Personal Instructions

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Salutation

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Again John refers to himself as the "Elder", an elder in age and position in the church. "The Elder to the beloved Gaius whom I love in the truth." Matthew Henry says that the statement that you "love someone in the truth", means that it is abiding like the Gospel, unchanging and eternal. As the Word is truth, so was John's love for Gaius.

Walk in the Truth

Here John shows concern for the spiritual health and the physical health of Gaius. I pray that you may be in good health." "I know that all is well with your soul." John could say this with complete assurance because he knew of Gaius' acceptance of Jesus as his Lord and Savior. This assurance did not cover physical health, so John prays for this. It would appear that some of Gaius' friends had gone to Ephesus to see John and told him about the good works that Gaius was doing.

A Commendation

John calls this good work "following the truth". They testified that Gaius had a real and sincere faith and that he was devoted to God and gave evidence of this by his charity. This pleased John very much. Notice what in particular Gaius did. He took into his home and sheltered and fed all who journeyed in the Lord's service even strangers. This is further evidence that this is the same Gaius that was a host to Paul. He not only cared for their needs while they were in his area, but he also, as was the custom, traveled a distance with them when they left, taking care of their needs along the way. This was a common courtesy befitting those who were in God's service because they took nothing for their ministry as a witness to the Gentiles. This, John says, is a way in which we share in our brother's work.

A Condemnation

Then John gets to a particular problem, a man by the name of Diotrephes. Nothing is mentioned anywhere else about this man. Notice his weakness. "He likes to put himself first." Most scholars believe that this man was the minister there at the church that Gaius attended. He was a Gentile with an un-Christian spirit. He was full of pride and ambition. As the result, he did not acknowledge John's authority.

It would appear that John had written a letter previously to this church, probably recommending that they welcome some brethren who had moved into the area for membership into the church where Gaius went. But when these brothers arrived, Dioterfes refused to welcome them and even stopped others from welcoming them, and even worse, had them put out of the church. It is believed that these brethren were Christian Jews.

There were obvious differences between Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. Matthew Henry says, "Pastors should seriously consider what differences can be tolerated by any church, however, woe to those who cast out those whom the Lord has taken as His own." Having tried to resolve this matter by letter, John now intends to visit the church and bring the matter before the congregation.

We have here what appears to be the start of what we have come to know as "Apostolic Authority", that grew into the authority of the Pope. It had not yet developed to where John could summon Diotrephes even though what Diotrephes was doing was wrong.

So John warns Gaius, "Do not imitate evil", do not do as Diotrephes has done for he who does evil has not seen God. John believed that Diotrephes would not have treated these brethren the way that he did if he had known God.

But he does commend a man by the name of Demetrius. It might well be that John was suggesting that Demetrius would be a good replacement for Diotrephes. It would appear that everyone would testify on his behalf, even John and John says, "You know that my testimony is true." There was another Demetrius at Ephesus, one who was a silversmith. He opposed Christianity because it hurt his business, people were no longer ordering statues of the pagan god Diana. This obviously was a different Demetrius, one of whom all speak well of.

With what John hoped would be the removal of Diotrephes in the life of Gaius, he hoped Gaius would look to Demetrius for example and council.

Conclusion

Then John closes this letter much as he did the second letter. "With much more to write but choosing to wait till I can talk to you face to face." His final hope was that Gaius might have the "Peace of God", happiness, contentment and assurance.

Then John sends greeting from those who were with him and asks Gaius to say hello to those at the church that knew him. John was expressing and exhibiting humility as well as love in this manner. Matthew Henry says that if we hope to live together in Heaven, we should express greetings and love here on earth.

THUS ENDS THE THIRD LETTER OF JOHN

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