3 John
Summary[i]
Writer: The Apostle John.
Date: Probably about A.D. 90.
Theme: The aged Apostle had written to
a church which allowed one Diotrephes to exercise an authority common enough in
later ages, but wholly new in the primitive churches. Diotrephes had rejected
the apostolic letters and authority. It appears also that he had refused the
ministry of the visiting brethren (3Jo_1:10),
and cast out those that had received them. Historically, this letter marks the
beginning of that clerical and priestly assumption over the churches in which
the primitive church order disappeared. This Epistle reveals, as well, the
believer's resource in such a day. No longer writing as an apostle, but as an elder,
John addresses this letter, not to the church as such, but to a faithful man in
the church for the comfort and encouragement of those who were standing fast in
the primitive simplicity. Second John conditions the personal walk of the
Christian in a day of apostasy; Third John the personal responsibility in such
a day of the believer as a member of the local church. The key-phrase is
"the truth" (see 2 John, Introduction).
There are three divisions:
1. Personal greetings (3 John 1:1-4).
2. Instructions concerning ministering brethren
(3 John 1:5-8).
3. The apostate leader and the good Demetrius (3 John 1:9-14).