Introduction to III John

 Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1. Author. Although the author does not identify himself by name, he does write in the first person. The writings of early Christians uniformly recognize apostle John as the author of III John. The following are examples of similarities of vocabulary and style found in III John which are similar to the other writings of John, i.e., Gospel of John, I John, II John, Revelation. For example, three specific phrases appear in III John and are common to all of John's epistles: love in the truth, truth in you, hath not seen God. The author probably wrote III John from Ephesus in about 85-95 A.D.
  2. Recipients. III John is addressed to the wellbeloved Gaius (v. 1). Gaius was well known to John, and also to the many Christians and the church at Ephesus (vs. 1 ,3,5-6). Gaius was a common name, and Paul had three friends whose names were Gaius(Acts 19:29, 20:4; I Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23). However, this addressee seems to have been a convert of John (v. 4). Little is known of this fourth Gaius except that he was an influential, hospitable member of some church in the Roman province of Asia. Gaius may have been the pastor of the church where Diotrephes was causing trouble, or Gaius may have been a faithful member of the church where Diotrephes was pastor, or both Gaius and Diotrephes may only have been members of the same church.
  3. Theme. Being fellowhelpers to the truth through hospitality to faithful brethren.
  4. Key verses. 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 1:7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth
  5. Key words used in III John: truth, true – 7 times.
  6. References to the Lord's church in III John: the word church appears three times in the brief epistle of III John.
    1. Commendation to Gaius, a faithful member of one of the Lord's churches, who was generous in hospitality and help for brethren and strangers. Gaius housed and fed brethren who bear witness to churches of Gaius' charity.
      1. 1:5 Beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.
    2. Condemnation to Diotrephes, an unfaithful member of one of the Lord's churches, who was domineering and malicious in his refusal of hospitality to the brethren.
      1. 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the church.
      2. Diotrephes is to be removed from church membership and disfellow­shipped as advised also in II Thessalonians 3:6: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. At the church's discretion, such an unruly member might still be allowed to visit in the church in order to hear the truth, encouraging his repentance and restoration. Such a circumstance had occurred with the sinful member of the church at Corinth who was restored after repentance (cf., I Corinthians 5:4-13 and II Corinthians 2:4-11).
  7. III John has 1 chapter, 14 verses, and 299 words.

Notes