3 John 1:1-14
Lesson 466
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
The Third Epistle of John:
"Spiritual health"
Authorship:
Like I and 2 John, 3 John was written in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) by the apostle John circa AD 90 in the waning
years of his life. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve disciples. John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned that Jesus was the Messiah from John the Baptist. John captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" because he was concerned for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). John was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed the Messiah to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine."
Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. For three years, he traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
The Third Epistle of John was a private letter to Gaius, a fellow Christian. Gaius was a valved man in the church and a
beloved friend of John's (1:1-2, 5, 11). John probably converted him. There are Bible scholars who believe this is the same Gaius who was baptized by Paul (1 Corinthians 1:14), joined the Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20:4-6), hosted Paul in Corinth (Romans 16:23), and was attacked by an angry mob in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). However, Gaius was a common name in biblical times. Most scholars believe they are different men.
Three John gives us a peek into the life of the early church. While 1 John teaches Christians to love, 3 John shows how. After all, our actions (good or bad) reflect our love for God.
Three John thanks Gaius for supporting missionaries (1:5) and commends Demetrius for his help (1:12). John also censures Diotrephes, a leader in Gaius' church who refused to welcome missionaries and excommunicated anyone who aided them (1:9-11). Third John is the shortest book in the Bible and will be just one lesson.
Like I and 2 John, 3 John was written in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) by the apostle John circa AD 90 in the waning
years of his life. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve disciples. John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned that Jesus was the Messiah from John the Baptist. John captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" because he was concerned for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). John was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed the Messiah to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine."
Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. For three years, he traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
The Third Epistle of John was a private letter to Gaius, a fellow Christian. Gaius was a valved man in the church and a
beloved friend of John's (1:1-2, 5, 11). John probably converted him. There are Bible scholars who believe this is the same Gaius who was baptized by Paul (1 Corinthians 1:14), joined the Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20:4-6), hosted Paul in Corinth (Romans 16:23), and was attacked by an angry mob in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). However, Gaius was a common name in biblical times. Most scholars believe they are different men.
Three John gives us a peek into the life of the early church. While 1 John teaches Christians to love, 3 John shows how. After all, our actions (good or bad) reflect our love for God.
Three John thanks Gaius for supporting missionaries (1:5) and commends Demetrius for his help (1:12). John also censures Diotrephes, a leader in Gaius' church who refused to welcome missionaries and excommunicated anyone who aided them (1:9-11). Third John is the shortest book in the Bible and will be just one lesson.
3 John is broken down into two main segments:
1) 1:1-8 - (Christian truth) Opening greeting (1:1-2); Follow the truth (1:3-4); John praises Gaius for supporting
missionaries (1:5-8).
2) 1:9- 14 - (A warning and a good report) Diotrephes, a bad role model (1:9-11); Demetrius, a good role model (1:12);
Final benediction (1:13-14).
1) 1:1-8 - (Christian truth) Opening greeting (1:1-2); Follow the truth (1:3-4); John praises Gaius for supporting
missionaries (1:5-8).
2) 1:9- 14 - (A warning and a good report) Diotrephes, a bad role model (1:9-11); Demetrius, a good role model (1:12);
Final benediction (1:13-14).
Study Tip:
We read as if we're in a race.
But slow down when you read the Bible. Take the time to enjoy and meditate on each passage.
Give yourself a chance to grasp the meaning of God's words fully.
We read as if we're in a race.
But slow down when you read the Bible. Take the time to enjoy and meditate on each passage.
Give yourself a chance to grasp the meaning of God's words fully.
