The Letters of John: Walk in Truth

2022-08-14

3 John 1-15 The elder: To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. ² Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well. ³ For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth. ⁵ Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. ⁶ They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, ⁷ since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans.^{, 8} Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth. ⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. ¹⁰ This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. ¹¹ Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. ¹² Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. ¹³ I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. ¹⁴ I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. ¹⁵ Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

 

1. Walk in truth

Vss 3-4 For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.

• John’s encouragement was to walk in the truth they’d heard through the teachings of the Apostles and the church
• It is vital we (1) seek the truth, (2) know the truth, and (3) walk in the truth

2. Help others do the same

Vss 6-8 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, ⁷ since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans.^{, 8} Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

• It was common, and necessary, for believers within the church to come alongside traveling evangelists to help them in their ministry. They would open their homes and provide support as these travelers fulfilled God’s call on their lives.
• John was commending Gaius on his faithfulness in this area and encouraging him to encourage others to do the same.
• This is also a clear encouragement for giving to support ministry

3. Avoid hypocrisy and jealousy

Vss 9-11 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. ¹⁰ This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. ¹¹ Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

• This is passage is a key component of this very short letter
• John is speaking against pride, prejudice, and slander
• This is also an indictment against abusive behavior within the church

4. Trust in the faithfulness of God

Vs 15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

• Continue to trust in the peace which flows from God’s love