STUDIES

STUDIES

IN THE

THIRD

EPISTLE

JOHN

DR. D. PAUL TUCK SR.

A BAPTIST PULPIT PUBLICATION

DEDICATION

This third letter is as well amazing as the second letter – just not as long! Walking in the truth is the theme of this little letter. It is always a blessing to hear of those who walk in the truth, and ever so sad when we hear the opposite. Over my 50 years of preaching the gospel I have met many good preachers and also some who were not so good. Many who stuck to the stuff and persevered even until death, but some who were led astray by filthy lucre and the false doctrines that went with it. Often times the love of money leads one astray after false doctrines. It is amazing how many will believe what I believe if I give them money. Far too many preachers are (as a friend of mine put it) in the monestry rather than the ministry.

When I first started out back in 1957, I was in Niagara Falls and went into a booth where you could make small 78 speed records. Just for the fun of it I recorded why I am in the ministry. I do not remember now all of the details, it was not long, but I do remember saying this: “It is not so much that I am in the ministry but that the ministry is in me.” It ended with my desire to preach the gospel…but I ran out of space and it just says-“preach-preach-preach”. The last time I heard that I laughed by it is not so funny today, but the truth still remains.

To those in whom the ministry is personified, who preach-preach-preach! I dedicate this little book.

Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

Toronto, Canada

January 10^th 2008.

DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER – 227.96

This book or any part of it shall not be copied or reprinted in any form

without written permission of the author and publishers.

Copies permission may be granted to missionaries and churches

by writing to the author or publishers.

BAPTIST PULPIT MINISTRIES

48 Cobbler Crescent

North York, Ontario,

Canada M3N 2Y7

Email: bpulpit@rogers.com

First Printing- January 2008

STUDIES IN THE THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN

INTRODUCTION

Contents – Christian Hospitality

Written about- 90 A.D. Probably at Ephesus

Author – The apostle John

Addressed – To Gaius

Theme – Walking in the truth

Key verse – Vs 8

Key words – Truth and walk

Synopsis – The subject matter centers on three characters, Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius, and some itinerant evangelists.

We will outline this letter as addressed to these individuals –

1. Gaius –well beloved: Vs 1

A. The Identity of Gaius:

Identity cannot be positively determined. There are several persons by this name mentioned in the New Testament.

The one spoken of by the apostle Paul – Romans 16:23

“Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.”

This may well be the same Gaius of whom John speaks in this epistle.

However Dr. John Gill does not think so and thinks there are about 30 to 40 years difference in the two men named Gaius and that one was in Corinth while the other was near to Ephesus. John being a very old man would not likely travel to Corinth, but on the other hand Gaius may well have transferred to somewhere near Ephesus. This does not matter too much and should not detract from the testimony of either man.

(I quote Gill here in part) -

“This Gaius, who was a settled housekeeper, and resided at some certain place. His name is a Roman name, and the same with Caius, though he seems to have been a Jew, as he might, it being usual with the Jews in other countries to take Gentile names. His character is, that he was "well beloved"; that is, of God, as it appears he was from the grace bestowed on him, from the prosperous estate of his soul, and from the truth that was in him, and his walking in it; and of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the same reasons; and also of all the brethren and saints that knew him; he being a person not only truly gracious, and of faithfulness and integrity, but of great liberality and beneficence, which must gain him much love and esteem among them; and he was well beloved by the Apostle John; and so the Syriac version renders it, "to my beloved Gaius": though his love to him is expressed in the following clause,

whom I love in the truth; as being in it, or for the sake of it, or truly and sincerely; see Gill on "2 John 1:1".

B. Gaius – Characteristics –

Four times in this epistle Gaius is mentioned as “beloved” – 1,2,5 and 11

The word “beloved” means “well loved” and it seems not only by John but by many others as well. Gaius is a well known and well-loved brother.

The term “well beloved” then means “loved of God” – “loved of John” and loved of many others.”

Gaius was- 1/ Worthy of the affection of John – Vs 1-2

2/ A consistent Christian, walking in the truth – Vs 3-4

3/ Given to hospitality – Vs 5-6.

The Scriptures are clear that Christians ought to be hospitable; but that does not mean we ought to allow ourselves to be doormats for the whims of others who seek only their own welfare, not caring where or how they get it.

Churches working in large cities are well aware of those who seek “welfare” but only want it for other purposes than person humane needs. Many men seek money-only to buy wine or drugs and no church hospitality should feed into this scenario.

In doing mission work we need to beware of those who use and abuse the good hospitality of a mission minded church.

Churches once thus bitten are not too eager to help others and we must be on guard for this type of over-reaction to problems.

Gaius came with a good recommendation from others and now is commended by the apostle John.

Vs 5 – “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatever thou doest to the brethren, and to

strangers.”

Gaius was faithful in his hospitality both to the brethren and those outside (strangers) of the household of faith. Gaius might well have been a deacon in the local church where he resided? Good deacons and such people as Gaius is a real asset to any church.

Vs 6 - “Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.”

"Since they are God’s representatives, treat them as you would God"

Such have borne witness or testified to the hospitality of Gaius before the entire church.

Gaius apparently assisted them in their onward journey (travel).

Vs 7 – “Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.”

These same workers did not take financial support from the other Gentile churches, so that what help Gaius gave them was indeed an added blessing.

Dr. A.T. Robertson says -

“John is anxious that Christian missionaries receive nothing from the heathen, as our missionaries have to watch against the charge of being after money. There were many travelling lecturers out for money. Paul in 1Co 9 defends the right of preachers to pay, but refuses himself to accept it from Corinth because it would be misunderstood (cf. 1Thess. 2:6.”

Vs 8 – “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.”

That is, co-workers with such brethren for the truth" . Those who assist be one with those they assist. This is in part the beauty of sharing in mission work. The one who shares in the work also shares in the harvest and its reward.

2. DIOTREPHES – APPARENTLY A LEADING MAN IN THE CHURCH:

Vs 9-11

A. Ambitious and Bigoted:

John’s description of Diotrephes is not a good one – I once wrote an article, “How to be a BAPTIST without being a BIGOT.”

It is all right to be ambitious in a good way but in a church we must work together. Unguarded ambition can hurt a church and lead to bigotry.

A definition of ambitious taken from Webster is “1/Strong desire for success, fame, power, wealth, etc. 2/the thing so desired.”

A definition of the word “Bigot” is (Webster) – “man of spirit, obstinate person; a narrow minded person who holds blindly and intolerantly to a particular creed, opinion, etc.”

Thus John says of this man – “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not” Vs 9.

It is sad when one man takes it upon himself to usurp church authority.

Vs 10 – “Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

John will remember this mans un-Christ-like conduct when he comes.

It is the way the man operates or what he does that John is referencing here.

Prating – foolish empty chatter

B. Assuming to be an Over-lord of the vineyard.

Diotrephes will receive a merited rebuke from the apostle when he comes – Vs 10

The Amplified Bible states-

So when I arrive, I will call attention to what he is doing, his boiling over and casting malicious reflections upon us with insinuating language. And not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive and welcome the (missionary) brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.”

We have known such men as this over the years. They get carried away with a false sense of their own worth and standing in the church. Such are not team players. There is no such thing as Baptist Popery!

Vs 11 – “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

The word “doeth” used here is continuous action. Such as continues to do something- it is his daily lifestyle.

There is a fine line between one being a lord and an over-lord in a New Testament Church.

First of all this should never be the lot of anyone in the church who operates without authorization of the church body.

Secondly – A pastor is to be a man who takes a strong leadership within the church – but never as a dictator. 1 Peter 5:1-4

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

The sense here is that of not being a dictator.

The pastor is to “take” or exercise the leadership over the Lord’s sheep as the under-shepherd of Jesus the Head - or Chief Shepherd.

The Shepherd is to feed the sheep but not to spoil the sheep by agreeing to its every whim. The Shepherd has a responsibility to the sheep but his first allegiance is to the Chief Shepherd.

3. DEMETRIUS – HIS GOOD REPORT: Vs 12-13

Demetrius was a of much different character than Diotrephes in that John says, “Hath good report of all men”

Paul in writing to the Church in Thessalonica had a similar report of that whole church (chapter 1) but here he says this of but one man. By “all men” may well be applied to all who knew him and not necessarily only the men of the church. John’s report of Demetrius was far reaching. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul also wrote-

2 Corinthians 3:2

“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.”

Oh the power of influence!

“Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.”

A. “Report of all men” – a far reaching example and sphere of influence.

B. “And of the truth itself” – The body of divine teaching concerning Jesus Christ.

Demetrius had applied the truth to himself- as seen in his daily living.

C. We (the apostles) are witnesses to the truth and how it operates in the lives of those who are affected by it.

D. “Ye know that our record is true” – Our testimony or witness as eye witnesses of the gospel and of the resurrected Christ.

Vs 13 – “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee.”

Again, as in his second letter, John preferred face to face communication to that of writing with pen and ink.

The modern day application- “it is better to communicate face to face than via e-mail or letters.” Our speech is generally more seasoned with salt when we communicate face to face than when we hide behind a pen, typewriter or keyboard.

Conclusion:

Vs 14 – “But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.”

A. Communicate with others best face to face.

B. Peace – is always better than war and to be constructive than destructive of others.

C. “Our friends” – Brothers and Sisters in Christ are called friends - John 15:15 “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

D. Greet others (the missionaries) by name – We all have a name and Jesus knows and calls each of his sheep by name (John 10:3 - “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

What a gracious letter John writes and such good rapport with Gaius. The closing question then- “How would john write if he should write this letter and address it to you?