What is a summary of the book of 3 John?

from the old testament

• Third John is not found in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• Unlike 2 John, which warns against showing hospitality to false teachers (2 John 10–11), 3 John is a letter encouraging hospitality for true believers. Hospitality was important in the first century in a way that is different than today. Not only were there no hotels all along one route, but the places of lodging that did exist were also known for their immorality. This lack of a societal support network made it difficult and dangerous for traveling missionaries. This meant believers relied on other believers to provide safe accommodation along the way.
• At the same time, as 2 John demonstrated, Christians weren’t to unquestionably accept everyone who claimed to be a Christian. Instead, letters of commendation would be sent along with a missionary to authorize them. 3 John appears to be just such a letter, arriving with Demetrius, who “has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 12). In that way, it served to certify Demetrius as one worthy of Christian hospitality.
• However, John felt the need to discuss what he had learned from the previous missionaries. First, they had brought back encouraging news about Gaius, in particular. John said, “I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth” (3 John 3–4). They had told John about Gaius’ love for the missionaries despite them being strangers (v 5), affirming that he did well as “we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (v 6).
• Second, John had heard disturbing news about Diotrephes. He rejected John’s authority, did not allow his writings to be distributed, rejected the traveling missionaries, and removed anyone from the church who tried to help them (3 John 9–10). John was obviously upset about this, saying, “If I come, I will bring up what he is doing” (v 10a). However, importantly, John did not say to remove that man from the church or to avoid his teaching. This indicates that, unlike the antichrist false teachers in 1 and 2 John (1 John 2:18; 2 John 7), John did not view Diotrephes as a false teacher but as a sinful believer.
• Given the pressure from Diotrephes, John was concerned that Gaius might also stop welcoming the traveling missionaries, so before commending Demetrius, he said, “Do not imitate evil but imitate good” (3 John 11).

implications for today

Jonathan Edwards once remarked that there were two groups of individuals involved in missionary work: those who go into the well and those who hold the rope for those who do. Third John is about that second group. John’s missionaries were traveling and needed a place to stay to minister there, and Gaius provided just such a place.

How we support missions today may look very different from how it did in the first century, but there are still two groups of believers: those who go and those who support them. Though it’s much safer for a missionary to find a place to stay in another place, hospitality is still important. Every time missionaries book a hotel, they are redirecting money that could otherwise be used in the field. As believers who “hold the rope,” one way we can do so is by opening our houses to reduce a missionary’s financial burdens. Other ways we provide support are through finances and prayer.

Edwards’ point was that believers are to be united in fulfilling Jesus’ commission to make disciples. We are to wisely use whatever abilities, talents, or time that God has given us so that others would come to know Jesus (Matthew 28:19–20). Paul referred to that as being “partakers” in gospel work (Philippians 1:7).

Some go out and some stay. For those of us who stay, let us “support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 8). Regardless, may we boldly proclaim the truth of God in the way we live, give, and serve, knowing that no act of faithful support in Christ’s kingdom is wasted.