3 John 1 Footnotes

1 The letter is addressed to a man named Gaius. Since this was one of the most common names in the Roman world, he is impossible to identify.

4 To walk in truth implies a course of conduct equivalent to living in the truth. The importance of both doctrinal integrity and spiritual vitality is evident in John’s affirmation that nothing brought greater joy to him than to know that his children were “walking in truth.”

6-8 John encouraged Gaius to continue his hospitality toward the missionaries. Such a ministry was important because these ministers were laboring on behalf of God. Underlying this discussion is a contrast between Christian missionaries and false teachers. An individual who welcomes a false teacher basically shares in his evil deeds (v. 11; 2Jn 10-11), but those who receive Christian missionaries are “coworkers with the truth” (v. 8).

9-10 Most likely the words “I wrote” refer to a previous letter now lost. It probably contained instructions from John that Diotrephes disregarded. Diotrephes, a man of influence and authority in the church, evidently was hostile toward the apostle John. The nature of his rebellion was observable in three distinct areas. (1) He loved to be in the first position. (2) He spread malicious gossip about John. (3) Failing to be content with those evil actions, he refused to receive believers from other assemblies and cast out of the church those who did receive the brethren. The sins of pride, gossip, and intolerance are frequently found together, and they compromise witness to the gospel.