30th October 2023
Enter Gaius, holding a letter
This study is the twenty-sixth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament
(3 John – read in 1 minute and 18 seconds)
He who does good is of God… 3 John 11 (NKJV)
Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. Three men and one church. The names, and the plot as it unfolds through the short letter, would not be out of place in a Shakespearian drama.
The ‘Elder’ – as narrator – introduces Gaius in Scene 1, addressing the letter to him. In verses 2-8 he is praised as a man who demonstrates love in all that he does for the church as he walks ‘in the truth’ (v.3).
Diotrephes doesn’t come out of it very well in Scene 2. Nearly a quarter of this brief communication is focused on criticism of him. John sums up the source of the problem when he says he is someone, ‘who loves to have the preeminence among them’ and ‘them’ is ‘the church’ (v.9). John positions these two examples side by side in the summary, ‘…do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.’ He intimates that Diotrephes ‘has not seen God’ (v.11). This is a damning accusation from the Apostle.
Demetrius has a walk-on part at the end, summarised in a single verse, (v.12), and is possibly the trusted carrier of the letter from John.
John mentions ‘truth’ six times in these fifteen verses: four of these relate to Gaius and one to Demetrius. Maintaining the truth in the churches was a continuing battle, something that is evidenced throughout the epistles, although the issue that John is dealing with here is not theological. He is confronting leadership that does not follow the example of humility set by Jesus Christ when he washed the disciples’ feet. (John 13:4-9). However, the dual issues of truth and leadership seem to be problems that have often followed worshipping communities.
Although lacking any great theological teaching, the letter does provide some insight into the way early churches functioned. Their support for those appointed as travelling teachers was important for the continued preaching of the gospel. The provision of shelter, food and protection meant they could fulfil their ministry. Diotrephes was not providing this support – he was actively rejecting these people (v.10).
Were these three epistles from John just a selection of many more brief letters that he sent out to the churches in his care, and as he received news of how these churches were faring? It seems reasonable to suppose that, unable to actually visit, this was one way he fulfilled the calling given to him, probably more than fifty years previously, by the man who taught him about truth and love.
Prayer
Our Father, grant us the grace, as we are given the opportunity, to lead in humility and love, honouring your name, and defending the truth that you have revealed. In Jesus’s name – the head of the church, Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
About the writer:
Maggie Mitchell attends the Northampton congregation of Grace Communion International and is Chair of the Pastoral Council
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church