Third Letter of John

Third John is the third of three short letters attributed to John. It is a letter written to an individual named Gaius, praising his faithfulness and hospitality toward traveling teachers.

Who Wrote the Third Letter of John, and Why?

Third John was written in a setting like the other letters of John. But this letter does not focus on the danger of false teaching. It focuses on Diotrephes, a man who rejects the authority of “the elder.” He also tries to stop the elder’s work.

The letter is written to Gaius, who remains loyal to the elder. The elder asks Gaius to care for true missionaries who are traveling through the area. In the thanksgiving section, the elder praises Gaius for his faithfulness to the truth. He especially praises him as one of his “children.”

We do not have enough information to determine the date or setting. The familiar words and writing style link it to the other two letters. Therefore, the author was probably the apostle John.

What Is the Message of the Third Letter of John?

The letter has two main concerns.

The first paragraph praises Gaius for welcoming traveling missionaries (3 John 1:5–8). These missionaries were traveling "on behalf of the Name," that is, the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 7). They told the church about Gaius’s love for the church.

The main part of the letter warns about Diotrephes's refusal to obey. His desire for power makes him challenge the elder's authority. He also tries to make others reject the elder. If they do not, he removes them from the church community.

Diotrephes also refuses to welcome true traveling preachers. The elder warns Gaius not to follow Diotrephes’s example.

The letter ends with the elder’s hope to visit Gaius soon. Normal greetings conclude the little letter.

See also Letters of John.