1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Preamble
This is the second of the Apostle Johns intimate epistles to one of his disciples, the first being 2nd John. Thus, it finds its place in the Biblical Cannon right after it. Now like second John it is brief, but it to contains Holy Spirit given truths and guidance and so it should never be neglected or overlooked by any believer, for through it, like all the Scripture, God give us His counsel and wisdom and instruction for our persons, assemblies, and thus our lives.
Commentary
Vs. 1-2 1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
The Apostle John once again addresses himself as the elder, that is the elder statesman in the faith who had known the Lord Jesus Christ from the beginning, and who had after Jesus’ Ascension back to heaven, saw the birth of the church, and then oversaw the growth of it, right up until now, which would’ve been towards the end of his life, before his imprisonment at Patmos. John thus addresses his epistle to a disciple named Gaius (whom we do not now for certain if it is the same Gaius positively mentioned in Rom. 16:23 and Acts 20:4 though the possibility does remain out there). And so, the Apostle John had a deep regard for this Gaius, who he says he loves in the truth, meaning he loves him as a disciple of Christ who is faithfully following the truth, all indicating that he new him personally and respected him deeply. The Apostle John then after his brief greeting and calling him beloved, (but how many pastors now call members of their congregations beloved, we all need to get back to knowing each other, and growing in these kinds of relationships as believers and beloved brethren), now wishes Gaius prosperity in all things, not poverty as some think self imposed restrictions and misery equates with holiness, but prosperity in all things and be in good health, that is we are to take care of ourselves, physically, emotionally, Spiritually, for John’s wishing prosperity and health on Gaius is linked with his saying just as you soul prospers. Thus, John’s wishing Gaius prosperity and good health is not is wishing him to go and pursue mammon, but to live a balanced and abundant and satisfying Godly life.
Vs. 3-4 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
By the Apostles Johns words here we see that Gaius was not only a Godly man but also a hospitable man, whose faith was attested to by some brethren whom he received and assisted, and so these then upon returning to John reported to him that Gaius was indeed walking in the truth, which gave the Apostle John great joy to hear that his work and efforts in discipling him had not been in vain. For what pastor, preacher, leader, or teacher is not moved to great joy to see and hear that those whom they have been charged with caring for and overseeing in the faith are indeed following Jesus Christ, and not just on Sunday, but everyday they are living a Christian life.
Vs. 5-7 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
In exhorting and commending Gaius for his good work in helping and hosting the brethren and strangers (that is those brethren personally unknown to him) who have personally testified of his love before the church, the Apostle John once again calls Gaius beloved (Vs. 5-6) and so he now encourages Gaius to send them on forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God. No doubt then they were workers for the Gospel and of the Kingdom of God, because as John says in verse seven, they went forth for Jesus’ Name’s sake taking nothing from the Gentiles, that is they risked everything for Jesus’ Name while taking nothing from unbelievers (vs. 7). And no doubt they did this during a time when persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire would have been rapidly intensifying.
Vs. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
Absolutely then we as brethren and beloved of the Lord should always be willing to receive any brother or sister in the Lord who likewise is following the truth, and thus laying done their lives for Him, and ultimately for us all. Now the Apostle John says that we should do this so that we may become fellow workers for the truth, and so unlike his telling us not to receive those who do not bring Biblical doctrine about Jesus Christ, and our as His disciples needing to live righteous and Godly lives (see 2 John 7-10), here we should receive all who do just that, just as Jesus Himself said that all who do so will be rewarded by Him for their doing so (Matt. 10:40-42).
Vs. 9 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.”
Previously the Apostle John had written to the church, but a certain man named Diotrephes, “who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.” This Diotrephes then did not allow the Apostles letter to be read by them, for he was exalting himself amongst the brethren, wanting to be the leader of them, and even when John wanted to come to them, he would not receive him. And so, this is just one of the many issues that Pastors may have to face, when certain parishioners from within the congregation rise up and exalt themselves, and or seek to undermine the Word of God, and or, them.
Vs. 10 “Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.”
Therefore, the Apostle John says that if he comes to them, he will call to mind (that is everyone’s mind in the congregation) just what kind of man this Diotrephes is, a “man” who uses malicious words against Christ’s chosen Apostle. And not content with that, with defaming him, this Diotrephes even goes so far as to not receive brethren when they come there, and forbids those who wish to do so, even putting them out of the church for trying to do so. Its’ an incedingly infuriating and frustrating thing to hear that such an individual can have such a place amongst brethren, but like with all Scripture, God never leaves out those things that do not look favorably upon His people, so that His people will learn to fear and obey Him.
Vs. 11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
The Apostle John having the exposed Diotrephes’ evil person and deeds to keep Gaius from heeding such a person, now tells him not to imitate what is evil, but what is good, and thus of God, and not get caught in other people’s ignorance or complicity, or the herd mentality when people go astray and begin to emulate each others evil and wicked behavior to their own ruin. Having done so the Apostle John now gives him (and us all) a lesson in basic discernment of anyone who profess faith In Christ, no matter how charming, friendly, charismatic, or handsome they are, saying, “He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” For that is always the measure of anyone, the content of their lives and their character, and thus no one should be taken in by their deceiving words, or their cunning smiles, or their public silence while they are working out schemes and plots in private to harm and or undermine others (consider Psalm 58:1-2).
Vs. 12 “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.”
Even though Diotrephes was running amuck in the congregation, there was still a Godly man there named Demetrius who had a good testimony from all. And more than that his testimony was backed up by the truth, that is the Word of God itself, and so the Apostle John says that he (and those who are with him) also bear witness, “and you know that our testimony is true.”
Vs. 13-14 13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
In concluding his epistle, the Apostle John says that
he had many more things to write, but he did not want to convey everything he
had to say to them with pen and ink. And so, hoping to see them shortly he said
he would speak with them face to face, which is obviously a more personalized
approach when dealing with controversies within the church. That said the
Apostle John though mistreated by some there bears them no ill will but rather
wishes peace to them, saying our friends (that is true believers everywhere
greet you), so John says greet the friends by name, which again is to reaffirm
their person as believing in and belonging too the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Quotations
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