3 John 1, Love through Hospitality

We didn’t mention it before, but in both 2 and 3 John we have more traditional introductions and conclusions than what we had in 1 John.  In the smaller letters John calls himself “The Elder.”  Perhaps, like Peter (1 Pt. 5:1), he is reminding them that he writes from the position of Elder in a local church, rather than an Apostle who would have had connections to many local churches.  Or perhaps he is writing as the last of the Twelve to be alive.  That is quite possible as these letters probably come late in John’s life, and he was the last of the Apostles to die. 

3 John was written to a man named Gaius.  You may remember there was a “Gaius” connected with Paul at Corinth (Ac. 19:29; 1 Cor. 1:14), one from Derbe who accompanied Paul (Ac. 20:4), one who put Paul up in his home, probably at Ephesus, when he wrote Romans (Rom. 16:23), and then there is this man.  It was such a common name it is apparently of no consequence for us to know if he was the same as any of the others.  Although, since this one had a reputation of being hospitable, maybe he got that reputation because he had hosted Paul.

The same can be said for Demetrius (v12).  There was a silversmith by that name who opposed Paul in Ephesus (Ac. 19:24,38).  It makes a great story to identify this man as the same man who has now become a believer.  We don’t know that.  Let’s find out in heaven!

What the letter is concerned with is what Paul addressed in 2 John: the matter of welcoming into your home those who were deceptive.  Except that in 3 John there is a man in the church named Diotrephes who refuses to receive itinerate preachers who were of the truth.  In particular, he refuses to accept an invitation of John apparently (v9-11).  This man “loves to have the preeminence.”  His primary tactic for keeping his preeminent position is to make sure there are no church leaders who come from elsewhere to minister.  He forbids them to come, he won’t receive them, and he puts out of the church anyone that does receive them.  One powerful truth we learn here is the need for accountability for a church.  A local church that keeps itself isolated from others sets itself up for trouble.  We need to evaluate the doctrine (“test the spirits”, 1 Jn. 4) but we should not cut ourselves off from others.

On the other hand, Gaius is recognized by John as being faithful (v5-8).  He welcomes those brothers who come to minister, and shows hospitality to strangers.  That is, to this day, a fundamental aspect of our love for brothers (Heb. 13:2).  Not only was he hospitable but he provided what we call a “love offering” for them as well, sending “them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God” (v6).  Demetrius is also a local church leader who has a good testimony in this (v12).

Again, John’s sign-off reminds us of the importance of being face to face.  Letters, emails, texts, and phone calls lack the joy that comes from real fellowship.