3 John

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Genre

3 John is a short, specific, and personal letter to an individual. The author identifies himself only as “the elder.” The author identifies his recipient as Gaius. I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John, states “The writer refers to himself simply as “the elder.” He thus writes in token of the position of authority and respect which he holds in the church, so that this is not a private letter but rather has the force of an official communication” (p. 82). Howard continues, “3 John is written to a specific person, Gaius, and it deals with ecclesiastical rather than theological problems” (p. 10).

In the co-text, the author commends Gaius for his hospitality and encourages him to persevere. Finally, the author addresses a false teacher threatening the church in which participation with the heretics is warned against.

Context

Third John is communicated towards the end of the first century during a time in which most of the Apostles had been martyred. There was growing persecution toward the Church, especially in the form of social exclusion. Marshall states “The long-established view that the Epistles were addressed to communities in Asia Minor is still the most probable” (Marshall, 1978, p. 47).

Understanding the difficulties that the audience were enduring because of their faith in Jesus Christ both with Gentiles and Jews helps explain why this encouraging homiletic would be so helpful.

Reading this text with the knowledge of this setting helps explain the author’s use of such intimate titles for his audience.

Within the world this passaged addressed, there was growing exclusion and persecution among Christians. It would have helpful to be reminded from a close mentor (the author) of the believer’s identity in the family of God. This would have been an encouragement aided in perseverance through these difficult times.

Similarly, in today’s current culture, as Christianity is less and less prevalent and protected, the believer’s identity in the family of God is encouraging and helpful during difficult times.

Genre

This passage is the Salutation of the letter stating the name and relationship of the author. The author goes on to address his audience in endearing terms that reveals the close relationship he has with his audience. The author closes his salutation by blessing his audience.

Demarcation

There are two ways this passage is generally demarcated. It is either demarcated as a salutation or the entire letter is included as one coherent section. This passage is without a doubt a salutation as it includes all the elements of an ancient salutation. Demarcating the entire letter as on section is understandable due to the brevity of the letter.

The ESV, NLT, and CEV includes verse three and four in this section entitled “Greeting” (ESV).

The NRSV demarcates verse one as the salutation of the letter and then includes verse two in one of two larger sections that make up the body of the letter entitled “Gaius Commended for His Hospitality.”

The NASB, NIV, and NABRE demarcates the entire letter as one coherent passage.

I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John, includes verse three and four in this section entitled “Address and Greeting.”

This passage contains all the hallmarks of an ancient salutation, including; the author’s name, the author’s position indicating his authority, the recipient, and a blessing. These textual markers make the demarcation analysis clear. For this study, v. 3-4 were not included. It appears that verse three begins a new section in which the author is moving into the body of the letter addressing issues outside of a formal salutation.

Some of the English translations have chosen to include the salutation in the larger part of the letter, choosing not to demarcate this short letter.

The Argument of the Text

The author utilizes the formal ancient structure of a salutation to set the tone for his letter. The author identifies himself by name and position. He then addresses his recipient in endearing terms, again, setting the tone for his letter. The author then concludes his salutation by giving his recipient an endearing blessing.

In his salutation, the author clearly sets the tone for the rest of the letter. The tone endearing and encouraging.

There are no real issues addressed in this passage. This passage is a salutation from the author to his recipient with a blessing.

The author is addressing “Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in truth.”

In this passage, the author is not yet asking his recipient to do anything, he is just greeting and blessing his recipient.

In the co-text, the author commends Gaius for his hospitality and encourages him to persevere. Finally, the author addresses a false teacher threatening the church in which participation with the heretics is warned against.

This passage gets its message across through a straight-forward salutation.

While this is a short letter, there are not many assumptions that need to be made to make sense of this passage. There is no information given about the location of this church.

This passage is about an elder greeting and blessing a friend in endearing terms.

The Co-text

Key words or motifs signaled in this text and how they have been judged to be key.

• Elder. The term “elder” could have a wide range of meanings, none of which would dramatically change the nature of the letter. Regardless, there is a sense of authority the author has over his recipient, whether it is loosely structured or a formal office.
  • In the earliest sense, it would simply mean an “old man”.
  • Secondarily, the term was used in the early days of the church for a group of men having a loose structure of authority over the church body.
  • Finally, the term came to identify a formal office in the ecclesial structure of the church, similar to bishop or superintendent as used today.
• Beloved. Marshall states by the author using “beloved” he “strengthens what could have degenerated into a conventional expression by commenting that he loves him in truth. While this phrase could simply mean “truly, really,” the usage elsewhere in these letters suggests that the elder is thinking of the kind of love which is consistent with the Christian revelation; it is not only genuine and heartfelt, but is the kind of love shown by God himself” (p. 82).

Openness to Interpretive Possibilities:

Without reading further, one cannot know the situation of the recipient that the elder is addressing.

Context

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, an elder, lovingly, addresses a leader delivering a blessing. This is how the kingdom of God is to work. Mature believers are to minister and serve other believers by being an example of Christ and passing the baton of leadership on to them. This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

Demarcation

There is not much agreement among the English translations as how to demarcate this passage. The passage has been demarcated as such since the author is critical of Diotrephes and then supportive of Demetrius.

The NRSV includes verse twelve in this section entitled “Diotrephes and Demetrius.”

The ESV, NLT, and CEV include v. 5-12 (NLT includes v. 13-14) in one section entitled “Support and Opposition” (ESV).

The NASB, NIV, and NABRE demarcates the entire letter as one coherent passage.

The NLT demarcates thi s passage as one cohesive section entitled "Diotrephes the Troublemaker" .

I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John,  demarcates this passage similarly to this study except placing verse eleven in the next section. Marshall entitles this passage The Writer Denounces Diotrephes.

The textual marker that separates the different sections surrounding this passage are the objects of the author’s remarks. In the previous section, the author is speaking of Gaius, in this section the author is speaking of Diotrephes, in the section to follow the author speaks of Demetrius.

Some of the English translations have chosen not to demarcate this short letter. Most likely if this letter was much longer, the entirety of chapter one would be one section. Perhaps because this letter is so short is the only reason it is demarcated.

The Argument of Text

The author continues letter proper by continuing to exhort Gaius by cautioning him about Diotrephes.

The author is clear about the actions of Diotrephes and warns Gaius to do good, not evil.

The Issues in this Passage:

• Diotrephes is opposing others in the Church. Marshall states that “Diotrephes is a standing warning against the danger of confusing personal ambition with zeal for the cause of the gospel” (p. 90).
• Gaius is exhorted to do good and not do evil, for good is of God while evil is evidence the one has not seen God.

The author is addressing Gaius specifically with the expectation that this letter will be used to substantiate Caius' authority.

In this passage, the author is asking Gaius to be cautious of Diotrephes and to do good.

According to the co-text, it appears that the congregation Gaius belongs to has been subject to teachers who are not supportive of the authors work for the Lord and the Church.

This passage gets its message across through a straight- forward polemic.

While this is a short letter, there are not many assumptions that need to be made to make sense of this passage. There is no information given about the location of this church.

This passage is about an elder encouraging his friend and children to continue walking in the Lord and supporting others who are serving the Church. Marshall states "There is thus a difference between demanding payment for the gospel and encouraging those whose hearts have been transformed by grace to show their thanks for God' s generosity to them in tangible form" (p. 87).

The Co-text

Situation of Text in Larger Presentation:

In the prior passage, the author encourages and shows his support for Gaius.

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• Authority. The author refers to authority, which is the main theme of this section.
• Beloved. Throughout this short letter, the author addresses his recipient as beloved and the congregation as “my children.” These endearing terms makes it clear that the author and this “church” has a close relationship.
• Imitate. Just as in 2 John and in the previous passage, the author utilizes the phrase “walk in the truth” In this passage, the author exhorts his audience to imitate the way of Jesus.

Without reading further one cannot know the support that the author has for Demetrius.

Intertext

Other passages brought to mind by a reading of this one, and how this might inform a canonical reading of this text:

• 1 John 2:19. “19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us.” In this passage, John describes others who came from within the church, but eventually turned away from the church.
• 1 John 3:20. “18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” In this passage, John informs his audience that our hearts will let us know if we are in error.
• 2 John 1:4-6. “4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 But now, dear lady, -I ask you, not as though I were writing you new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it: from the beginning—you must walk in it.” In this passage, John wants his people to walk in truth.
• 2 John 1:10-11. “10 Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; 11 for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.” According to this passage, John does give precedent for not allowing false teachers to stay in your home.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people” In this passage an elder, lovingly, warns a leader to the danger of some from within the Church and then admonishes him to do good. This is the "story of God and God's people”.

3 John 1:11  (NRSV)

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Main Verbs

Imitate

Does

Seen

Verbs

Imitate

• Tense — Present
• Mood Imperative
• Voice — Active

Does

• Tense — Present
• Mood — Conditional
• Voice — Active

Seen

• Tense — Present
• Mood Conditional
• Voice — Passive

Demarcation

There is general agreement across the English translations as to how to demarcate this passage.

The NRSV, ESV, NET, and CEV demarcate this passage as belonging to one cohesive section entitled Final Greetings (NRSV, ESV).

The MSG includes v. 5-15 in one section entitled Model the Good.

The NASB, NIV,  and NABRE demarcates the entire letter as one cohesive passage.

I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John, demarcates this passage as belonging to one cohesive section entitled Final Words and Greetings.”

The textual marker that separates the different sections surrounding this passage is the author’s statement “I have much more to write to you…” From there, the author begins his final greeting.

Some of the English translations have chosen not to demarcate this short letter. Most likely if this letter was much longer, the entirety of chapter one would be one section. Perhaps because this letter is so short is the only reason it is demarcated.

The Argument of the Text

The author completes his letter proper by informing Gaius that he has more to say but would like to do so in person. With that said, the author delivers his closing greetings.

In this final greeting, the author requests the Gaius to greet everyone there by name. This is a very warm and friendly way to greet one another.

The issue in this passage is that the remaining words that the author would like to communicate are best to be accomplished through face to face interaction.

In this passage, the author is addressing Gaius specifically with the expectation that this letter will be used to substantiate Gaius’ authority.

The author is concluding his letter and preparing Gaius for his future visit.

According to the co-text, it appears that the congregation Gaius belongs to has been subject to teachers who are not supportive of the authors work for the Lord and the Church. In this passage, John concludes his short letter.

This passage gets its message across through a straight-forward polemic.

The things left out of this passage are the topics that John wants to speak more about to Gaius. There is no information given about the location of this church.

This passage is about an elder closing out this warm and friendly letter of commendation.

The Co-text

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• Testimony. Three of the twenty-five words in this passage are a form of testify.

Intertext

Sensitivity to Other Inter-Canonical Echoes: 

• John 20:19. “19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”” This passage, in the Gospel of John, shows that Jesus utilized this greeting.
• John 20:21. “21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”” This passage, in the Gospel of John, shows that Jesus utilized this greeting.
• John 20:26. “26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”” This passage, in the Gospel of John, shows that Jesus utilized this greeting.
• Ephesians 6:23. “23 Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In this passage, Paul uses the familiar greeting.
• 1 Peter 5:14. “14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” In this passage, Peter uses the familiar greeting.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, an elder, lovingly, informs his recipient that he wishes to visit him soon so that he can conclude his message. Marshall states that “Here the elder takes over the well-known Jewish greeting which had already been filled with deeper significance for Christians by its use by Jesus” (p. 94). This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

2 John 1:12 (NRSV)

13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.

Main Verbs

Write

Write

See

Talk

Verbs

Write

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active

See

• Tense – Future
• Mood – Conditional
• Voice – Active

Talk

• Tense – Future
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active