At a Glance
3 John in Brief
Third John is the most personal of John's letters. It gives us a rare look at an ordinary church, with a generous brother, a proud leader, and a good report about a third man.
- Author. The elder (3 John 1:1), the apostle John.
- Date. About AD 85 to 95, around the time of 1 John and 2 John.
- Written To. the wellbeloved Gaius (3 John 1:1), a believer in a local church. We know him only from this letter.
- Setting. Traveling workers who had gone out for Christ's name depended on the support of local churches. A leader in one church, Diotrephes, refused them and put out anyone who helped them.
- Key Verse. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 1:4).
- Key Word or Theme. Hospitality and truth. Believers are to be fellowhelpers to the truth (3 John 1:8).
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Further reading
For Deeper Study
- Be AlertAmazon Warren W. WiersbeA short, practical study of 3 John, bound with 2 Peter, 2 John, and Jude.
- Exploring the Epistles of JohnAmazon John PhillipsA readable commentary on all three letters of John.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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How the Bible Fits Together
The Bible is sixty-six books written by about forty men over some fifteen hundred years, yet it tells one story of God's redemption from creation to the new earth, and its center is Jesus Christ.
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