I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth. 3 John 4
Welcome the the final letter in the three letters of John. This one is addressed to a beloved one living in the truth. May we all learn what that means and yes, there is one who wants to know, whose life will be enriched by hearing that you are living that way too.
Before we begin these last fifteen verses, let’s pray.
O Lord, this letter is short and both encouraging and includes a warning and Lord, I ask, help us see, help us learn, help us understand. Help us finish this study well, having learned both how to walk and how to fully depend on You. All for You, Lord. Amen.
Please read 3 John 1 AMP
You Walk in the Truth
1 The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the beloved and esteemed Gaius, whom I love in truth.
My guess based on this is ‘in truth’ means in Jesus because Jesus is Truth. That would be why John’s joy is great upon hearing of more believers.
Please read 3 John 2-4
2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. 3 For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.
Beloved. That’s what we are when we are in Jesus. Beloved.
What a wonderful prayer too, for Gaius’s health, soul, success and prosperity. Yes, you can absolutely pray Scripture for people other than those to whom the prayers were said initially.
John the apostle was greatly pleased to hear those who testified to Gaius’s faithfulness to the truth. He had no greater joy than to hear news like that. Do you know someone who you’ve worshipped with that you would like to know is remaining faithful? Greater joy doesn’t exist. For that is true communion.
Please read 3 John 5-8
5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in what you are providing for the brothers, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For these [traveling missionaries] went out for the sake of the Name [of Christ], accepting nothing [in the way of assistance] from the Gentiles. 8 So we ought to support such people [welcoming them as guests and providing for them], so that we may be fellow workers for the truth [that is, for the gospel message of salvation].
Beloved, still, again, Beloved, you too are.
Gaius’s faithful actions of love and friendship even to visiting missionaries gets commended. Supporting such people puts you as a fellow worker for the truth. Amazing to see that isn’t it?
Please read 3 John 9-10
9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first, does not accept what we say and refuses to recognize my authority. 10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with wicked words and unjustified charges. And not satisfied with this, he refuses to receive the [missionary] brothers himself, and also forbids those who want to [welcome them] and puts them out of the church.
Not all within the church are in Jesus. It appears as though Diotrephes is in authority at one of the churches. Those actions are not the way to walk. Those actions will be called out.
Please read 3 John 11
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but [imitate] what is good. The one who practices good [exhibiting godly character, moral courage and personal integrity] is of God; the one who practices [or permits or tolerates] evil has not seen God [he has no personal experience with Him and does not know Him at all].
Beloved, practice good. Do not permit or tolerate evil.
Please read 3 John 12
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony and commendation from everyone—and from the truth [the standard of God’s word] itself; and we add our testimony and speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
A good testimony. A true testimony.
Please read 3 John 13-14
13 I had many things [to say when I began] to write to you, but I prefer not to put it down with pen (reed) and [a]black (ink); 14 but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak [b]face to face.
It’s not hard to understand how John feels about wanting to speak rather than write, but oh the letters we might have if all of the apostles wrote down what they spoke to each ‘church’. Still the words he has written here are clear enough to learn that walking by faith is so much better than not doing so.
Please read 3 John 15
15 Peace be to you. The friends [here] greet you. Greet the friends [personally] by name.
Peace be to you as well.
This is the final full book study of 2022. I plan to write individual studies for Advent and then start a new book in 2023. So this is your chance to catch up on all of the 2022 studies you might have missed or just not finished. Next week it’ll be Hope, for the first week of Advent. To get back to the begging on this study, you can click here or just click the menu bar above.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:13 A mixture of water, charcoal, and gum resin used for writing.
- 3 John 1:14 Lit mouth to mouth.