3 John | Bible Summary

Summary

3 John is a letter written by the apostle John to a fellow believer named Gaius in praise of his walking in the truth (1–4) and support of visiting Christian believers (5). John appeals for the support of people who have gone out for the sake of the name of Jesus (6–8). John mentions a Diotrephes who rejects their authority, does not accept visiting Christians, and puts those who try to accept them out of the church (9–10). John commands to imitate good (11).

Main Idea

Remain faithful

  1. By walking in the truth (3–4)
  2. By supporting fellow believers (5–8)
  3. By imitating good (11)

Questions

v. 1 | Who is the elder?
  • The elder is the Apostle John, the author of this letter.
v. 3 | Who are the brothers?
  • The brothers are Christians from Gaius's church.
vv. 3–4 | What does he mean by walking in the truth?
  • Walking means the way in which they live, and the truth is that of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are living their lives in obedience to the truth of Jesus as savior and Lord.
v. 4 | What does he mean by children?
  • John thinks of himself as a father in the Lord to these fellow Christian believers, just as he calls the fellow Christians from Gaius brothers, John often uses familial language and refers to those Christians who he oversees as children.
v. 6 | What does it mean to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God?
  • This means to support them and send them away with financial support so that they may continue their ministry.
v. 8 | What does it mean by fellow workers?
  • Not all Christians are called to go, but all are called to contribute to the spread of the gospel. By financially supporting missionaries, the givers are joining in the work the missionaries are doing for God to spread the good news of Christ, fellow workers in the truth. 
    • Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

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