3John 1
1. Who is Gaius (verse 1)? Answer
2. Why does John write to Gaius? Answer
3. How does John show his love for Gaius? Answer
4. Why was it imperative for Christians to help travelling evangelists and others spreading the gospel (verses 5 to 8)? Answer
5. Who is Diotrephes? Answer
6. What problems involving Diotrephes are addressed in 3John 1:9 - 10? Answer
7. Was John planning on doing anything regarding the problems he addressed in his letter? Answer
8. How are verses 11 and 12 linked to verse 10? Answer
9. How does John end his letter? Answer
3John 1 Answers
1. Nothing is known about Gaius except what is revealed in 3John.
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John saw in Gaius a fellow Christian who was highly regarded by others. Believers who knew Gaius witnessed his faithful adherence to the truth (3John 1:3). They also saw his willingness to open up his home and aid traveling evangelists and missionaries which made him an active participant in spreading the gospel (verses 5 - 6, 8).
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John's wish for Gaius' health and prosperity reveals that he was likely struggling with health issues and financial burdens (3John 1:2). His spiritual health, however, was excellent!
It should be noted that the Gaius of 3John has no relationship to two other men of the same name linked to the Apostle Paul (Acts 19:29, 1Corinthians 1:14).
2. John had initially written a letter to a man named Diotrephes who was considered the leader of Gaius' church (3John 1:9). The apostle's letter was rejected by Diotrephes and likely kept from the local church. John's declaration in verse 9 strongly implies that Gaius was not aware that the apostle had sent a letter to his fellowship.
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John was clearly aware of Diotrephes' pattern of rejecting true Christians and his unjustified mistreatment of church members (3John 1:9 - 10). The apostle likely wrote to Gaius, a member whose character was well known, as a way of reaching the congregation regarding the full extent of what was happening.
3. John uses the word beloved three times (3John 1:2, 5, and 11) and the word well-beloved (verses 1) once to describe Gaius.
4. Those who traveled to carry out evangelism, like John, the Apostle Paul and countless others, relied on the generosity of brethren to aid their efforts. They needed food and lodging and no doubt benefited in other ways from local Christians who supported their efforts.
In the first century A.D. there were no hotels like we think of today. Inns existed but they were uncomfortable and often dangerous. Lodging with fellow Christians provided a safe and secure environment for those spreading the gospel.
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Those like Gaius who provided the basic needs of traveling Christians became fellow laborers in the Great Commission God gave to his church (Matthew 28:18 - 20, Mark 16:15 - 18, 3John 1:8).
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5. Diotrephes was an arrogant and vain leader of the fellowship attended by Gaius. He loved his position as church leader for its own sake (3John 1:9). His feeling of spiritual superiority over the brethren, coupled with his misguided ambitions, led him to rule over the faith of others (2Corinthians 1:24, 3John 1:10) like a dictator!
Jesus made it plain that those who sought to be truly "great" in the church should be the servant (not master!) of all (Matthew 23:10 - 12, Mark 9:35, Luke 22:24 - 27).
The Apostle Paul also warned of men in positions of responsibility, like Diotrephes, whose egos and selfish desires would lead to groups breaking up.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also OF YOUR OWN SELVES shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29 - 30).
6. The first two unchristian behaviors listed for Diotrephes is his rejection of John and his refusal to be admonished by him (3John 1:9). This flexing of his perceived spiritual superiority is both breathtaking and downright evil.
John, in the first century, wasn't just any church leader. He was personally taught and commissioned by Jesus Christ, and was considered one of the three spiritual pillars of the early church (Galatians 2:9)! His labors, and those of the eleven other apostles, will forever be memorialized in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10, 14).
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Diotrephes also sought to undermine John, and other Christians, by maligning them and their character with malicious lies (gossip) (3John 1:10).
Diotrephes refused to extend Christian hospitality to fellow believers (unlike Gaius) and even forbid anyone in the local fellowship from offering it! Those who disobeyed his unbiblical policy, deciding instead to aid fellow believers, were unilaterally thrown out of the church!
7. The Apostle John, due to the seriousness and fallout of what was taking place, had no other choice than to personally confront Diotrephes (3John 1:10). He planned on visiting Gaius and would almost certainly, at that time, deal with the wicked leader (verse 14).
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Interestingly, up to this point, Gaius' behavior seems to have avoided Diotrephes' attention and wrath. John's future visit with Gaius, however, would almost certainly mean he would be tossed out of the church unless the problems with Diotrephes were resolved.
8. After John describes Diotrephes' unacceptable actions in 3John 1:9 - 10 he urges Gaius not to follow such evil behavior (verse 11). The apostle, instead, suggests he follow the example of Demetrius whose righteous character is known by all (verse 12). This Demetrius, it should be noted, is not the same one that caused Paul loads of problems in Ephesus (Acts 19:23 - 41).
It is entirely possible that John, in spite of Gaius' character, recommended he follow Demetrius' example in order to forestall any temptation to mimic Diotrephes.
9. John clearly had more things to discuss with Gaius regarding the situation in his local church (3John 1:13 - 14). Such information, the apostle felt, was best conveyed face to face.