Book of 3 John
Summary of the Book of 3 John
This summary of the
book of 3 John provides information about the title, author(s), date of
writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the
chapters of the Book of 3 John.
The author is John the
apostle. In the first verses of both 2 John and 3 John the author identifies
himself as "the elder." Note other similarities: "love in the
truth" (v. 1 of both letters), "walking in the truth" (v. 4 of
both letters) and the similar conclusions. See Introductions to 1 John and the
Gospel of John: Author.
The letter was
probably written about the same time as 1 and 2 John (a.d. 85-95). See
Introduction to 1 John: Date.
See Introduction to 2
John: Occasion and Purpose. Itinerant teachers sent out by John were rejected
in one of the churches in the province of Asia by a dictatorial leader,
Diotrephes, who even excommunicated members who showed hospitality to John's
messengers. John wrote this letter to commend Gaius for supporting the teachers
and, indirectly, to warn Diotrephes.
IV.
Exhortation to Gaius
(a href="/nlt/3-john/1-11.html">11)
V.
Example of Demetrius
(a href="/nlt/3-john/1-12.html">12)
From the NIV Study Bible,
Introductions to the Books of the Bible, 3 John
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
3 John 1 NLT
1 This letter is from John, the elder.
I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with
you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.
3 Some of the traveling teachers
recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness
and that you are living according to the truth.
4 I could have no greater joy than to
hear that my children are following the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are being faithful
to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though
they are strangers to you.
6They have told the church here of your
loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that
pleases God.
7 For they are traveling for the Lord,
and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.
8 So we ourselves should support them
so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.
9 I wrote to the church about this, but
Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with
us.
10 When I come, I will report some of
the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not
only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not
to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad
example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do
good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they
do not know God.
12Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as
does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we
speak the truth.
13 I have much more to say to you, but I
don’t want to write it with pen and ink.
14 For I hope to see you soon, and then
we will talk face to face.
15 Peace be with you.
Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings
to each of our friends there.
