3 John (written)

3 John -4

Charlie Garrett 3 John, 3 John (written), Daily Writing, Epistles, Writings 0 Comment

Monday, 6 July 2020

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John -4

The Greek of the previous verse showed where the articles should rightly be placed. It said, “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in truth.” There was an article before the first instance of truth, but not one before the second. John now says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” In this, manuscripts vary. Some say, “in truth,” while others say, “in the truth.” It would be improbable that John said one and then another. Therefore, it is likely that he again says, “walk in truth.” The verse will be evaluated as such.

He begins with, “I have no greater joy.” There is an emphasis on the word “greater,” as it begins the verse in the Greek. It should be kept in that order to highlight this emphasis –

“Greater joy than these, I do not have.” John is placing the joy he will next explain as the highest joy he could possess while in this life. And that joy is “to hear that my children walk in truth.” The verb is actually a present participle, and it should be translated that way. Thus, it would say, “that my children are walking in truth.” It is a right-now, active process.

It is one thing to hear that your children walk in truth, which could mean from time to time, and it is another thing to know that they are walking in truth, which means right at this moment. The verbs are carefully selected to show what is truly pleasing to John concerning them. In this, he calls them “my children.” This probably shows that he is speaking of those he personally led to Christ. If so, then Gaius would be reckoned among them. The thought then mirrors what Paul said to those at Corinth –

“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” 1 Corinthians 4:14-16

There and elsewhere, a spiritual father/child relationship is recognized by Paul concerning those he had personally evangelized. In this, a father wants what is best for his children, and he will rejoice along with them when they are living properly. This is what John is now expressing to Gaius as his greatest joy. To be walking in the truth means that he is living in the sphere of what he had first been introduced to, without straying from the path of sound doctrine found in Christ. John is well-pleased with this situation in his beloved Gaius and any others who also faithfully walked.

Life application: John was commissioned as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He walked with the Lord, learned from Him, saw His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, saw Him hailed as “the Son of David” on Palm Sunday, and watched Him crucified a few days later. He was given personal charge of Jesus’ mother as He was dying on the cross.

After the sadness of the burial came the glorious memory of the resurrection. He stood on the Mount of Olives as Jesus ascended to the right hand of God. All of these things he personally beheld and participated in. Therefore, when someone heard John’s words and accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior, John certainly rejoiced. But he had no greater joy than that those converts continued to walk faithfully in the truth of the gospel.

This encompasses the entire life experience for each person. In other words, the Great Commission was fulfilled in that person’s life. This was not only to “make disciples” and “baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” but also to “teach them to observe all things.” This is what brought John that great joy – that the gospel message would be continued on through them and not die out or be distorted.

John, being old and unsure of the timing of the Lord’s plan, could feel satisfied that what was given to him was safely passed on to others. And the stream of faithful transmission has been carried on through the ages, even until today. Despite the tricks of the devil and the deceit of deceivers, the truth is both available and flourishing in the world. Hallelujah!

Yes, Lord! Hallelujah and Amen! To know that Your gospel message has been safely protected and transmitted throughout the ages is a blessing to the people of the world. We know that we have a sure and firm foundation in the pages of the Bible and also from the mouths of those who properly and tenderly pass it on to others. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 John -3

Charlie Garrett 3 John, 3 John (written), Daily Writing, Epistles, Epistles (written), Writings 0 Comment

Sunday, 5 July 2020

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 3 John -3

John has just stated the words, “as your soul prospers.” How did he know this? He now explains it with the words of verse 3. He begins with, “For I rejoiced greatly.” Here, like in 2 John 1:4, he uses the word lian. It signifies “exceedingly” by taking a thought and elevating it to a higher level. John is truly overjoyed, as he next says, “when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you.”

The translation is lacking the force of John’s words. Both “came” and “testified” are present participles. It rightly says, “of the brethren coming and testifying of the truth in you.” The visits were ongoing, and the testimony was continuously faithful. Whenever someone went to visit Gaius, and that was not infrequently (as the verbs indicate), they always came back with a good word about him.

It is a positive mark upon Gaius which John is literally elated to share with him, and thus it explains his rejoicing exceedingly. He was abundantly delighted that his beloved Gaius was holding fast to the truth, and that it resided in him. With this understood, John next says, “just as you walk in the truth.”

In this statement, the “you” is emphatic – “just as YOU in truth are walking.” John has certainly said this to show the contrast between Gaius and those who fail to walk in truth. As will be seen, he is setting a border between the walk of Gaius and that of Diotrephes who will be seen in verse 9. Also, the translation of these words is sloppy. John first says, “testified of the truth,” but then he says, “just as you walk in truth.” There is no article before the second use of “truth.”

Thus, John is saying that the truth of the gospel resides in Gaius and, that because of this, he walks in a general state of truth in all he does. The truth of the gospel actively residing in a person dictates the nature of the person’s walk.

Life application: In this, John’s third epistle, he speaks of walking in the truth. He has done this in both of his other epistles as well. In his first letter, he did so in 1 John 1:6. In his second letter, he did so in 2 John 1:4 –

“I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.”

The idea has progressively moved up towards the beginning of each letter – verse 6, then 4, then 3. It is as if the Bible is saying that the truth is of such paramount importance that it needs to be highlighted at the earliest possible moment as time unfolds.

Maybe it is telling us that as time passes people will need to be more on guard than ever as to what is and what isn’t truthful. Based on the tense of the statement, John hadn’t merely heard about Gaius’ walk on this one occasion, but repeatedly. Gaius, therefore, was a person who continuously demonstrated the Christian life in all he did.

For a moment, let us pretend that we are going to be mentioned to the Apostle John. What type of report about us will he receive as he ministers to his own church in Ephesus? Will the traveling brethren come and testify of the truth in us? Or have we been swayed away from the purity of the gospel that we first received?

Will they find that our walk is in truth, or will they find fault in how we walk and conduct our Christian lives? Will the vote be unanimous, or will the more mature believers be able to discern faults in our doctrine? Will they find good in some areas, but fault in others?

These questions and their answers about us are important because Jesus knows even better than these traveling visitors and their reports. What Christ Jesus sees He files away for the time when we will stand before Him at the judgment seat. Each of us is to be evaluated in order that we will receive rewards or suffer loss. May we be found with the truth in us, and may we be found always walking in truth!

Jesus, we know that we are ultimately accountable to You. We know that You embody truth and that we are to emulate You in this. Therefore, reveal to us the surety of our doctrine, correct our deficiencies, and guide us into all truth so that we may be pleasing and acceptable vessels, prepared for Your glorious use now and for all of the ages to come. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 John -2

Charlie Garrett 3 John, 3 John (written), Daily Writing, Epistles, Epistles (written), Writings 0 Comment

Saturday, 4 July 2020

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John -2

John, addressing “the beloved Gaius” of the previous verse, calls him “Beloved.” As the adjective is singular, there is no question that the letter is written to him alone, even if it is now included for our instruction in the Bible. To Gaius, he next says, “I pray that you may prosper in all things.” The KJV incorrectly renders it as “above all things.” Neither the word, nor the context, could imply “above.” Rather, the Greek word peri signifies “concerning.”

The Greek word translated as “prosper” signifies a journey on a particular road. Thus, it figuratively is intended to be used where someone truly prospers. If one is on the wrong path, then there will be a waste of time, energy, and so on. But to be on the right path things will continue as they were intended and budgeted for. While on this path of prospering, John then says, “and be in health.”

Some have deduced that because of these words, Gaius must have been sick. That may be reading too much into John’s words. It is the most common thing to wish continued health on someone who is healthy, or for strong health for someone when we don’t even know what their current health situation is. John is simply combining his desire for Gaius’ physical health with his spiritual health. As he says, “just as your soul prospers.”

John, as can be evidenced by the contents of the coming verse, was fully aware of the sound spiritual health of Gaius. In this, John was – in essence – pronouncing a blessing upon Gaius for a physically healthy walk in this life; he was certainly spiritually healthy.

Life application: John, will use the same term, beloved, at the beginning of each major point, stating it again in verses 5 and 11. His prayer points to temporal things and indicates that it is completely acceptable to pray for temporal blessings.

As we saw, John is praying for a successful journey in all the things of life. However, this is not a call to a prosperity gospel where we can “claim” these things. That is a twisted way of looking at both the word “pray,” and at the rest of Scripture. Instead, a prayer is a petition of request, not a demand.

The same is true for his prayer of health. It, again, isn’t a pronouncement of, or claim for, health by the touch of a faith healer. It is a prayer of petition.

For someone to stand on a stage or on a TV show and claim healing in the name of Jesus is both unbiblical and unwise. It is unbiblical because the Bible doesn’t teach it. And it is unwise because when God, in His sovereignty, decides to not heal someone, then that person’s faith or the faith of others can be damaged. It is a crime against the Lord to demand that which is at His prerogative alone.

Another point is that the word used for “be in health” is sometimes used in a metaphorical sense by Paul when speaking of sound doctrine. But this isn’t the case here. It is speaking of Gaius’ physical health.

Finally, we saw that there was nothing wrong with Gaius’ spiritual condition. John is simply praying that Gaius will be blessed in health and in the temporal things of life, just as he is in his spiritual life. Again, this is a classic verse for deducing that we can’t expect these things simply because we are obedient to the Lord. Instead, we can pray for them and the Lord will respond according to His wisdom and our needs.

The prosperity gospel and the health gospel are both revealed as false teachings from this one verse. Instead, the Christian is to pray for, but never expect or demand, such things.

Lord, at times, we may have fallen prey to the false teachings of the prosperity and health gospels. We may have claimed and expected things which we should have only prayed for. In this, we have overstepped what is right and not allowed room for Your sovereign choices concerning our lives. May we accept whatever You give us as a blessing – be it wealth or poverty, health or ailment. To Your glory alone! Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 John -1

Charlie Garrett 3 John, 3 John (written), Daily Writing, Epistles, Epistles (written), Writings 0 Comment

Friday, 3 July 2020

The Elder,
To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 3 John -1

As in 2 John, John begins his letter with “The Elder.” Because of his reputation, age, and status, this was all that was necessary to identify himself to his readers. This is a personal letter and is being written “To the beloved Gaius.”

Gaius was a very common name at the time, coming from the Roman name Caius. And so, he can’t be linked with any other Gaius – either mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament or from archaeological discoveries. The name is found twice in Acts, once in Romans, and once in 1 Corinthians. Of this particular Gaius, we know he was beloved of John.

Of his addressee, John next says, “whom I love in truth.” The translation is correct. Some translations say, “in the truth.” There is no article before “truth,” showing that it is a state of being, rather than a love because of a particular issue. John’s love extends beyond one point and is an all-encompassing fraternal love which is grounded in truth.

John will use the term “truth” six times in this short letter. He will also use the adjective form “true” once as well. His stress on this word is to show the contrast between Gaius and those like him, and on another person whom John will single out for his evil ways.

Life application: As we go through this short letter, we are going to get a good idea of the workings of the church at this early stage in Christianity and about the problems they faced even then.

Some of these problems are still being faced today. One of the problems is discontent among those within the body leading towards animosity. We can tell this even from this first verse. John uses an emphatic “I” in this verse, implying that there were those who were at enmity with Gaius.

John was stressing, in essence, that “even though others don’t love you, I (stated boldly) do.” And why was there this bond of love? Because of walking in truth, meaning the doctrine of Jesus Christ when properly taught and accepted. John loved those who received the truth. The implication is that he had no love for those who didn’t or those who taught it falsely.

Let us take the Bible in its proper context when dealing with such issues as Christian love.

Each day, Lord, we look with anticipation at the coming wisdom when we pick up your word to read it again. We cherish the treasures of insight You have placed there. May we properly handle Your word so that You will be glorified, and so that we will be found truthful in our lives and doctrine. What more could a soul desire than this! Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 John; an Introduction

Charlie Garrett 3 John, 3 John (written), Daily Writing, Epistles, Epistles (written), Writings 0 Comment

Thursday, 2 July 2020

The Book of 3 John; an Introduction.

The book of 3 John is the 64th book of the Bible, and it is comprised of 1 chapter of 14 verses. A verse-per-day evaluation of 3 John will take two weeks to complete.

The authenticity was disputed by some early church figures, such as Origen and Eusebius, but it was declared authentic by others, such as Cyril of Jerusalem and Jerome. The council of Nicaea denied its authenticity. However, the council of Hippo, and both councils of Carthage declared it as authentic.

John is the Apostle John. He is held to be the author of the Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; and the book of Revelation. He is highlighted in the gospels as being one of an inner circle who most closely associated with Jesus. This also included Peter and John’s brother, James. In the gospel which bears his name, he refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (for example, see John 13:23).

Like the books of 1 & 2 John, no writer is specifically identified as being the author of 3 John. Rather, (like 2 John) only the title, “The Elder,” is given in the first verse. However, similarities in writing style, as well as the brevity of the letter, give a strong hint that he is, in fact, the same author of both epistles.

The letter is addressed to “the beloved Gaius.” John will say of him, “whom I love in the truth.” John will mention “truth” six times, and that his testimony is “true” one time as well. Like his other letters, the subject of the truth of the Person and work of Jesus Christ is at the forefront of his thoughts.

Despite being “the Apostle of Love,” John has no time for heretics or self-promoters, and clearly identifies the consequences of such views, directly naming one miscreant within the congregation.

The dating of the letter is reasonably assumed to be around the same time as for that of 2 John – from the mid-80s to the mid-90s.

The main theme of 3 John is “Emphasizing the demonstration of truth or error in the believer’s life.” Thus, the main purpose of the epistle is “To commend, encourage, and instruct his good friend Gaius.” A secondary, contrasting, theme concerns the severe error of a person in the church named Diotrephes who should not be emulated.

Of special note concerning 3 John is that it is the only book of the New Testament to not directly state the name “Jesus.” The word “God” is used three times, and the church is mentioned explicitly (three times) and implicitly throughout the epistle. The only certain reference to Jesus is found in verse -7 where it refers to “the Name.”

It is thus a clue that the letter has been sent in a time of persecution. It may then provide an explanation for the term, “the elect lady,” in 2 John which seems likely to be referring to the church. John was careful to state things in a way that would protect the readers if the letter was acquired by someone who was hostile to the church and to the name of Jesus Christ.

The main presentation of Christ in the epistle is “Jesus Christ, the Way.”

A short review of the book includes the following –

Author – The Apostle John.
Date – Mid 80s to mid 90s.
Theme – Emphasizes the demonstration of truth or error in the believer’s life.
Purpose – To commend, encourage, and instruct his good friend Gaius.
Presentation of Christ – The Way.

A limited outline of the book would be –

The Book of 3 John – Walking in the Truth

Book Superstructure  

  • Truth – the walk of truth.

Book Structure           

  • Personal letter.

Book Outline

  • Walking in the truth; rejecting what is evil.

Life application: We hope that you will spend the next 14 days of your life learning the book of 3 John, one verse at a time. From there, we hope you will apply its truths to your life, molding yourself more each day into being a faithful and wholehearted follower of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.

Lord God, how wonderful it is to see Your hand on display throughout the books of the Bible. In each, we can learn more about You, about Your desire for our right living, and how we can be pleasing to You by living in accord with that. And so, help us to have wisdom and discernment, and to pursue You and Your will all the days of our lives. Amen.