Epistles (written)

Wednesday, 8 July 2020

…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, 3 John -6

John just said to Gaius that he does faithfully the things he does for the brethren and the strangers. He now explains how he knows this by adding on the words, “who have borne witness of your love.”

Word had gotten back to John, maybe even by direct testimony from those Gaius had taken care of, that he indeed was faithfully doing the things he was called to do. He tended to the needs of those who came, and he demonstrated his love “before the church.”

John’s words here do not mean that Gaius was a person such as Jesus referred to in Matthew 6 –

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:1-4

Rather, Gaius simply did what he did without any fanfare and was noted as such. This is the idea that Paul spoke of in 1 Timothy 5 –

“Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.” 1 Timothy 5:24, 25

When one does good to others, what he does may be done quietly and without any trumpets blasting, but the things he does cannot go unnoticed. Such is the case with Gaius. From this note of acceptance concerning the deeds of Gaius, John then says, “If you send them forward on their journey.”

The Greek verb is in the aorist tense, as if an already-accomplished fact. Therefore, it better reads, “Having sent forward.” John is noting what Gaius has done, and he is acknowledging that it is the appropriate and godly thing that he has done. The deed done without fanfare is a deed which has been properly done and has met the approval of the aged apostle. This is because it was “worthy of God.”

Again, the Greek is closer to “worthily of God.” It is an adverb and a noun combination. The action itself is highlighted because it was done in a manner looking to please God. The whole clause precisely reads “having sent forward worthily of God.” With this in mind, John closes the verse with, “you will do well.”

It is in the future tense, showing that when such actions are taken, it is the appropriate thing that will have been done. The order of the entire clause hinges on this future tense, and the word “you” actually opens the clause. The whole thought reads, “You will do well, having sent forward worthily of God.”

The whole thought is one which acknowledges Gaius’ love, something acknowledged by the church, and John’s prompting to further demonstrate that love by taking the concrete steps noted here to send forth these people in a manner which is becoming of God. The next verse will explain why this should be.

Life application: The word “love” in this verse is agape. In this case, it conveys more than just a feeling, but rather includes his actions as well. To continue demonstrating this love, John notes that his hospitality should also include giving them provisions for their continued journey.

The somewhat unusual construction of John’s words, saying, “you do well,” is believed to be an idiom of the time which basically meant “please.” To understand this, one can simply reword the sentence – “Please, send these brethren forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God.”

The parallel most commonly found in churches today would be that of missionaries looking for financial assistance as they travel from church to church before departing for their mission field. We, as individuals or a church body, should welcome these people into our homes, feed and care for them, and then provide for them not only with financial assistance for their continued journey, but also a promise of support (if they meet the church requirements) as they live in their mission assignment.

A majority of these people have a true heart for the Lord. They are dedicating their lives to the continued spread of the gospel. Because of this, they should be received, tended to, and sent out in a manner worthy of God. Let us remember this as we set our personal and congregational budgets in the years ahead.

Lord Jesus, help us to be responsible people with the money You have provided to us. A fancy latte can be $5 or more. If we have one every day, that adds up to a lot of money. Is this the best we can do with that money when we have missionaries in our churches that are not fully funded? Help us to use what You have given us wisely. Is a fancy coffee of more value than their winning of souls to Christ? Help our priorities to be right, O God. Amen.

Tuesday 7 July 2020

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 3 John -5

John now moves from comments about his own personal happiness concerning Gaius to a commendation and exhortation of his actions. He begins this by saying once again, “Beloved.” It is the third of four times that he uses the term in this short letter, stressing the truly loving feeling that John held for Gaius.

John next says, “you do faithfully whatever you do.” The Greek is an adjective, not an adverb, and so it more rightly says, “you do a faithful thing, whatever you do.” The product of his labors results in that which is appropriate within the boundaries of the faith. And that product is the result of what he had been doing “for the brethren and for strangers.”

There are some differences in manuscripts here which alter the reading a bit, but the sense of the words is that Gaius was being a faithful servant towards those around him, both toward the brethren within the congregation, and also to any strangers who had come along as well. He was always ready to extend himself for others in a most charitable manner.

It should be noted that in this verse, the two uses of “you do” were  translated from two different words. As said, he is faithfully accomplishing the tasks, but the second word shows that he is diligently, even unceasingly laboring for these people. Together, these words sum up the entire scope of his faithful and welcoming ministry. To show a distinction between the two, it would be appropriate to say, “you do faithfully whatever you have worked at.”

Life application: Gaius was working in this manner for people he knew and for those he didn’t know. The “strangers” are more than likely traveling evangelists or missionaries, just like we have even today. Gaius was apparently opening his home to them and giving them all the assistance they needed so that they could save their money for places which weren’t as accommodating.

Just like today, if we travel, we will find that hotels and restaurants cost money. But if there are people willing to take us in during our travels, the bed is always more comfortable – even if it is a lumpy mattress. The food is always better – even if it is simple and not so tasty. And, and the friendship is always exceptional in comparison to a place we check in to where everyone is a stranger. A hospitable person or family is always the preferred option. This is a lesson for all of us.

If we have room and the ability to open our doors to those passing through, we should do so. The world has never been a safe place, but we can demonstrate faithfulness in opening our doors and trusting that we are doing a service that will long be remembered. When done in the name of Jesus, we truly are blessing the soul of another.

Thank You, Lord, for those who are willing to open their doors to us as we travel the highways and byways of life. May You bless them in all ways for their faithful and kind service to those they often don’t even know. And thank You for putting this on their hearts as we know all good blessings truly come from You. Amen.

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.

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.

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.