In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua] was in the beginning with God.

THIRD JOHN

The book of Third John is the seventh of the eight general epistles. Third John is the shortest book in the bible. Like the first two letters from John, this letter was most likely written just prior to AD 96. John addressed his third letter to his friend Gaius.

John began his letter by expressing his love for Gaius, his brother and servant in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Gaius was walking in truth and supporting those in the faith, the brethren, who were spreading the gospel for the sake of Christ. John praised Gaius for doing faithfully in love for both the brethren and for strangers. In contrast to Gaius, Diotrephes was attempting to protect his preeminence in the church by refusing to accept John’s message. He was spreading malicious rumors against John and his teachers. He refused to accept the brethren and forebode those who would by throwing them out of the church. John instructed Gaius not to imitate the evil of Diotrephes. If given the opportunity, John would come to confront Diotrephes regarding his evil deeds.

Third John verses 1-8: The truth in Gaius; Gaius faithfulness in love for Christ’s namesake

Third John versus 9-14: John’s rebuke of Diotrephes; John’s warning against imitating his evil