3rd John
© Copyright 2001 Darroll Evans, all rights
reserved. Re-edit 2003
3 John 1-4
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth
that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Second John was written to a woman.
Third John was written to a man, Gaius.
Gaius may be the same Gaius that traveled
with Paul on his third missionary journey (Acts 19:29, 20:4).
Gaius is also mentioned in Romans 16:23, and
1 Corinthians 1:14.
The Elder loved Gaius in truth.
It may be that he loved Gaius in the Truth.
Jesus said. "I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
Verse two may be the most abused verse in the
entire Bible.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that
thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
The verse says, "Beloved, above all I
pray to God that you may prosper in your journey and live in sound doctrine in
the proportion as your soul prospers."
Many of you may find fault with my
translation, but monetary wealth has little to do with the meaning of verse 2.
If monetary wealth were any indication of
spiritual prosperity, Wall Street would be the most spiritual place on
earth.
Paul spoke of a prosperous journey.
Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might
have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
The same Greek root word is used in Romans
1:10 and 3 John 2.
Was Paul asking for a special monetary
offering from the Romans, or perhaps he thought the business climate would be
better in
The elder rejoiced when learned that Gaius
held to the truth of Christ.
Today’s Church leaders also rejoice when
Church members follow Jesus.
We can have no greater joy than to find that the
Church is internalizing and using our message
3 John 5-8
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to
strangers;
6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring
forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the
Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the
truth.
The Elder heard that Gaius was very helpful
to his Christian brothers and also to "strangers" (Gr. xenous-xenouV).
The strangers may have been traveling
evangelists!
As Christians, our love is to be for other
Christians!
However, our hospitality is not limited to
just fellow Christians.
It appears that Gaius treated all in a godly
manner.
In verse 6, the Greek text speaks of going on
godly journey.
And in verse 7, we find that they went in the
name of Christ taking nothing from Gentile Christians.
That brings us to a point of contention
within the Church.
James, speaking in Acts 15:19-22, said:
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the
Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and
from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in
the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send
chosen men of their own company to
Tithing was not preached among Christian
Gentiles in the first century.
Offerings were accepted, but not tithes.
Tithes could only be accepted by Levites.
Neither Jesus, nor the Apostles belonged to
the Levitical priesthood, and could not legally accept tithes.
The collection Paul took to
There is no record of the Apostles accepting
tithes.
John, the elder, said that we should help
such men.
Tithing may be contested.
Giving should never be contested.
The Bible admonishes us to give.
The Bible says, "Give, and
it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure
that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)
The Bible also says: 2 Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The prophets of profit attempt to link all of
God’s blessing to tithing!
Men such as Mike Murdock, Kenneth Copeland,
Creflo Dollar, Jessie DuPlantis and others have perverted the gospel in gain
human wealth!
Even today Synagogues do not accept the
tithe, because nobody knows who is a Levite, and only Levites may accept the
tithe.
Giving the tithe to a non-Levite is
non-biblical.
Giving a free will offering is not.
I pray that you give in response to God’s
generosity.
3 John 9-10
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence
among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating
against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he
himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them
out of the church.
The Elder had written to the church
concerning matters, which we do not know.
However, a fellow named Diotrephes had
short-circuited the letter.
It seems that Diotrephes was an arrogant
person.
A person may not be self-possessed and
Spirit-led
Because of Diotrephes attempt to highjack the
Church, John planned to come in person to deal with the situation.
There are those today who try to take control
of the Church. Years ago, I was invited to speak at a small Church in
I told the congregation that a person would
come in and try to cause major problems.
The Pastor and some members began to laugh.
The pastor spoke up and told me that he was
already there.
How would you handle such situations?
Some Church folks lack backbone.
"Go along to get along" in not a
biblical concept.
3 John 11-12
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that
doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and
we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
It may sound odd, but John advises Gaius not
to Follow (Gr. mimou-mimou), or mimic evil.
Such mimicry is rampant today.
The person that does what is good is godly.
The one who does not is ungodly.
If you would think that we are smart enough
to figure that one out.
You are wrong!
There is another in that Church named
Demetrius.
He has a good reputation.
What is your reputation?
As with 2nd John, the elder wants
to say some things in person.
He expects to go to see Gaius soon.
John closed with, "Peace be to
thee."
Then as a postscript, he added, "Our
friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."
Re-read this short letter!
You will not find the word “grace” in it!