3 John 1 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth

3 John New International Version (NIV)

1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a]even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Footnotes:

  1. 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.




Observation Questions


Who is this letter to? (verse 1)
Is Gaius loved? (verse 1)
What is being prayed for in verse 2?
What brought great joy in verse 3?
What is the writer's greatest joy? (verse 4)
Has Gaius been faithful even though the brothers and sisters are strangers? (verse 5)
In what manner is Gaius asked to send the brothers and sisters on their way? (verse 6)
Why did the brothers and sisters go out? (verse 7)
Did the brothers and sisters receive any help from the pagans? (verse 7)
Why ought we to show hospitality to such people? (verse 8)
What is said about Diotrphes? (verse 9-10)
What will be called to attention in verse 10?
Who was Diotrphes putting out of the church? (verse 10)
What imitation is encouraged? (verse 11)
What imitation is not encouraged? (verse 11)
Who is from God? (verse 11)
Who has not seen God? (verse 11)
Who is well spoken of by everyone? (verse 12)
Who is well spoken of by everyone? (verse 12)
Why is this letter not longer? (verse 13-14)

Application
Pray something like this for someone
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." - verse 2

Write encouragement to someone like this
"Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a]even though they are strangers to you." - verse 5


Thoughts

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 

"I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us."


Greet the friends there by name.

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