In this 3rd and last Epistle of John we have another short, one chapter study. John tells us how even a church can be a synagogue of Satan, and how a home can be a church. Let’s get started and 3John 1 and verse 1 reads.
3John 1:1] The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
John being the elder and Gaius being a disciple of Christ.
3John 1:2] 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.
It was told to John by an unnamed source that Gaius was well learned in Jesus Christ and taught as well. Not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. He was a doer of God’s word.
3John 1:4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
This verse shows us that it was John that taught Gaius.
3John 1:5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
Notice that Gaius taught not only those of Israel but also strangers, or gentiles.
3John 1:6] 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:
Gaius owned a “Road house” where travelers could rest and be fed. Gaius was feeding God’s children the word of God also.
3John 1:7] 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.
What John is saying is that Gaius has shown the rest of the disciples how to include the gentiles without taking nothing of them in tithes.
3John 1:9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
The church that John had started was taken over by Diotrephes, a Kenite. And wouldn’t even receive one that knew Jesus, talked with Jesus and even touched Jesus.
3John 1:10] 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.
John had sent other Apostles and disciples there before and they were kicked out also. This is why Jesus said to kick out those that are not of God with the parable of Leaven. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Leaven in sin or in this case false teachers. We just learned in 2John that there will be those that teach false doctrine and we are not to partake of their evil deeds. 2John 1:10-11 reads.
2John 1:10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
]11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Now to those that call themselves pastors, listen to God’s word. Eze.14 and verse 7 reads.
Eze.14:7] For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
This is why Gaius taught not only the house of Jacob, but the strangers also. 3John 1:5. But listen to the warning from God himself.
Eze.14:8] And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Speaking to false teachers.
Eze.14:9] And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
The LORD himself has deceived him. God knows the heart.
Eze.14:10] And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
This verse shows why John wrote in his second epistle verses 10-11 that you would be partakers of “Their evil deeds” if you wished them God speed, meaning a blessing.
Eze.11] That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
So to all those that teach the Word of God, you’d better be teaching God’s word or you will pay heavily for not. Back to 3John and verse 11 reads.
3John 1:11] 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.
This Demetrius must have been the one that reported back to John about the church down the street. He must have been one of those kicked out of that church, and had found Gaius.
3John 1:13] I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
[14] But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Confident that John would be there soon he cuts off this letter. Wish we had the rest of what it was that he wanted to write unto them, but maybe it was just for them. The epistles of John, I hope you enjoyed them as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible