An Article of Faith

The key to understanding 3 John is support those who spread the Gospel.

John takes the time to pen this personal letter of encouragement to a believer who is having a difficult time with a difficult person in the church: “The elder [John] to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth” (3 John 1:1).

Here is the situation. John sent out messengers of the Gospel to the surrounding territory commending them to the churches for hospitality and support. When some of John’s messengers arrive at the church where Gaius lived, a man by the name of Diotrephes, an influential member – if not the leader – of the church refused to receive John’s messengers. And not only that, but he also spoke out against John the apostle and tried to intimidate those in the church who were willing to follow John’s request.

You wouldn’t think that this kind of thing actually goes on in the church today – let alone in the early church at the end of the first century. And how could someone be so bold and arrogant as to oppose the apostolic authority of John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? Thus, these missionaries befriended and supported by Gaius returned to the church at Ephesus (John’s “Mission Headquarters”) where they brought a mission report before the church informing John and the church of two things: First, the hospitality of Gaius. And second, the hostility of Diotrephes.

In response to this bitter-sweet report the aged apostle takes “pen and ink” and scribbles the following letter on a single sheet of papyrus. He hands the letter to a man by the name of Demetrius to deliver it to Gaius. In this letter (the shortest in the Bible) John expresses his appreciation for Gaius’ reception and hospitality of these missionaries (or “the brethren” as he refers to them) and announces his intention of dealing with this difficult person, Diotrephes, when he comes.

Which of these two men, Gaius or Diotrephes, describes you?

If you identify with the “Beloved Gaius” then you have a healthy spiritual life: “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2). You’re also faithful in supporting those who spread the Gospel: “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth” (3 John 1:5-8).

On the other hand, you identify with difficult Diotrephes if everything has to be your way all the time and you fail to submit to spiritual authority: “I wrote something to the church,” says John, “but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church” (3 John 1:9-10).

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)