EXEGESIS ON THIRD JOHN

Introduction

I thought it might be good to have some exegesis type lessons. I have chosen this afternoon one of my favorite passages, Third John.

III John 1:1-4

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.

• John the elder is thought by some to be someone other than the apostle. In either case this letter was accepted into the canon because it was in harmony with apostolic doctrine and was being read or accepted in the apostolic churches.
• First note that there was a common bond that draws them together. That bond was truth. Philippians 3:14-16 says:

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Truth and truth alone can let us walk by the same rule and be of the same mind in Christ.

• Gaius had a reputation for doing the right thing. His soul prospered. He walked in truth and held the truth as he lived his life. Someone has said the world needs men and women:
  who cannot be bought;
  whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth;
  who possess opinions and a will;
  who are larger than their vocations;
  who do not hesitate to take chances;
  who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
  who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
  who will make no compromise with wrong;
  whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
  who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it";
  who are true to their friends through good report and evil report in adversity as well as in prosperity;
  who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
  who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
  who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."

  Gaius was no doubt just such a man.

• It's important that good men have good health and it is beneficial that they prosper in other things also. This takes away the burden of struggle with earthly things. Not that we should not be willing at times to have earthly struggles. We do not know if Gaius had earthly struggles or not. John prayed that he prosper in all things and be in health.- just as his soul prospered.
• John rejoiced over the report that the truth was in Gaius. He said that he had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in truth. Gaius was possibly a child in the faith not an literal son; however, as a father, I can testify also to the joy of having one's children walking in truth.

III John 1:5-8

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 name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

• Gaius had love for workers in the kingdom. He supported them in sending them out. John said he did well if he sent them forward in a manner worthy of God.
• Others bore witness to Gaius' love. We should not be patting ourselves on the back but good men should be recognized. Paul did it often in his letters. He tells the Philippians to do the same. Philippians 2:25-30
  Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

• We become fellow workers by receiving those who go forth. Some think you have to be engaged in the actual work to have the fellowship. But John says differently. We need to be humble and always act in good honor. Our lights need to shine. A familiar passage again from Philippians. Philippians 2:15-16
  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
  "holding fast the word of life - There's that truth factor again.

III John 1:9-10

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.

• There are probably a few maybe even many Diotrephes in this world and in the church. There are evil men who condemn good men. Perhaps this is an admonition to Gaius concerning with whom he is to associate. The very preachers who condemn gossip are some of the one who do not practice what they preach. Watch out for men who want to make a name for themselves. If they have a reputation make sure it is good and not evil. Always investigate what the person believes and teaches and not the gossip. Who knows, if you seek truth, you may agree once you get past the gossip.
• A major problem was Diotrephes' love for preeminence. Indication is that he blocked the letter or perverted the contents in some way to put John and his brethren in a bad light. John says he was "prating against us with malicious words."
• In his preeminent role Diotrephes had control of the church. He did not receive the brethren and put those who wished to out of the church. It is Christ who must have the control over our lives not us who must be in control. We will never be all we can be in the church unless Christ is in control. Let me quote from someone we know, Wally Bates:
  If you can't let go of something it is because you are self-willed and self-centered. Perhaps your priorities are wrong in the first place. God knows what is best. How often do we forget that? Often our frustrations are with others. We must remember that God loves them also and is looking after their needs, not just ours. God is in control, accept it or lose it.
  When God is in control, it will show in our lives and people will know. If our desire is to be in control we will eventually lose our influence and be cast down. Max Lucado said of Eve.
  The snake pulled back the curtain to the throne room and invited Eve to take a seat. Put on the crown. Pick up the scepter. Put on the cape. See how it feels to have power. See how it feels to have a name. See how it feels to be in control! Eve swallowed the hook. The temptation to be like God eclipsed her view of God.

Our focus can be on God or ourselves. If it is on us then we will never be all that we can be in Christ.

III John 1:11-12

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.

• There was someone to whom Gaius could turn. Demetrius was another good man. Gaius could have fellowship with him to walk in the truth. Demetrius was of God. He was not evil.
• We need to look for the good people with whom we can associate in truth. Remember the story of Samuel and anointing the next king after Saul. I Samuel 16:6-7
  So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him." 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

  First we can look into our own hearts and then we can search for others who have good and honest hearts. We may not always judge properly, but we will look for good not evil. We will look for those who have God in control of their lives and not those who seek to have preeminence.

• Gaius knew John's testimony was true. Perhaps John had performed some miracles having the holy spirit bear witness to his words, or perhaps Gaius was as familiar with John as John was with him. They had a fellowship in truth. They both walked in truth and the truth was born out in their lives.

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.

• Catholics would love to have this passage justify oral tradition. But in fact, as can be easily recognized in the New Testament writings, the authority lies in the fact that it is the apostles' teachings and not whether or not they were the actual ones who wrote it down. As far as we know Luke, Mark and Jude were not apostles, but all wrote books that were accepted into the canon as the apostles teachings.
• The fact that John wished to speak with Gaius face to face indicated nothing about oral tradition being passed on from generation to generation. If the letter was written by John the apostle, the best it can indicate is that John was going to impart some apostolic doctrine which either we do not need for life and godliness or we already have it someplace else.
• We need to know our friends. I saw an advertisement for a new show on TV. The question as asked, "Friend or foe?" Friends are those with whom we have a proper bond. We need to have bonds based on truth, righteousness, honesty. We need to seek out those who have God in control of their lives.