Readings  Deuteronomy 34, Revelation 8

Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,

Third John is an epistle that was written to an individual.  It gives us a picture of the early church, and how believers interacted with each other. 

vs. 1-2  Gaius was a brother who it seems that John had led to the Lord.  However, John addressed everyone as his little children in 1 John, so this may not mean that he personally led him to the Lord, but that he was like a spiritual father to him.  What is important is that John feels personally responsible for the growth of those under him. 

Looking at 2 Corinthians 4:16, the greeting in v. 2 comes to life. The greeting is said to be a common greeting of the time, but picture that in your mind.  If your body was as healthy as your spiritual life, how good of shape would you be in?  Would you be a marathon runner, a couch potato, or on your death bed?  Spiritual health is often thought of, but certainly not as much as physical health.  I have seen people go to great extremes to tolerate difficult diets in order to drop twenty pounds.  Are we willing to go to the same extremes in order to better ourselves spiritually?  Something to think about.  2 Corinthians 7:1.

vs. 3-6  Gaius put his Christianity in his lifestyle.  He was not one to live by a double standard.  Not only does he show that he is studious, and willing to put the time and effort into the Word in order to understand it.  Psalm 1:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:13  He also puts the word into action by dealing with strangers.  Encouraging them and sending them away with blessings.  Hebrews 13:2.   There are a couple of things possible in the entertaining of strangers.  Hotels at that time were infested with bugs and lice, as well as being a place of danger from robbers and such.  When a person could find a private home to stay in, he was much better off.  Traveling preachers would go from home to home rather than stay in hotels, and this could be addressed in 2 John 7-11.  The phrase "send them on their way in a manner worthy of God"  indicated by the customs of the day that he assisted them financially, and helped them with creature comforts, such as a good meal, and washing their clothes.  1 Corinthians 16:6; Titus 3:13; James 2:14-16; 1 John 3:16-18.

v. 7  It seems that the strangers may have been traveling ministers, who desired to hold to the support of the early church.  Yesterday, I went off on the deep end regarding Judaism, and this may be what is addressed here.  The ministers who clung to the truth, sought out those who retained the Jewishness of the Church, rather than become involved with those who were distorting the gospel.

The reference to "the Name" is interesting.  It adds an interesting touch to the Epistle.  There were several things that the Christians were called, Nazarenes Acts 24:5, The Way John 14:6; Acts 9:2; 19:9; 19:23; 24:14; 24:22, and in a slanderous way, Christians Acts 11:26; 26:28.  Jesus was referred to as "The Name" in this passage, this is also established in John 15:21; Luke 13:35; John 17:11 Acts 5:41.

v. 8  It is time to stand behind those who stand behind the truth and put it in action.

vs. 9-10  This man had apparently strayed from the truth, and had incorporated personal emotions and worldly attitudes into his theology.  John knew this to be a problem he would have to address when he visited.

vs. 11-12  John sums up his first epistle in a few words here.  The life of the Christian will demonstrate Christ, while the life of the unbeliever will demonstrate evil.  Not all evil looks bad though, be fore-warned, some evil looks very good.  This is true with sensuality, and it is also true with doctrine.  False doctrine which is introduced into the churches looks good, but when you really examine it, an odor of wrongness comes from it.  The best thing I can say on this is that we are to do as the early church did, searching out the scriptures to see if it is true.  Acts 17:11.

vs. 13-15  Closing remarks. 

Since I am at home today, I cut the study a little short.  I have a lot of home fires to put out.  I hope that you enjoyed the study as much as I did, if you see something that you wish to add, please feel free to write in.

Lord, as we consider our roles in Your kingdom, I pray that each one of us will desire to search out the scriptures, and apply them to our lives.  Thank You Lord for making it possible for us to abide in You.

In Him,