatorial manner, self-willed & authoritarian! c. His deeds (10): i. Against John: 1. Doesnt receive John (and companions us) 2. prates against with malicious words a. NASB: unjustly accusing us with wicked words b. ESV: talking wicked nonsense against us. c. NIV: gossiping maliciously about us. d. Greek verb: = bring forward idle accusations, make empty charges. Adjectival form in 1 Timothy 5:13, And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house,

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and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not e. = evil, malicious words ii. Others: 1. Doesnt receive the brethren the missionaries on a journey 2. And forbids those who wish to 3. Exercises authority in a dictatorial way - put[s] them out of the church. iii. Diotrephes is the polar opposite of Gaius! d. John to personally address issue: Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does 3. Recommendation of Demetrius (3 John 11-12) a. Text: Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

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b. Follow the good (11) i. Choice provided and commanded: ii. imitate GK: (mimic) 1. Imperative! 2. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyones bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 3. Hebrews 13:7, Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct c. Good report (12) i. Demetrius has a good testimony from all 1. He is a man of integrity: from the truth itself 2. He is well spoken of: a good testimony from all 3. John himself commends him: we also bear witness ii. A model for Gaius and for all!

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4. Closing Words (3 John 13-14) a. Text: I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name b. Other things (13) i. pen and ink= limited communications ii. Soon face to face iii. Cf 2 John 12, Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full iv. Pen is literally a reed v. Very similar to the end of 2 John! c. Final greetings (14) i. Peace Christians adopted the Jewish shalom ii. Greetings from friends iii. Greetings to friends iv. Personal: by name

Boyce: Gaius A fellow worker 1-8 9-10 11-12

Diotrophes A major problem Demetrius A fine example

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