The author of the book of 3 John (as well as 2 John) is identified only as “the elder,” but is attributed to Jesus’ disciple John, who also wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, and Revelation.
This is a personal letter and although it has an audience of one (Gaius), the principles John shares are applicable to all who follow Jesus.
The letter encourages the followers of Jesus to provide hospitality and support to traveling missionaries.
Little is known about who Gaius was. Several men named Gaius appear in the New Testament, and we don’t know if any of them is this Gaius.
In addition to the positive example seen in the letter’s recipient, Gaius, Demetrius is also highly commended. Diotrephes, however, is set forth as a negative example, which we are not to follow.
Also, in reading this book, look for the occurrences of the word truth – five times in five of its fifteen verses.
Discover practical, insightful, and encouraging truths in 1, 2, & 3 John Bible Study to foster a deeper appreciation for the two greatest commandments: To love God and to love others.
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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