2ND / 3RD JOHN
The Opening Statement
A. 2nd and 3rd John form a balanced message to a local church, probably somewhere in the Roman Province of Asia Minor, towards the end of the 1st Century.
B. 2nd John deals with the problem of heretical, itinerant preachers, while 3rd John deals with the admonition to help itinerant Christian preachers.
C. There are three different men specifically named in 3rd John:
1. Gaius (a godly man in the recipient church)
a. There are three Gaius’s mentioned in other parts of the Bible:
Gaius of Macedonia, Acts 19:29..."The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia." (NASB)
Gaius of Derbe, Acts 20:4..."And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, {the son} of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia." (NASB)
Gaius of Corinth, Romans 16:23..."Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother." (NASB); 1st Corinthians 1:14..."I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius..." (NASB)
b. The writings known as “Apostolic Constitutions” list the Gaius of 3rd John as the Bishop of Pergamum, appointed by John.
2. Diotrephes (a godless trouble-maker in the recipient church)
a. This is the only mention of this man in the New Testament. His name is a very rare name which means “nursed of Zeus.” How ironic it is that man named after “Zeus” would be against travelers when “Zeus” was the “protector of travelers.”
b. His attitude is exposed in verses 9 – 10.
3. Demetrius (the bearer of John’s letter to this local church)
a. Apparently he is one of the traveling missionaries and the bearer of the letter from the Apostle in Ephesus.
b. The tradition called “The Apostolic Constitutions” lists Demetrius as the Bishop of Philadelphia, who was appointed by the Apostle John.
D. The early church struggled with how to evaluate and support traveling preachers / teachers / evangelists. One early non-canonical Christian writing from the early 2nd Century called The Didache or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles has these guidelines:
CHAPTER XI—CONCERNING TEACHERS, APOSTLES, AND PROPHETS §“Whosoever, therefore, cometh and teacheth you all these things that have been said before, receive him. But if the teacher himself turn and teach another doctrine to the destruction of this, hear him not; but if he teach so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and prophets, according to the decree of the Gospel, thus do: Let every apostle that cometh to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain except one day; but if there be need, also the next; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle goeth away, let him take nothing but bread until he lodgeth; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet” (p. 380).
CHAPTER XII—RECEPTION OF CHRISTIANS §“But whosoever saith in the Spirit, Give me money, or something else, ye shall not listen to him; but if he saith to you to give for other’s sake who are in need, let no one judge him. But let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be received, and afterward ye shall prove and know him; for ye shall have understanding right and left. If he who cometh is a wayfarer, assist him as far as ye are able; but he shall not remain with you, except for two or three days, if need be. But if he willeth to abide with you, being an artisan, let him work and eat; but if he hath no trade, according to your understanding see to it that, as a Christian, he shall not live with you idle. But if he willeth not so to do, he is a Christmonger. Watch that ye keep aloof from such” (p. 381).
B. 2nd John deals with the problem of heretical, itinerant preachers, while 3rd John deals with the admonition to help itinerant Christian preachers.
C. There are three different men specifically named in 3rd John:
1. Gaius (a godly man in the recipient church)
a. There are three Gaius’s mentioned in other parts of the Bible:
Gaius of Macedonia, Acts 19:29..."The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia." (NASB)
Gaius of Derbe, Acts 20:4..."And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, {the son} of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia." (NASB)
Gaius of Corinth, Romans 16:23..."Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother." (NASB); 1st Corinthians 1:14..."I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius..." (NASB)
b. The writings known as “Apostolic Constitutions” list the Gaius of 3rd John as the Bishop of Pergamum, appointed by John.
2. Diotrephes (a godless trouble-maker in the recipient church)
a. This is the only mention of this man in the New Testament. His name is a very rare name which means “nursed of Zeus.” How ironic it is that man named after “Zeus” would be against travelers when “Zeus” was the “protector of travelers.”
b. His attitude is exposed in verses 9 – 10.
3. Demetrius (the bearer of John’s letter to this local church)
a. Apparently he is one of the traveling missionaries and the bearer of the letter from the Apostle in Ephesus.
b. The tradition called “The Apostolic Constitutions” lists Demetrius as the Bishop of Philadelphia, who was appointed by the Apostle John.
D. The early church struggled with how to evaluate and support traveling preachers / teachers / evangelists. One early non-canonical Christian writing from the early 2nd Century called The Didache or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles has these guidelines:
CHAPTER XI—CONCERNING TEACHERS, APOSTLES, AND PROPHETS §“Whosoever, therefore, cometh and teacheth you all these things that have been said before, receive him. But if the teacher himself turn and teach another doctrine to the destruction of this, hear him not; but if he teach so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and prophets, according to the decree of the Gospel, thus do: Let every apostle that cometh to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain except one day; but if there be need, also the next; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle goeth away, let him take nothing but bread until he lodgeth; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet” (p. 380).
CHAPTER XII—RECEPTION OF CHRISTIANS §“But whosoever saith in the Spirit, Give me money, or something else, ye shall not listen to him; but if he saith to you to give for other’s sake who are in need, let no one judge him. But let every one that cometh in the name of the Lord be received, and afterward ye shall prove and know him; for ye shall have understanding right and left. If he who cometh is a wayfarer, assist him as far as ye are able; but he shall not remain with you, except for two or three days, if need be. But if he willeth to abide with you, being an artisan, let him work and eat; but if he hath no trade, according to your understanding see to it that, as a Christian, he shall not live with you idle. But if he willeth not so to do, he is a Christmonger. Watch that ye keep aloof from such” (p. 381).
Notes on 2nd John by Tim Headley
2 John
1-3...To a lady: grace, mercy, and peace be with you
4-6...I beg you to ____ this commandment from that we have had from the beginning: ____ each other.
7-11...Many people deny that Jesus actually ____ in the _____. Don’t ____ your home to such people; don’t even ___ “hello” to them.
12-13...I hope to see you soon; your sister’s kids say “Hi”.
1-3...To a lady: grace, mercy, and peace be with you
4-6...I beg you to ____ this commandment from that we have had from the beginning: ____ each other.
7-11...Many people deny that Jesus actually ____ in the _____. Don’t ____ your home to such people; don’t even ___ “hello” to them.
12-13...I hope to see you soon; your sister’s kids say “Hi”.
Notes on 3rd John by Tim Headley
3 John
1-4...Dear Gaius, may you ______. I was happy to hear that you are walking in the _____.
5-8...You will do well if you receive ____________, and send them on in a ______ manner; you will thus be a _____________ with them.
9-11...Don’t imitate ____ people like Diotrephes, who likes to be number ___ in the church.
12...Many people, including us, speak highly of Demetrius.
13-14...I hope to see you soon; greetings from our friends.
1-4...Dear Gaius, may you ______. I was happy to hear that you are walking in the _____.
5-8...You will do well if you receive ____________, and send them on in a ______ manner; you will thus be a _____________ with them.
9-11...Don’t imitate ____ people like Diotrephes, who likes to be number ___ in the church.
12...Many people, including us, speak highly of Demetrius.
13-14...I hope to see you soon; greetings from our friends.
The Outline
2nd John
I. Introduction vv. 1 – 3
II. The importance of the truth vv. 4 – 11
A. Practicing the truth vv. 4 – 6
B. Protecting the truth vv. 7 – 11
III. Conclusion vv. 12 – 13
3rd John
I. Introduction vv. 1 – 3
II. The importance of the truth vv. 4 – 11
A. Practicing the truth vv. 4 – 6
B. Protecting the truth vv. 7 – 11
III. Conclusion vv. 12 – 13
I. Introduction vv. 1 – 3
II. The importance of the truth vv. 4 – 11
A. Practicing the truth vv. 4 – 6
B. Protecting the truth vv. 7 – 11
III. Conclusion vv. 12 – 13
3rd John
I. Introduction vv. 1 – 3
II. The importance of the truth vv. 4 – 11
A. Practicing the truth vv. 4 – 6
B. Protecting the truth vv. 7 – 11
III. Conclusion vv. 12 – 13