3 John 1

3 John 1:1

In this final epistle in which John deals with specific problems in the church, he’ll refer to three personalities. The first is an encourager named Gaius, seen in verses 3Jn_1:1-8. The second is an egotist named Diotrephes, seen in verses 3Jn_1:9-11. The third is an example named Demetrius, seen in verse 3Jn_1:12.

3 John 1:2

“Name It And Claim It” teachers love to camp on this verse. The prosperity teachers refer to it, saying, “God wants everyone to be healthy and to prosper financially.” But in so doing, they fail to understand that John is not propounding a principle, but offering a prayer. Because I want my kids to be blessed, because I want you to be blessed, I pray this prayer as well. But I also understand that God’s ways are not my ways, and sometimes it is only through brokenness and pain that blessing and ministry are born. Some of us preach sermons. Others are sermons as they continually deal with pain and loss. Therefore, it is a damnable heresy for anyone to imply that those who are sick lack faith or that those who are poor are second-rate believers.

3 John 1:3

In the days before Motel 6, Gaius would not only house itinerant preachers, apostles, and prophets, but he would provide for them financially so that, as they journeyed, they wouldn’t have to take anything from the Gentiles. So, too, for us to walk in truth and love means we assist people on their journey toward heaven by reminding them of the faithfulness of God and the nearness of heaven. It is our privilege and our responsibility to say to people, “God will do what He promised. He will never leave you. He will see you through here on earth.” And it is also our privilege and responsibility to direct their eyes to heaven. After all, it was by immediately directing their hearts to heaven that Jesus could calm the disciples’ troubled hearts on earth (Joh_14:1-2). If one takes heaven out of the equation, he’s left with desperate, disturbed, depressed people. Heaven in the equation changes everything.

3 John 1:8

Whereas previously John had said, “Don’t let deceivers into your house” (see 2Jn_1:10), here he says, “Don’t become so skeptical that you keep everyone out.”

3 John 1:9

In his quest to be the big shot, Diotrephes not only spoke malicious words against John, but he excommunicated from the church anyone connected with John. “Open rebuke is better than secret love,” Solomon declared (Pro_27:5). True love cares enough to confront, to speak the truth, and to deal with issues that would otherwise cause decay or destruction. Such was the love within the heart of John. The meaning of the Greek word translated “prating” refers to bubbles underwater that burst when they reach the surface. Diotrephes was one who stirred up bubbling accusations against John that were without substance but which caused undercurrents of turmoil. Although John doesn’t record what he did specifically, Demetrius goes down in history for all eternity as being one who was a good example of what it means to be a believer. Oh, how glorious to be remembered as one who was an example of how to walk through difficult days, of how to live by faith, of how to embrace grace. Dealing with Diotrephes A Topical Study of 3Jn_1:9-12 He was a man who had so much going for him that he stood figuratively as well as literally head and shoulders above the rest. Not only was Saul handsome physically, but his heart was full of such humility that he had to be coaxed out of hiding to present himself before the people of Israel as their king (1Sa_10:22). And in addition to possessing an attractive appearance and a humble heart, he was empowered by the Spirit to such a degree that he began to prophesy (1Sa_10:10). So here was this good-looking, tall, humble, spiritual, anointed man who seemed to have it all. But he was a man who would fall brutally because, like Diotrephes, he grew to love preeminence and was determined to remain in power. We see this tendency beginning to surface soon after he ascended the throne… Engaged in a protracted battle with the Philistines, Saul led one thousand men, while his son, Jonathan, led another thousand. Although it was Jonathan’s men who overcame the Philistines, Scripture says it was Saul who blew the trumpet, Saul who claimed the victory (1Sa_13:3-4). In a subsequent skirmish, Saul was instructed not to engage in battle until after Samuel offered a sacrifice to the Lord. So Saul waited. But when Samuel didn’t show up, Saul decided to offer the sacrifice himself. And because of that, when Samuel did at last arrive, he looked at Saul and said, “Because you have taken matters into your own hands and haven’t been obedient to the Lord, you have forfeited your right to rule the nation” (see 1Sa_13:13). Still later, we see how Saul was told by Samuel to wage war against the Amalekites and to take no hostages, to leave no survivors. So Saul went off into battle and won the battle. Upon his return, Saul encountered Samuel. “How did it go, Saul?” asked the prophet. “I have obeyed the Lord,” answered Saul. “Then what’s the bleating I hear?” asked Samuel. “Well, I did save a couple of sheep to sacrifice to the Lord,” said Saul. “And who’s that?” asked Samuel, pointing to the man standing beside Saul. “Oh, that’s Agag, king of the Amalekites,” said Saul. “I saved him as a trophy.” So once again, Samuel told Saul, “You have been a man who does what you want to do, who does not take into consideration what God says. Consequently, you have no authority in God’s sight” (see 1Sa_15:26). Yet although Saul realized he had been rejected, he remained determined to hang on to power regardless of the fact that God’s anointing had been given to anothera young man named David. When, in a depressed state, Saul threw a javelin at David. David, a champion, an athlete, one who bounded over walls (Psa_18:29), could have chucked it right back at Saul. Instead, he did a very wise thing: He ducked. And even when Saul’s determination to kill him intensified, David refused to retaliate… Running from Saul in the Dead Sea region of En Gedi, David’s men were jubilant when Saul unknowingly took refuge in the very cave in which they were hiding. “Here’s your chance!” they said to David. “Lop off his head and claim the throne that is rightfully yours.” So, as Saul lay sleeping, David did, indeed, unsheathe his swordbut only to cut off a piece of Saul’s skirt as proof to Saul that he could have taken his life. Yet even this seemingly minor gesture weighed heavily on David. “I shouldn’t have even touched the Lord’s anointed,” he said (see 1Sa_24:5-6). Why did David say this? Because he recognized Saul as the instrument God had allowed in his life to prepare him for becoming king. He realized he was not to grab the reins of power, or strive for preeminence. In short, he was not to be like the one who sought his life. Saul’s life was a tragedy. Humble, spiritual, charismatic, and anointed, he had everything going for him. But, like Diotrephes, he loved preeminence. His refusal to place himself in a position of submission cost him his life, for he was killed by an Amalekite (2Sa_1:6-8)the very people God had told him to destroy (1Sa_15:3). What about you? Are you a Saul or a David? Are you a Diotrephes or a John? Like Saul, is your intent to control? Like Diotrephes, do you seek preeminence? Or, like David, do you choose to submit to God? Like John, is love your aim? If you’re a David, you’ll not be one who throws spearseven when spears are thrown at you. It’s always the troubled individual who finds fault and fires away. David ducked. He didn’t fire back. And therein lies great wisdom. Are you one who subtly puts down other people, hoping that by doing so you’ll elevate yourself? It might work for a whileas it did for Saul and Diotrephes. But ultimately your words will come crashing down around you. “Be not deceived,” Paul says. “God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (see Gal_6:7). Regardless of how long you have walked with the Lord or how close you are to the Lord, every one of us has to deal with our flesh. Thus, although part of me wants to be humble, although part of me does not want to manipulate or strive, find fault, or gossip, another part of me has a tendency to listen to prating words or malicious talk, to revel in the fact that someone else has fallen short or is not doing well. Even Paul would say, “What I want to do, I don’t do. And what I don’t want to do, I end up doing. Oh, wretched man that I am” (see Rom_7:15-24). So what are we to do? Think of it this way… Inside each of us are two dogsthe black dog of our sin nature and the white dog of our new nature in Christ. The more I try to manipulate situations and seek preeminence, the bigger the black dog will grow, and the smaller the white dog will become. Such is what happened to Saul. Rather than repenting or praying, he fed his flesh. On the other hand, I can choose to feed the white dog and starve the black dog. I can choose to worship the Lord and live in obedience to His Word. I can choose to submit to fellow believers and to walk in humility. And if I do, the black dog becomes as small as a Chihuahua, while the white dog grows as big as a St. Bernard. It all depends on which dog I feed. If I walk in the flesh, like Saul, I’ll be done in by the very things I should have destroyed. And like Diotrephes, I’ll be known as one who strives for preeminence. But if I walk in the Spirit, like David, I’ll be exalted in due time. And like John, my life will be characterized by love.

3 John 1:13

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.Joh_21:25 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink…2Jn_1:12 (a) I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee.3Jn_1:13 I find it more than coincidental that John closes three of his four books, saying, in essence, “There’s so much more to say.” Because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things, it should be no surprise that the “apostle of love” would have a heart too full for mere paper to contain.