Verses about the
Apostles' "TRAVELS and ACTS"
Part 29 |
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Book 25 of 27 - THIRD LETTER OF JOHN
Writer: The apostle John, towards the end of his life
Date: c AD90-100
Where written: Ephesus
Reader: Gaius, a common Roman name. Other Gaius' in the New Testament are from Corinth (Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14), from Macedonia (Acts 19:29); and from Derbe (Acts 20:4,5)
Why: To give thanks for Gaius' faith, and his hospitality to visiting Christians
According to Some Modern Scholarship: Written by the author of the First Letter, or by another elder of the church in Ephesus
29.1 JOHN GIVES THANKS FOR GAIUS' FAITH AND HIS HOSPITALITY TO VISITING EVANGELISTS
3 John v1-8 - The elder sends this personal letter to his very dear friend Gaius with love in the truth.
I thank God for you and pray for you
My heartfelt prayer for you, my very dear friend, is that you may be as healthy and prosperous in every way are you are in soul. I was delighted when the brothers arrived and spoke so highly of the sincerity of your life - obviously you are living in the truth. Nothing brings me greater joy nowadays than hearing that "my children" are living "in the truth".
Your actions have been just right
You are doing a fine faithful piece of work, my dear friend, in looking after the brothers who come your way, especially when you have never seen them before. They have testified to your love before the Church. It is a fine thing to help them on their way - it shows you realise the importance of what they are doing. They set out on this work, as you know for the sake of "the name" (of Jesus) and they accept no help from non-Christians. We ought to give such men a real welcome and prove that we too are co-operating with the truth.
29.2 THE INHOSPITALITY OF DIOTREPHES CONTRASTED
3 John v9-10 - I did write a letter to the church, but Diotrephes (... perhaps the minister of Gaius' church), who wants to be head of everything, does not recognise us (including the apostle John)! If I do come to you, I shall not forget his actions nor the slanderous things he has said against us. And it doesn't stop there, alas, for although he wants to be leader he refuses the duty of welcoming the brothers (... the visiting evangelists) himself, and stops those (such as Gaius) who would like to do so - he even excommunicates them!
29.3 JOHN COMMENDS DEMETRIUS
3 John v11-12 - Never let evil be your example, dear friend of mine, but always good. The man who does good is God's man, but the man who does evil does not know God at all.
Everyone has a good word to say for Demetrius (possibly an evangelist, and bearer of the Letter) and the very truth speaks well of him. He has our warm recommendation also, and you know you can trust what we say about anyone.
29.4 JOHN PLANS TO VISIT; A FAREWELL
3 John v13-14 - These is a great deal I want to say to you but I can't put it down in black and white. I hope to see you before long, and we will have a heart-to-heart talk. Peace be with you. All our friends here send love: please give ours personally to all our friends at your end.
JOHN
continuing the Apostle's "Travels and Acts", on to Part 30, Jude OR back to J B Phillips HomePage
J.B.Phillips, "The New Testament in Modern English", 1962 edition, published by HarperCollins, is presented here with the kind permission of Mrs Vera Phillips and the J.B.Phillips estate
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