Bible Commentaries
3 John

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND AND

THIRD EPISTLES OF JOHN

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Second and Third Epistles of the Apostle John are so closely associated, so similar in structure and form, so much alike in purpose and design, that they may be best considered together. That they were written by the same hand is admitted by even the most radical of the destructive critics. In both letters the same general outline is followed, much of the same phraseology occurs, they agree in the use of similar grammatical construction, in the adoption of the same ideas, in the definition given to leading terms, and in the purpose for which written, viz., the strengthening of faith, encouragement under trial, and warnings against, and with reference to, false teachers. They have been called "twin sisters," and it is obvious that they belong together, having issued from the hand of their author near the same time and with the same general design in mind.

Second John contains, (1) An Address and Greeting (verses 1-3); (2) The Main Portion of the Epistle, in which the writer expresses great satisfaction in the loyalty to the truth known to exist on the part of some of the members of the family of the woman addressed, and enjoins love, which he identifies as walking "after the commandments," and warns against false teachers and their doctrines (verses 4-11); (3) a conclusion, in which the author reveals an intention of visiting the person addressed.

Certain expressions and dominant terms occur repeatedly in the Epistle, and may, therefore, be regarded as keynotes. "Truth," for example, occurs five times; "love," four times; "commandment," four times. The word "walking" is also of frequent mention in the short missive. Those addressed are commanded to walk in harmony with the Lord’s commandment which is declared to be evidence of one’s love. (Verses 4, 6.) Walking in truth, keeping the commandments, and continuing in love were favorite themes of the author and were sentiments often alluded to by him, both here and elsewhere in his writings.

Third John has (1) an address and greeting (Verse 1; (2) the main body of the Epistle, in which John wished Gaius financial and spiritual prosperity, expressed joy at his faithfulness and fidelity to truth, complimented him for his hospitality, and denounced Diotrephes for his assumption of dictatorial powers in the congregation to which he belonged (verses 2-12); (3) a conclusion, in which the author expressed the expectation of seeing Gaius soon, and closing salutations (verses 13, 14). The word "truth" occurs six times in the Third Epistle of John, a dominant note in all of that apostle’s writings, whether in the biography of Christ (the Gospel According to John), the First, Second, and Third Epistles, or the Revelation. The name "God" appears twice in Third John; "Jesus" or "Christ," not at all, though of course, it is implied in the phrase, "For the sake of the Name." (Verse 7.)

These Epistles, though brief, are of much value to us today in that they afford us intimate glimpses into the affairs of the early church in a manner not characteristic of the lengthier and more profound Epistles. They also reveal that all was not always harmonious, even in the apostolic age, and that human nature, in its darker forms, carried over into the church, and influenced the actions of men even as now. They contain warnings sorely needed in our time, and which should not be ignored or disregarded. We see in them the danger of denying Christ; of failing in genuine love of the brethren; of not keeping the commandments. And, they supply us with a demonstration of the Christian spirit which should ever pervade and permeate our missives and thus constitute a pattern of Christian correspondence of the highest possible type. They are (a) brief; (b) to the point; (c) stripped of unnecessary verbiage; (d) courteous, sympathetic, and true. We would do well to bring our letter writing into conformity with the standard here given.

THE AUTHOR OF SECOND AND THIRD JOHN

The author of both of the Epistles is identified simply as "The elder" (ho presbuteros, literally, the presbyter), but believed by all conservative scholars to have been the apostle John. The evidence on the basis of which this conclusion is reached is abundant, and both internal and external in nature. The Epistles are anciently ascribed to that apostle by numerous writers of the early centuries; and they bear on their face unmistakable tokens of such authorship. Clement of Alexandria cited them; Dionysius noted that John did not name himself in his Epistles, "not even in the Second and Third Epistles, although they are short Epistles, but simply calls himself the presbyter." (Eusebius, H.E. VII, xxv.) Cyprian introduced a quotation from 2 John 1:10, as written by "John the Apostle." The internal evidence is even more convincing, and such as to be wholly sufficient for the candid and reasonable mind. The three Epistles of John embody the same language, the same ideas, the same ideals. There is little that is peculiar to them, as distinct from the First Epistle, or the Gospel according to John; and of the Second Epistle, seven or eight of the thirteen verses are found in the First Epistle. In the Third, the writer describes himself in the same fashion, writes largely in the same style, and utilizes many of the same phrases. It is, therefore, not surprising that from the earliest ages of Christianity these books have been regarded as productions of "the disciple whom Jesus loved"--John the Apostle.

PURPOSE AND DESIGN OF SECOND AND THIRD JOHN

The Second Epistle of John was written as a result of information which had come to the apostle regarding the children of the faithful sister addressed in it. He had heard that certain of her children were "walking in truth," and he wrote to rejoice with her in this; to admonish her to persist in the same manner of life; and to avoid the seductions of the false teachers regularly coming her way.

Third John was addressed to Gaius, a name of frequent mention in the New Testament, and one, therefore, not possible to identify with certainty. (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14.) Whether one of these men named "Gaius," or a man by this name not elsewhere mentioned or referred to in the New Testament, we have no means of knowing. He appears to have been neither an elder nor a deacon in the congregation where he worshipped, but a man of benevolence, of some financial standing, and greatly devoted to the truth. Third John was written, (a) for the purpose of commending Gaius for his faithfulness, fidelity, and hospitality shown to missionaries which had come his way, to encourage him to continue in this grace and not be deterred by the opposition which had risen; (b) to rebuke Diotrephes for his arrogance, love of preeminence, and perverseness (c) to commend Demetrius, a faithful disciple, whom Gaius is admonished to imitate. Three persons are thus dealt with in this brief missive: Gaius, the dependable disciple, liberal, hospitable, devoted; Diotrephes, a church boss, dominating, boastful, proud ;commendedbyall,humble,kindly,worthyDemetrius,. These are representative types of men often observed in the church today.

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

With reference to neither time nor place is it possible to speak with definiteness and certainty . From the many similarities of style obtaining in both Second and Third John we infer that they were written about the same time and, we may presume, from the same place; but, inasmuch as neither of these matters is indicated in these Epistles, it is not possible to know either when or where they were written. The author appears to have been an aged man (cf. "The elder," verse 1); he often referred to his readers as his "little children"; the apostle John died near the end of the first century; and it is, therefore, likely that the Epistles were written near the end of his life. The scholarly Lardner says that John "was somewhat advanced in age, and that he had resided a good while in Asia, before he wrote any of these Epistles; consequently I am disposed to think that these two were not written sooner than the first. And as it was before argued that the First Epistle was written about the year 80, these two may be reckoned to have been written between the years 80 and 90." We are disposed to feel, in view of the known facts, that the date would be nearer A.D. 90 than A.D. 80, or earlier.

AN ANALYSIS OF SECOND JOHN

I. Signature and Salutation. (2 John 1:1-4.)

1. John’s love for those who walk in the truth.

2. Appreciation for their loyalty and faithfulness.

II. Admonitions. (2 John 1:5-6.)

1. To walk in love and keep the commandments.

III. Warnings. (2 John 1:7-11.)

1. Deceivers were abroad.

2. The deceivers identified.

3. Those who go beyond what Jesus taught do not have God.

4. Such are not to be received into one’s house, nor be greeted.

5. To shelter false teachers is to partake of their evil works.

IV. Conclusion. (2 John 1:12-13.)

1. Things to say better expressed by word than by paper and ink.

2. An expectation of an early visit.

3. Salutation from an elect sister’s children.

AN ANALYSIS OF THIRD JOHN

I. Signature and Salutation. (3 John 1:1-4.)

1. Author’s prayer for Gaius’ health and prosperity.

2. Satisfaction on hearing that he walked in truth.

II. The New Testament Law of Missions. (3 John 1:5-8.)

1. They go forth for the sake of the Name.

2. They take no support from unbelievers.

3. The church’s duty to support them.

4. Those who thus do, share in the blessings of the work.

5. Mutual cooperation thus implied.

III. Endorsement of the Work by the Apostle John.

1. A letter written admonishing the church to receive the missionaries.

IV. The Church Under the Domination of Diotrephes. (3 John 1:9-10.)

1. Diotrephes used ugly words against the apostle and helpers.

2. Forced the church to reject the letter which the apostle wrote.

3. Forbade the congregation to receive the missionaries.

4. Excluded from fellowship those who did receive them.

5. Gaius one of those thus excluded.

V. Faithfulness of Demetrius. (3 John 1:11-12.)

VI. Letter Written to Encourage Gaius. (3 John 1:13.)

VII. Closing Salutations. (3 John 1:14.)