# 3 John 01 đź“–: Walking in the Truth
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[[-3 John Overview]] | [[3 John 01]] | [[Jude 01]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Introduction and Thanksgiving
**Principle**: Honor each other.
[[#Verse 01.]] From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.Â
[[#Verse 03.]]Â For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.
[[#Verse 04.]] I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
## The Charge to Gaius
**Principle**: Be an example of faithfulness.
[[#Verse 05.]] Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).Â
[[#Verse 06.]] They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.
## Diotrephes the Troublemaker
**Principle**: Call out bad leaders.
[[#Verse 09.]] I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing—the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!Â
[[#Verse 11.]] Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
[[#Verse 12.]] Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
### Conclusion
**Principle**: Prioritize face to face relationships.
[[#Verse 13.]] I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink.Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face.
[[#Verse 15.]] Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
##### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
#### Interesting connection between first, second, and third John:
- 1 John was likely written to the same churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. It may have been written to the entire church. The point was to encourage the believers and to warn against the false doctrine of Gnosticism.
- 2 John was likely written to a particular church. There is some debate concerning if it was written to a lady who was overseeing a church or if John was referring to a particular church with a feminine pronoun.
- 3 John was written to a particular person. Gaius was likely involved in John’s ministry as a “personal assistant” or sorts. Someone who helped John conduct ministry.
1. 3 John has fewer Greek words than any other book of the New Testament.
2. Gaius was a very common Roman name, and several men named Gaius appear in the New Testament (Acts 19:29; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14).
3. The wish for good health in verse 2 follows a standard form used in ancient letters.
4. "Send them on their way" (verse 6) meant supplying travelers with food, money, and help for the next stage of the journey (Titus 3:13).
5. The missionaries accepted nothing from the Gentiles (verse 7), so they would not be confused with traveling philosophers who charged for teaching.
6. The verb used of Diotrephes in verse 9, "loves to be first," appears only here in the New Testament.
7. Demetrius (verse 12) may have been the one who carried this letter to Gaius.
8. 3 John never uses the name Jesus. It refers to Him simply as "the Name" (verse 7).
9. John calls believers "the friends" (verse 15), echoing Jesus' words in John 15:14-15.
10. Like 2 John, this letter ends with John's hope to talk face to face rather than with pen and ink (verses 13-14).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Name for whose sake missionaries went out (verse 7). He is the truth His people walk in (verses 3-4; John 14:6), and He calls us to imitate what is good because whoever does good is from God (verse 11).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. John says he has no greater joy than hearing that his children walk in the truth (verse 4). Who are you investing in spiritually?
2. Gaius supported traveling missionaries (verses 5-8). How can you partner with those who go out for the sake of the Name?
3. Diotrephes loved to be first (verse 9). How can we guard against pride and control in church life?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: John prays that Gaius will prosper and be in good health, just as his soul prospers.
- đź“– verse 4: I have no greater joy than hearing that my children are walking in the truth.
- đź“– verse 8: We ought to support such workers so that we become coworkers with the truth.
- đź“– verse 11: Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
## đź”— Related Passages
- 🔗 v. 3-4 → 2 John 4 – John's joy at finding believers walking in the truth.
- 🔗 v. 4 → 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 – Spiritual children as Paul's glory and joy.
- 🔗 v. 5-8 → Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2 – Practice hospitality, even to strangers.
- 🔗 v. 6 → Titus 3:13 – Help traveling ministers on their way so they lack nothing.
- 🔗 v. 7 → 1 Corinthians 9:12 – Paul refused support from those he served so as not to hinder the gospel.
- 🔗 v. 8 → Galatians 6:6 – Share all good things with those who teach you.
- 🔗 v. 9 → Matthew 20:25-28 – Whoever wants to be great must be a servant.
- 🔗 v. 9 → 1 Peter 5:3 – Elders should not lord it over those in their care.
- 🔗 v. 11 → Psalm 37:27 – Turn from evil and do good.
- 🔗 v. 11 → 1 John 3:10 – Children of God and children of the devil are evident by their actions.
- 🔗 v. 12 → 1 Timothy 3:7 – A leader must be well thought of by others.
- đź”— [[John 14#Verse 06.|John 14:6]] - Jesus is the truth.
- đź”— [[Philippians 02#Verse 03.|Philippians 2:3-4]] - In humility consider others more important.
- đź”— [[Romans 12#Verse 13.|Romans 12:13]] - Contribute to the needs of the saints and pursue hospitality.
- đź”— [[Mark 10#Verse 42.|Mark 10:42-45]] - Whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 13#Verse 02.|Hebrews 13:2]] - Do not neglect hospitality.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[3 John 1.4 - SOAP|Joy in the Right Things]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes