2. Three Men In Third John
3 John

3. “The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 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, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles” (3 John 1-7)

4. “We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 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. 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. 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. I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 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 (3 John 1-14).

5. Three Men In Third John
Gaius

6. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
The man –
(a) The one to whom this letter is addressed.
(b) Obviously John had great love and respect for this individual (verse 1).
(b) There are four other references to Gaius: Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:4 (same person); a common Roman name.
(c) None of the above references seem to refer to the Gaius in 3 John.

7. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
1) He was spiritually prosperous.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (verse 2).

8. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
1) He was spiritually prosperous.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (verse 2).
(a) Could this be said of us?
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

9. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
2) He was loyal to the truth.
“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (verses 3-4).

10. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
2) He was loyal to the truth.
“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (verses 3-4).
(a) Are we eager to receive and walk in truth?
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

11. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
3) He was a hospitable man.
“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 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, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles” (verses 5-7).

12. Gaius – A Threefold Commendation
3) He was a hospitable man.
“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 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, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles” (verses 5-7).
(a) A wonderful trait sorely needed.
“distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13).

13. Three Men In Third John
Gaius
Diotrephes

14. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
The man –
(a) His name is defined as “nourished by Zeus” (ISBE, p. 945 volume one).
(b) He was a local church leader in Asia Minor according to ISBE.
(c) Not much else is known about this individual, except what we read in this short epistle.

15. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
1) He loved to have the preeminence.
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us” (verse 9).

16. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
1) He loved to have the preeminence.
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us” (verse 9).
Preeminence – “to aspire to pre-eminence, to desire to be first” (Thayer).
(a) Want to great in services to God?
“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

17. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
2) He had an evil tongue.
“Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words…” (verse 10).

18. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
2) He had an evil tongue.
“Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words…” (verse 10).
Prating – “to bring forward idle accusations, make empty charges; to accuse one falsely with malicious words” (Thayer).
(a) Must guard our tongues.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).

19. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
3) He rejected the brethren.
“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” (verse 10).

20. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
3) He rejected the brethren.
“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” (verse 10).
(a) We are to love each other.
“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

21. Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment
John is often called the apostle of love, yet he called Diotrephes by name; identified his sins; said he would deal with him if came to them. Some times we are often criticized for calling attention to a person teaching error; dealing with the error; and upholding the truth. Do people today condemn John for this action?

22. Three Men In Third John
Gaius
Diotrephes
Demetrius

23. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
The man –
(a) Two men by this name in the New Testament; “a silversmith of Ephesus, a heathen: Acts 19:24,38: a certain Christian, 3 Jn. 12” (Thayer).
(b) His name means “belonging to Demeter, Greek Demetrios” (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 212).
(c) He is possibly the courier of this letter; the apostle seems to be concerned that Diotrephes would reject him, so he is showing why he should be received by Gaius to whom the epistle is written.

24. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
1) He had a good report of all men.
“Demetrius has a good testimony from all…” (verse 12).

25. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
1) He had a good report of all men.
“Demetrius has a good testimony from all…” (verse 12).
Testimony – “to utter honourable testimony, give a good report” (Thayer).
(a) We need this kind of reputation.
“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:6-8).

26. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
2) He had a good testimony of the truth.
“Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself…” (verse 12).

27. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
2) He had a good testimony of the truth.
“Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself…” (verse 12).
“His life was lived consistently with it, and he believed it in all of its specifics” (Dan King, Commentary, page 238).
(a) How does our life compare with the truth?
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

28. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
3) He had a good testimony from John.
“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” (verse 12).

29. Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony
3) He had a good testimony from John.
“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” (verse 12).
(a) Who better to bear witness of a man?
“This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true” (John 21:24).

30. Three Men In Third John
Gaius
Diotrephes
Demetrius

31. Two Good Example And One Bad
1) Gaius – A Threefold Commendation 2) Diotrephes – A Threefold Indictment 3) Demetrius – A Threefold Testimony It is not enough to avoid being like Diotrephes, we must imitate Gaius and Demetrius.