Three men to learn from in the third letter of John

[complete]

Hi there,

In the third letter of John, and the last chapter, John singles out three men, Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius for either commendation or rebuke, and in the context we can learn a lot about the men themselves, and about the effect of their behaviour upon those around them. Learning by their example:-

'The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
.. Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health,
.... even as thy soul prospereth.
...... For I rejoiced greatly,
........ when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth,
.......... even as thou walkest in truth.
............ Greater joy have I none than this,
.............. to hear of my children walking in the truth.
Beloved, thou doest a faithful work
.. in whatsoever thou doest
.... toward them that are brethren
...... and strangers withal;
........ who bare witness to thy love before the church:
whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
.. because that for the sake of the Name they went forth,
.... taking nothing of the Gentiles.
...... We therefore ought to welcome such,
........ that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.
(3 John 1:1-8)

' I wrote somewhat unto the church:
but Diotrephes,
.. who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
.... receiveth us not.
...... Therefore, if I come,
........ I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth,
.......... prating against us with wicked words:
and not content therewith,
.. neither doth he himself receive the brethren,
.... and them that would he forbiddeth
...... and casteth them out of the church.
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good.
.. He that doeth good is of God:
.... he that doeth evil hath not seen God.'
(3 John 1:9-11)

'Demetrius hath the witness of all men,
.. and of the truth itself:
.... yea, we also bear witness;
...... and thou knowest that our witness is true.
I had many things to write unto thee,
.. but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
.... but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face.
...... Peace be unto thee.
........ The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
(3 John 1:12)

* I will leave this with you to consider for yourselves, for it is worth just taking time to let the words sink in, and take root within: but please enter your thoughts and observations, so that we will be mutually edified by each other. Using whatever Bible translation you are happiest with. I am just so used to using the KJV that. though I sometimes do refer to others, I come back to it.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris

 

[watertolive]

Greetings this beautiful morn,
It would seem as thou Diotrephes may perhaps be working for the high priest, wouldn't it?
He is not like the other two.
And Paul, if he comes, will be telling him about himself, then.
Not only will he not receive the brethren, but he also speaks badly of them as well.

Wonder if he also like standing in the streets to pray to be seen of men?
Or perhaps praying and fasting are done before men also...?

And how much of this kind still filters into our gatherings today?
More than we know, I'm sure.
Back biting seems to be thick within the walls; and if they talk about others behind their back, they talk about you too.

Or perhaps some don't show up dressed accordingly; so they are not allowed to enter.
God receives us all, just as we are.
He, alone, is able to clean us up; even Diotrephes.

All praise, glory and honor be unto God. Amen

 

[complete]

Greetings this beautiful morn,
It would seem as thou Diotrephes may perhaps be working for the high priest, wouldn't it?
He is not like the other two.
And Paul, if he comes, will be telling him about himself, then.
Not only will he not receive the brethren, but he also speaks badly of them as well.

Wonder if he also like standing in the streets to pray to be seen of men?
Or perhaps praying and fasting are done before men also...?

And how much of this kind still filters into our gatherings today?
More than we know, I'm sure.
Back biting seems to be thick within the walls; and if they talk about others behind their back, they talk about you too.

Or perhaps some don't show up dressed accordingly; so they are not allowed to enter.
God receives us all, just as we are.
He, alone, is able to clean us up; even Diotrephes.

All praise, glory and honor be unto God. Amen

3 John

Hi @watertolive,

I am sorry to have taken so long to reply. My laptop needed to go in for repair. Thank you for responding.

* If Diotrephes had known that his behaviour would be recorded and read by such as you and I for centuries to come, he may have taken time to consider, and change his ways, don't you think? The malice of Diotrephes occupies the central position in this chapter in verses 9 & 10.

'I wrote unto the church:
but Diotrephes,
who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
receiveth us not.
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.
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.'
(3 John 1:9-11)

* The word, truth, predominates In John's words to Gaius, whom he calls 'the Beloved', whom he says he loves 'in the truth'. Other brethren had come to Paul and told him of Gaius' witness to the truth, saying also that he walked in truth. His words and His actions were in harmony with the truth that he believed and taught it seems. I would be happy if that were said about me one day, wouldn't you? He also had the reputation of faithfully doing whatever he did, not only to the brethren but also to strangers. His love being reported to the church assembly. Paul encourages him to show hospitality to those who come as witnesses to the truth, and to help them on with their journey, in a manner worthy of the Lord, thereby becoming 'fellow-helpers' to the truth. For such accepted nothing of the Gentiles to whom they witnessed. Demetrius had a similar commendation didn't he, later in verse 12. These have an example worthy of following haven't it? For we are not all called to be teachers, or to do great things, but we can all show kindness, and offer a cup of tea and a bite to eat, or even a bed for the night to someone journeying through our neighbourhood, especially if that one is on a mission to make known the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ to the lost.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[lentz]

Hi there,

In the third letter of John, and the last chapter, John singles out three men, Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius for either commendation or rebuke, and in the context we can learn a lot about the men themselves, and about the effect of their behaviour upon those around them. Learning by their example:-

'The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
.. Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health,
.... even as thy soul prospereth.
...... For I rejoiced greatly,
........ when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth,
.......... even as thou walkest in truth.
............ Greater joy have I none than this,
.............. to hear of my children walking in the truth.
Beloved, thou doest a faithful work
.. in whatsoever thou doest
.... toward them that are brethren
...... and strangers withal;
........ who bare witness to thy love before the church:
whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
.. because that for the sake of the Name they went forth,
.... taking nothing of the Gentiles.
...... We therefore ought to welcome such,
........ that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.
(3 John 1:1-8)

' I wrote somewhat unto the church:
but Diotrephes,
.. who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
.... receiveth us not.
...... Therefore, if I come,
........ I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth,
.......... prating against us with wicked words:
and not content therewith,
.. neither doth he himself receive the brethren,
.... and them that would he forbiddeth
...... and casteth them out of the church.
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good.
.. He that doeth good is of God:
.... he that doeth evil hath not seen God.'
(3 John 1:9-11)

'Demetrius hath the witness of all men,
.. and of the truth itself:
.... yea, we also bear witness;
...... and thou knowest that our witness is true.
I had many things to write unto thee,
.. but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
.... but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face.
...... Peace be unto thee.
........ The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
(3 John 1:12)

* I will leave this with you to consider for yourselves, for it is worth just taking time to let the words sink in, and take root within: but please enter your thoughts and observations, so that we will be mutually edified by each other. Using whatever Bible translation you are happiest with. I am just so used to using the KJV that. though I sometimes do refer to others, I come back to it.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris

I must be more biblical illiterate than i thought. What are you trying to bring across here. Forget the intellectual stuff,just say whats on your mind.

 

[complete]

I must be more biblical illiterate than I thought. What are you trying to bring across here. Forget the intellectual stuff,just say whats on your mind.

Hello @lentz,

I have found myself noticing the names of those that are mentioned by the writers of the epistles: many of them fellow-labourers for the Truth; but others simply brothers and sisters in Christ; and the remarks concerning them, and to them, have been a blessing that I have learned from, and which I wanted to share, that is all.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris