Third John is the last of three letters written by the same John who wrote the gospel account of Jesus’ life and ministry. Third John is the shortest and most direct of all John’s writings. In fact, it’s more like a memo than a letter.
(Some Bible scholars have theorized that 1, 2, and 3 John may have been delivered in a packet by a courier named Demetrius (3 John 1:12).)
Third John is addressed to John’s close friend, Gaius. As is common in such personal letters, John wishes Gaius good health and expresses thankfulness for Gaius’s service to Jesus’ followers. John is particularly grateful that Gaius welcomed and supported missionaries (who were strangers to him) who were passing through Gaius’s town. John says such support makes Gaius a “fellow worker” for the truth. Gaius is fully participating in the ministry of the gospel by encouraging and helping those who travel to proclaim it.
This letter gives us a glimpse into a relationship between church leaders who were concerned for each other’s welfare and the church under their care. It’s a warm and encouraging letter. As we read it, we sense that John misses his dear friend and eagerly awaits the day when they can sit down and catch up in person (3 John 1:13).
In 2 John, the apostle had warned the church about showing hospitality to false teachers and tolerating without dispute those who oppose Jesus’ message. In this more personal letter, John calls out Diotrephes, who has done the opposite. Diotrephes undermined the true teaching about Jesus by refusing hospitality to those he should have welcomed in Jesus’ name.
John assures Gaius that he will soon visit and address Diotrephes’s actions (3 John 1:10). John urges Gaius to “not imitate evil but imitate good” (3 John 1:11 ESV). In other words, don’t be like Diotrephes by judging and excluding those who belong to Christ, but continue walking in the truth by welcoming all who believe the truth (3 John 1:3-4).
Third John reveals to us the importance of hospitality and encouragement by giving us a snapshot of it in the early church. Since believers in Jesus have one goal (Matthew 28:16-20)—to know Jesus and make his glory known to the world by spreading the good news about him—we ought to show great hospitality to one another and do good to one another. In short, we love one another and welcome one another as we have been welcomed by God because of what Jesus has done for us.
So today as you read 3 John, hear the challenge—consider whether there are people that you are refusing to welcome in Jesus’ name. And hear the inviting call of 3 John—how might you show hospitality this week to the fellow believers in your life?