Today, we’re diving into the short but powerful book of 3 John in our daily devotional. This letter, written by the Apostle John, spans only fifteen verses yet carries important themes for believers, especially on how to stand firm in faith amid opposition. Composed around Ephesus toward the end of the first century, John addresses himself as “the elder”—a title familiar to early church leaders guiding their communities in faith. The central figure in this letter is Gaius, a faithful believer contending with a disruptive figure, Diotrephes. John encourages steadfastness, highlights the importance of supporting traveling Christian workers, and underscores that true faith is evident through our actions. As we walk through these verses, reflecting on personal journaling practices can offer a fresh perspective on how this message might resonate in our own lives today. To learn how to abide with God, read the daily devotional on 2 John.
3 John Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, we cover the short Book of 3 John. 3 John has no chapters because it is only fifteen verses. We gain some background on 3 John from my English Standard Version Study Bible introduction on this book (p. 2443). It was written by the Apostle John “from around Ephesus in the last quarter of the first century”. John identifies himself as the elder in verse 1. In New Testament times, elders referred to the pastoral leaders of local congregations. For example, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders to the churches they planted in Acts.
What Does the Bible Say about Facing Opposition?
“The title ‘elder’ for pastoral leaders around Ephesus” where John may have written this letter, “was in use twenty to forty years” by the time he wrote 2 and 3 John. “The theme of 3 John is steadfastness in the face of opposition. The recipient of the letter, Gaius, faces a troublemaker named Diotrephes.”
“Third John is brief, personal, and situation-specific”, but look for emphases like:
1. “The support of Christian traveling workers (and how it’s) noble and needful.
2. “Church discipline can be necessary for healthy ministries to flourish.
3. “Faith is proven by actions.”
To help guide us through 3 John, we will use the same personal Bible reading journals we used in 1 and 2 John: 1999, 2003, and 2012. At times, we all face opposition. Does it engulf you, or do you deflect it in the Lord? Please read or listen to the fifteen verses of 3 John.
What Is an Example of Hospitality?
In 1999, after reading 3 John, I wrote, “Hospitality. Good-timing, Lord, because Jason and Kendra (my son and his wife) could be at our home by the time we get home today. How will it all work out? This book reminds me to do my part to receive them, host them, and send them forth. Thank You for the timely message.”
What Does It Mean to Prosper and Be in Good Health?
In 2003, after reading 3 John, I wrote, “Verse 2 is my theme verse for this year. How are we doing? We have prospered in the Lord, we have paid our bills, got new windows, new patio, gone on three vacations to Phoenix, Thailand, Canada, our children have moved back to the Rocky Mountain Time Zone, we bought a new car, enhanced relationships with a variety of friends, are being mentored by a pastor, and have mentored several other brothers in the Lord. How about my health? Basically fine but praying for healing from head to toe for several aches and pains. In the second year of Ezra, God has provided.”
I will step away from the next journal entry to focusing on this verse that was my theme verse in 2003. What does that mean? It means each year, for many, many years, I picked a theme verse. I usually do so between Christmas and New Year’s; a verse God has put in my heart to think about and focus on for the next year. In 2003, my theme verse came out of 3 John, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (v. 2).
What Is the Meaning of 3 John 1 Verse 2?
What did I enjoy in that verse that I made it a year-long contemplation? Let’s look at the verse again. First it says, “that all may go well with you”, and certainly most of us want the whole year to go well. Next, “that you may be in good health” and certainly, I wanted to be in good health all year. And lastly, “as it goes well with your soul.” What I get out of that is it is not going to go well with me and I am not going to have good health unless it is going well with my soul. On the day I shared my journal entry from 2003, it was December, so I was checking up on myself and my theme verse for the year. It was a pretty good report.
What Does It Mean that Your Joy May Be Full?
In the year of writing this devotion, I have another theme verse, just to give you an example. It is John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” I want to focus on joy. Notice the word “joy” appears twice in this verse.
John 15:11 can become very meaningful for me this year because it says, “These things I have spoken to you” and I hear “these things” from His Word, so I want joy from spending time in God’s Word. And “that my joy may be in you”. Before I can have joy, I need the Lord’s joy in me, so I want to have the Lord’s joy in me. Then, “(t)hat your joy may be full.” Again, my theme verse for the year of writing this devotion is, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). One practical application from listening to 3 John is you might contemplate having a theme verse for your life in each year.
What Is Opposition in Life?
As I look at my entry in 2012, on 3 John, I am a little surprised. I wrote, “I will take verse 2, ‘Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.’” Then I wrote, “I still want verse 4, ‘I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.’” I continued in my journal, “Missionaries need support from the church and from believers, referring to verses 5-8.” I continued, “Jesus, Paul, and even John had opposition, according to verses 9-10. We should not be surprised when we do, too.”
What Is My Personal Testimony?
I continued, “How is my testimony?”, referring to verse 12, “My prayer at the beginning of the cancer journey was a double portion of the Holy Spirit to preserve my testimony through this trial.” That was the part that was surprising to me. I just shared back in 2003, it was my theme verse to have good health. That was not my theme verse in 2012; maybe it should have been because I ended up being diagnosed with prostate cancer, had surgery, radiation, and hormone treatment.
The year 2012 was a challenging year for me physically. It was some of that opposition John was referring to in 3 John. You can sense my concern was to maintain my testimony through the trial of cancer and rehab. It has been several years since my battle with cancer. I have been declared cancer-free. I praise the Lord for His healing touch in my own life.
How Should Christians Respond to Opposition?
3 John was written to Gaius to fight off opposition. I just shared a personal example of opposition in my own life. Maybe you are facing some kind of opposition today. Maybe it is physical, maybe it is financial, maybe it is relational. May we apply the principles of this book to our situation.
Verse 11 reminds us, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” In the midst of the opposition, John was saying, “Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself” (v. 12). Regardless of what you are facing, maintain your testimony for Christ. John says, “you know that our testimony is true” (v. 12). I hope people around you know your testimony for Christ is true regardless of the opposition you face.
Prayer
Lord, we realize from 3 John, we too will face opposition. John reminds us not to “imitate evil but imitate good” (v. 11) and maintain our testimony even when opposition surrounds us. But, Lord, sometimes in our own strength, we do not do very well at this. We ask You to strengthen us when we face opposition.
Maintain our testimony for You; that is what is important. Tests and trials come our way. You told us that would happen. It is our response to those trials and tests in our life that people watch to see if Christianity is really real in our lives. May the Book of 3 John strengthen our Christianity, strengthen our testimony, even in the face of opposition. When we do, Lord, You receive glory and honor as we praise You. Amen.
