3 JOHN—NOTE ON 1–4 Greeting: The Elder’s Joy at Gaius’s Faithfulness. John’s opening tone is affectionate and positive.
A personal letter. John’s letter to Gaius follows the pattern of personal letters of his day: greetings (v. 1), a prayer for Gaius’s health (v. 2a), the main message (vv. 5–12), and a brief farewell (vv. 13–15). John departs from the standard form only in his expression of concern for his friend’s spiritual well-being (vv. 2b–4).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 Beloved (compare vv. 5, 11) conveys the truth that Christians are linked by the love God has shown them in Christ (compare 1 John 4:9–10). Love in truth could mean simply “truly love” as a Christian brother, or it could refer to the “truth” of the gospel, in the service of which the lives of John and Gaius are intertwined.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 2 Wishes for good health were standard in the openings of ancient Greek letters, but John also expresses care for Gaius’s soul. Though spiritual growth can come through sickness and affliction (see Ps. 119:67, 71), it is right to pray for good health, as Jesus’ earthly healing ministry also demonstrated.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 3 the brothers came. Apparently Christians from Gaius’s church had visited John. They told John of Gaius’s faithful Christian life. truth. Faithfulness to Christ and his commands. (See also note on John 14:6.)
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 4 joy. See 1 John 1:4 and note. my children. His readers are first of all “children of God” (compare John 1:12; 11:52; 1 John 3:1, 2, 10; 5:2). But John as their spiritual overseer could view them as his own children too (see note on 1 John 2:1). Compare Paul’s use of this familial language (1 Tim. 1:2, 18; Titus 1:4; Philem. 10).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 5–8 Praise for Gaius’s Support for Traveling Christian Workers. Whereas 2 John 10 warns against supporting the wrong people, John affirms Gaius’s work on the behalf of faithful laborers, even though they are “strangers” (3 John 5).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 5 these brothers. Traveling Christian workers. The early church was centered on missionary outreach, otherwise it would not have survived and spread (see Heb. 13:2).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 6 Send . . . on their journey carries the sense of sending with necessary financial support (see Rom. 15:24; 1 Cor. 16:6, 11; 2 Cor. 1:16; Titus 3:13). worthy of God. Those laboring for the gospel work not for themselves but for the One who sends them.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 7 the name. The very person of God himself. John may also be referring here to Christ, highlighting his deity. Compare Acts 5:41 and Phil. 2:9. The workers accepted nothing from the Gentiles, that is, the non-Christians. Like Paul, the workers did not want to be accused of ministering for personal gain (compare 1 Cor. 9:14–15; 2 Cor. 11:8; 1 Thess. 2:9).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 8 the truth. The gospel message (see Col. 1:5).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 9–10 Concern about Diotrephes. John and Gaius knew people who opposed the progress of God’s kingdom.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 10 not content with that. Sinful personal ambition is never satisfied but seeks to expand. refuses to welcome the brothers. Stands in the way of the support of traveling Christian workers.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 11–12 Advice and Commendation of Demetrius. As John ends his short letter, he introduces and commends his faithful messenger.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 11 do not imitate evil. Probably an encouragement not to give in to Diotrephes or to behave like he does.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 12 Normal postal service could not be entrusted with Christian correspondence like this letter, so someone like Demetrius served as courier. Phoebe probably served this function in delivering Romans (Rom. 16:1–2), and Tychicus likely hand-carried Ephesians (Eph. 6:21–22) and Colossians (Col. 4:7–8).
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 13–15 Closing: A Promise to Visit. John echoes his words in 2 John 12. Sometimes pastoral oversight requires physical presence.
3 JOHN—NOTE ON 15 friends. An unusual term for fellow believers; but see John 15:15. each by name. John’s pastoral care is personal.