3 John

Fellowhelpers to the Truth

Third John is the shortest book in the Bible by word count, about 219 words in Greek. It is a personal note from the elder to a friend named Gaius, and it introduces us to three men. Gaius walks in the truth and opens his home to traveling ministers. Demetrius has a good report from everyone. And Diotrephes, a leader in the local church, “loveth to have the preeminence” (v. 9), and is using his position to shut out anyone who threatens his control.

Second John told a household whom not to receive: teachers bringing a false Christ. Third John tells a friend whom to receive: faithful workers who go out for the sake of Christ’s name. And it names, in plain terms, a church leader who has gone bad. The Bible does not pretend that every man in a position of authority in the church is faithful. Sometimes the problem is not in the world. It is in the leadership of the church itself.

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Authorship & Setting

The author again calls himself “The elder” (v. 1), and the style matches 2 John so closely that they are almost certainly from the same hand, the apostle John, late in the first century. The two letters even end almost the same way.

Gaius was one of the most common names in the Roman world, and several men named Gaius appear in the New Testament (Acts 19:29; 20:4; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14). We cannot tell if this Gaius is one of them. He seems to have been a respected member of a church in the region John oversaw, perhaps one of John’s own converts, since John calls him one of “my children”(v. 4).

John had written to the church, but Diotrephes refused to receive the letter or the men John sent. The name Diotrephes means “nourished by Zeus,” a name common in prominent Greek families, which may suggest he came from wealth and status. Whatever his background, he had taken control of the congregation, refused the apostle’s authority, slandered him, turned away traveling ministers, and threw out of the church anyone who welcomed them. John says he will deal with it when he comes.

Key Figures

• The elder — John, writing to a faithful friend about a troubled church.
• Gaius — “The wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth” (v. 1), known for walking in the truth and showing hospitality.
• The brethren — traveling missionaries who “for his name’s sake… went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles” (v. 7).
• Diotrephes — a church leader who “loveth to have the preeminence among them” (v. 9), rejecting John, slandering him, and casting faithful believers out of the church.
• Demetrius — who “hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself” (v. 12), probably the one carrying the letter.
• The friends — believers on both ends of the letter, greeted “by name” (v. 14).

Greek Word Study

εὐοδόω · euodoō

“To prosper,” literally to have a good road or a good journey. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (v. 2). This was a common, warm greeting in ancient letters, like saying “I hope you’re doing well.” Some preachers have built a whole doctrine of guaranteed wealth on this one verse. That is not what John was doing. He was wishing his friend well, and measuring it by the health of his soul.

συνεργός · synergos

“Fellowhelper,” coworker, one who works alongside. “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth” (v. 8). When Gaius housed and supplied faithful missionaries, he became a partner in their work. You do not have to travel to be part of a mission. Supporting those who go makes you a coworker in the truth.

φιλοπρωτεύω · philoprōteuō

“To love to be first,” to love having the preeminence (v. 9). This is the only place the word appears in the New Testament. A related word is used for Christ in Colossians 1:18: “that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Diotrephes wanted for himself the place that belongs to Christ alone.

φλυαρέω · phlyareō

“To prate,” to talk nonsense, to gossip maliciously. Diotrephes was “prating against us with malicious words” (v. 10). It describes empty but damaging talk, the kind that tears down someone’s reputation with words that have no substance behind them.

Eight-Movement Outline

MOVEMENT ONE

To the Wellbeloved Gaius (v. 1)

“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth” (v. 1). Like 2 John, this letter begins with love grounded in truth.

MOVEMENT TWO

Prosper and Be in Health (v. 2)

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (v. 2). John’s prayer for Gaius’s body and circumstances is measured against his soul. Gaius’s spiritual life was healthy. John hoped the rest of his life would match.

MOVEMENT THREE

No Greater Joy (vv. 3–4)

Brothers had come to John and testified to Gaius’s faithfulness. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (v. 4). The old apostle’s greatest joy was not numbers, buildings, or influence. It was hearing that those he had led to Christ were still walking with Him.

MOVEMENT FOUR

Faithful to Strangers (vv. 5–6)

“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers” (v. 5). Gaius had welcomed traveling ministers he had never met, and they spoke of his love before the church. John encourages him to keep it up, sending them on their way “after a godly sort” (v. 6), in a manner worthy of God.

MOVEMENT FIVE

For His Name’s Sake (vv. 7–8)

“Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth” (vv. 7–8). These missionaries would not take money from the unbelievers they were trying to reach, so no one could say they preached for profit. That left it to believers to support them. Those who did became partners in the truth.

MOVEMENT SIX

Diotrephes, Who Loveth the Preeminence (vv. 9–10)

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not” (v. 9). John lists what Diotrephes was doing: rejecting the apostle’s authority, “prating against us with malicious words”, refusing to receive the brethren himself, forbidding others who wanted to, “and casteth them out of the church” (v. 10). John does not let it slide: “if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth” (v. 10).

MOVEMENT SEVEN

Follow That Which Is Good (vv. 11–12)

“Beloved, 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” (v. 11). Gaius should not imitate Diotrephes, however powerful he seemed. Instead, John points him to a better example: “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record” (v. 12).

MOVEMENT EIGHT

Greet the Friends by Name (vv. 13–14)

Again, John has more to say, but would rather say it in person. “Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name” (v. 14). The letter ends not with a title or a program, but with friends, known and greeted one by one.

Christ Typology

The One Who Has the Preeminence.Diotrephes loved to be first. Paul says preeminence belongs to Christ, “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). And Christ, who alone deserves first place, took the towel and washed feet. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (Matthew 20:27–28). Every leader who grasps for first place is competing with the One it belongs to.

Korah and the True Priest. In the wilderness, Korah and his followers rose up against Moses and Aaron, saying in effect that they were just as holy and should share the priesthood. Moses answered, “seek ye the priesthood also?” (Numbers 16:10). The ground opened and swallowed them. Christ is the opposite: He “glorified not himself to be made an high priest” (Hebrews 5:5) but was appointed by the Father. Diotrephes stood in Korah’s line. Faithful leaders stand in Christ’s.

I Was a Stranger. Gaius welcomed strangers, and Jesus said, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in” (Matthew 25:35). Abraham ran to welcome three travelers at his tent door and found that he was hosting the LORD Himself (Genesis 18). When believers open their homes to faithful servants of Christ, they are welcoming Christ.

For His Name. The missionaries went out “for his name’s sake” (v. 7). God revealed His name to Moses at the burning bush, “this is my name for ever” (Exodus 3:15), and Philippians says God has given Jesus “a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). Diotrephes was building his own name. The faithful were spending themselves for His.

Called by Name. John closes, “Greet the friends by name.” The Good Shepherd “calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out”(John 10:3). Diotrephes cast people out. The true Shepherd calls each one by name and leads them home.

Personal Application

Read verse 2 in context. John’s wish that Gaius would prosper and be in health was a loving greeting, not a guarantee of wealth. God does care about our bodies and circumstances. But John measured everything by the health of the soul. A teacher who builds a promise of riches on this verse is mishandling it.

Find your greatest joy where John did. Not in success, platforms, or crowds, but in seeing people walk in the truth. Parents, mentors, and anyone who has helped someone find Christ know what John meant. There is no greater joy.

Support faithful workers. The missionaries in 3 John refused money from unbelievers so the gospel would not look like a business. Faithful believers supported them instead. Giving to those who serve Christ with integrity makes you a fellowhelper in their work. Giving well also means knowing whom you are supporting.

Recognize the Diotrephes pattern. He loved being first. He refused accountability, even to an apostle. He used words to tear down those who questioned him. He controlled who was welcome. And he threw people out of the church for not going along. Those marks still describe spiritual abuse today. Scripture names it, and John did not stay silent about it.

Imitate the good. Gaius was told not to follow evil, even when it held a title, but to follow the good, like Demetrius, who had a good report from everyone and from the truth itself. If you have been hurt by a Diotrephes, do not let him define the church or Christ for you. He that doeth good is of God.

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY · MARANATHA

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