3 John
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
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. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
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. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.
Our mission is based on the truth of the manger.
• Truth is the good news of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh with the
purpose of giving himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 1:1-3, 1 John 4:2, 2 John 7).
• Key to living for the truth is to imitate others who are walking in the truth.
Imitate John’s example of loving in the truth.
• Care humbly for those you lead. (1)
• Comprehensively pray for their prosperity. (2)
• Consider your joy in their faithfulness. (3-4)
• Commend those who are walking in the truth. (5-8)
• Confront those who are walking in sin. (9-10)
• Constantly point to others who have a good testimony. (11-12)
• Confidently trust that peace can prevail even in conflict. (13-15)
Imitate Gaius’ example of laboring in the Truth.
• Show hospitality to strangers who are sent out for the truth. (5)
• Send them on as brothers to advance the truth. (6)
• Share generously with them in a way that honors the truth. (6)
• Select carefully those you support based on their purpose for going out. (7)
• Spend your life as a fellow worker for the truth. (8)
Senders and goers are both essential in the advance of the truth to the nations.
Loving others in the truth and laboring together for the truth are essential to living for the truth, but this is only possible when our ultimate passion is for the glory of Christ.
Thanks Jonathan B!
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