It specifies that the letter is meant for gaius, who is praised for his positive reputation. Here and now, my dear friends, we are gods children. As those changed by god, genuine believers will characteristically love the truth and exhibit true love for others. John s fiery passion for truth is coupled with his gentle compassion for his readers, giving these letters a pastoral quality that is both personal and profound. In particular, gaius is applauded for caring for missionaries and other traveling christians. John calls followers of jesus to share in gods own life and love by.
Beloved, i pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers 3 john 2. Even as thy soul prospereth john had learned, it would seem, from the brethren who had come to him, 3 john 1. For more information about john s authorship, see the overview on the book of 1 john in the book of 1 john and the overview on the book of 2 john in the book of 2 john. Written by a christian named john, the contents of the book indicate quite clearly that the author was not the john who was one of the twelve disciples of jesus, for it contains no direct personal references of the type that. Consider the incredible love that the father has shown us in allowing us to be called children of god and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. In these epistles john the apostle of love will share his concerns about those things that would threaten the welfare of the church at the end of the first century. While 1 john appear to be a general letter addressed to congregations scattered throughout asia minor, and 2 john was sent to a lady and her family 2 john 1, in 3 john, the apostle clearly names the sole recipient as the beloved gaius verse 1. If john had used the dative case, it would mean something like the word was with god or even at gods place in the sense of the french chez moi, for that is the typical usage. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john echo the gospel of john.
Each book also addresses deceivers, teachers who no longer acknowledge that jesus is the messiah or son of god but spread fear and division. Third john lacks a greeting such as that found in 2 john 3 but compare v. Those verses are sometimes referred to as proof texts, because their proponents claim that those verses prove the existence of the trinity. The phrase her children would include those believers. Its only one chapter long, and has only thirteen verses. The phrase her children would include those believers influenced by this church, referring even to other churches. And john is thought to be the disciple jesus loved. The reason why a the world does not know us is that b it did not know him. This explains why the world will no more recognize us than it recognized christ. I t is indeed lamentable that this typical farewell message from the apostle john to gaius the elder has been picked up and distorted by so many during the last few years. It is slightly shorter than 2 john 219 greek words compared to 245 for 2 john, and is the shortest book of the greek new testament. Esv 1 the elder to the beloved gaius, whom i love in truth. In a world that hates jesus, we are called to love him and his.
The book begins with a brief introduction in 2 john 1. At the last supper, he was the disciple sitting next to jesus. Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the author of the gospel. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. Typical of ancient letters and like 2 john 3 john begins with an identification of its author and intended recipient, followed by a thanksgiving and then a wish for the wellbeing of the recipient. The book of 3 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as john s other letters, 1 and 2 john, between a. This summary of the book of 2 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 john. Second and third john, however, are written to specific audiences. The meaning of this phrase is debated, though it likely refers to the particular local church receiving the letter.
John was one of the three disciples that jesus took with him to witness his transfiguration. The other is that this interpretation implies that the wish that the writer of the epistle expresses has the force of a promise from god. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of john, and the gospel of john though this is disputed. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. Or succeed in all temporal affairs, in the business of life, in which he was. Interpreting the wish or prayer of 3 john 2 as a promise of health and wealth is not in line with what we know about salutations in epistles or, for that matter, with the general tenor of new testament teaching that a mark of true spirituality is suffering e. Tony evans challenges christians who have grown comfortable and complacent in their faith. Furthermore, 3 john 11 clearly displays john s manner of expressing himself as he did in his first and second letters. They emphasize that god is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate gods light and love. Watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
This letter repeats many themes from john s first letter, and third john. Phillips translation of this passage shows striking perception. Obvious similarities to 1 john and the gospel of john suggest that the same person wrote all three books. In addition to this one, john wrote two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation he was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. The gospel of john is the latestwritten of the four biographies of jesus that have been preserved in the new testament. Of what, in the language of the world, is commonly designated prosperity, perhaps the two main elements are wealth and power. Comfortable christianity often means a weak christianity. This is why the son of god was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.