The Good News Should Produce Good Behavior

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 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.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. – 3 John 1:11-15 ESV

John has managed to pack a lot of information into the closing verses of his third and final letter. After portraying the actions of Diotrephes in stark contrast to those of Gaius, John turns his attention back to his dear friend. He reminds Gaius to model his life after those who do good, not evil. John clearly establishes Diotrephes as someone whose actions are evil, but he does not declare Diotrephes to be an unbeliever. The Greek word John used is kakos, which can refer to someone behaving in an unacceptable manner or not as it should be. Their actions are wrong and, therefore, harmful.

Diotrephes’ habit of putting himself first was unacceptable because it was antithetical to what Jesus taught. He regularly instructed His disciples to pursue a life of humility and service and provided His own life as a model.

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” – John 13:34 NLT

“Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:12-13 NLT

Jesus did that which is good (agathos), making His life an example of all that was admirable, pleasant, upright, and honorable. Jesus was the consummate servant, giving His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). The apostle Paul provides a sobering reminder to followers of Christ to share His mindset and way of life.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. – Philippians 2:3-5 NLT

That is what John means when he tells Gaius to imitate that which is good. Jesus, though God, displayed no delusions of grandeur and refused to flaunt His divine glory in the face of sinful men. Instead, He willingly took the status of a slave, laying aside His divine privileges to serve the needs of humanity. Paul explains the mindset that motivated Jesus’ behavior.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

John desired his dear friend to emulate Jesus rather than Diotrephes who was following the leadership model promoted by the culture in which he lived. The apostle Paul knew that transformed behavior began with a transformed mind. He reminded the believers in Rome that compromise with the culture was not an option for them. Following the ways of the world would be detrimental to their spiritual lives and in conflict with the will of God.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2 NLT

Only God can produce in His children behavior that is good, pleasing, and perfect in His sight. He does so through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Diotrephes’ behavior was the normal and natural outflow of a heart influenced by his sinful nature rather than the Spirit of God. The apostle Paul provides an extensive, yet not exhaustive list of the “evil” actions that flow from a flesh-influenced heart.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. – Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

Notice his mention of jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, and division. These were the very traits that characterized Diotrephes’ life. But Paul also provides a list of the characteristics that mark the life of one living in the power and under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

John told Gaius, “Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God” (3 John 1:11 NLT). It appears that John had the following teaching of Jesus in mind.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” – Luke 6:43-44 NLT

A tree is known for its fruit and the same is true of the human heart. Only a good heart can produce good fruit. Again, John does not seem to be insinuating that Diotrephes was unsaved but that his behavior was evidence of a flawed relationship with God. Diotrephes claimed to know God but failed to live in obedience to His commands. John addressed this problem in his very first letter.

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. – 1 John 2:4-6 NLT

As far as John was concerned, the only way to truly know God was through a relationship with Jesus Christ. John opens his gospel account with the bold and exclusionary claim: “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us” (John 1:18 NLT). But this was not something John fabricated on his own; he had heard it from the lips of Jesus.

“Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.).” – John 6:45-46 NLT

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7 NLT

Jesus made it clear: No one could truly know God the Father without coming to know Jesus the Son as their Savior. Jesus was the conduit of divine grace that provided a way for sinful men and women to be restored to a right relationship with their Heavenly Father. The “good” actions of Gaius were evidence of his newly restored relationship with God. His changed behavior was proof that he had seen God, and it was because he had believed in the one whom God had sent.

John wraps up his letter to Gaius by encouraging him to extend hospitality to Demetrius. We have no idea who this individual was, but it is clear that John held him in high regard, noting that he had “received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself” (3 John 1:12 ESV). In other words, Demetrius, like Gaius, walked the talk. He lived his life according to the truth of the Gospel, allowing his behavior to flow from his beliefs.

John closed his letter by declaring his desire to see Gaius face-to-face. While writing a letter of encouragement was helpful, he preferred an up-close and personal visit with his brothers and sisters in Christ. A growing number of faith communities were springing up all over Asia Minor and the rest of the world making personal visits by the apostles nearly impossible. Travel in those days was expensive, arduous, and often dangerous. Driven by their desire to shepherd the flock of God, these men longed to visit each congregation but it was physically impossible. So, they wrote, encouraged, admonished, and prayed. When they couldn’t go, they sent heartfelt letters “to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT).

While this letter was addressed to Gaius, it reflects John’s attitude toward all believers who struggled to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Lord while living in a godless environment. His words echo those of Paul written to the believers in Philippi.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. – Philippians 2:15 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Blessed to Be a Blessing

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. – 3 John 1:5-8 ESV

Once again, John refers to Gaius as his “beloved.” He will use this term repeatedly throughout his letter. And while this word carries romantic connotations to a modern reader, the Greek word John used could better be translated as “dear friend.” It was a term of endearment that expressed the closeness and warmth behind their relationship. John had a deep and abiding affection for Gaius. It could be that Gaius was a disciple of John’s, much like Timothy had been to Paul.

In his second letter to his young protege, Paul referred to Timothy as “my beloved child” (2 Timothy 1:2 ESV). And he expressed his deep longing to see him again.

I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. – 2 Timothy 1:4 ESV

The apostles developed strong attachments for the local flocks they ministered to and the men they trained to carry on the gospel message. While we’re not certain of the exact nature of the relationship between John and Gaius, it’s quite evident that they were close.

It seems that Gaius had shown hospitality to some itinerant evangelists who had visited the local congregation he attended. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul mentioned evangelists among the “gifts” Jesus had given to the church.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. – Ephesians 4:11 NLT

An evangelist, by definition, was “a bringer of good tidings. The Greek word euaggelistēs derives from another Greek word, euaggelizō, which means “to preach the Good News.” Both words stem from the word, aggelos, which means, “angel, messenger, or one who is sent.”

An evangelist was a messenger of the gospel or good news concerning Jesus Christ. These individuals expanded the work of the Great Commission by taking the gospel to places the apostles had not yet been able to reach. When these men visited the local congregation in Asia Minor, where Gaius was a member, he extended hospitality to them. John complimented his generosity and kindness, describing his efforts as a “faithful thing.” The New Living Translation accurately renders John’s meaning by describing what Gaius did as an expression of his faith in God.

…you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. – 3 John 1:5 NLT

John likely had in mind the parable Jesus told regarding the final judgment. In that story, Jesus describes those who have been blessed by the Father and who would inherit the Kingdom, and He provided the reason why:

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. – Matthew 25:35 NLT

But, in the parable, the recipients of this fantastic news respond with amazement, asking, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?” (Matthew 25:37-38 NLT). The king in Jesus’ story answers their question by stating, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40 NLT).

Gaius had graciously provided food and shelter to strangers, the divine messengers of the gospel who had shown up in their community. These men had testified about Gaius’ kindness before the entire congregation. When John received news of Gaius’ actions, he was thrilled because the actions of this selfless servant of God were exactly what the gospel was all about.

This is why John opened his letter by praying for Gaius’ prosperity.

I pray you to prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers. – 3 John 1:2 (Berean Literal Bible)

John knew of Gaius’ generosity, which reflected his “prosperous” soul. Gaius was spiritually flourishing and it showed up in his behavior. His gracious generosity was the fruit of his faithfulness to God. He gave willingly and cheerfully. So, John wanted to see Gaius prosper in every area of his life so that he might continue to be a blessing to others. This is the principle that Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount.

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:38 NLT

Jesus was not preaching a prosperity gospel or a give-to-get, sure-fire investment strategy for financial success. He was outlining God’s plan for funding the ministry of the gospel after His departure. Gaius was a living, breathing example of this lifestyle of generosity in real life. Because of his willingness to share what he had been given by God, Gaius would become a pipeline for God’s ongoing blessings. God would continue to bless Gaius so that he could continue to bless others.

The body of Christ was meant to function as a self-contained organism in which everyone’s needs were met. God had equipped His church with all the necessary resources to thrive, not just survive.

The apostle Paul reminded Timothy that those whom Jesus had gifted to the church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, were to be well taken care of.

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” – 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NLT

These individuals had no source of income. They were totally dependent upon the generosity of the local churches to care for their needs. Gaius had been one of the first to step up and welcome these men with open arms and a heart of generosity, and John encouraged him to extend his generosity by equipping the evangelists for the next phase of their ministry.

You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. – 3 John 1:6 ESV

These men were to be treated with honor and respect because they were messengers of God. He had sent them and expected His people to provide for them. John emphasized that “they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles” (3 John 1:7 ESV). In other words, these men were ministering on behalf of Jesus. It was in His name and according to His commission that they made their way from town to town, bearing the good news to those who had yet to hear it. John emphasized that the only financial support these men could expect to receive would be from the body of Christ.

The church was to care for its own and Gaius illustrated that truth in a way that gained John’s attention and admiration. He was proud of his “dear friend,” and he encouraged Gaius to keep up the good work, reminding him, “We ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 1:8 ESV).

Some go while others give. God calls certain individuals to serve as pastors, teachers, evangelists, and missionaries. That calling requires them to dedicate themselves to the full-time use of their gifts and resources for His service. The apostle Paul spent his entire adult life answering the call he had received from Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was grateful for the support provided to him by local congregations of believers, like those in Philippi.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. – Philippians 1:3-5 NLT

However, not every congregation followed the example of Gaius and the Philippians. Paul had to admonish the church in Corinth, reprimanding them for their lack of support for his ministry.

Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. – 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 NLT

Paul used simple but poignant comparisons to make his point perfectly and painfully clear.

What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”[ Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. – 1 Corinthians 9:7-10 NLT

God had sent these workers into the harvest and expected them to be adequately compensated for their efforts. Their sacrifice was worthy of remuneration. Their efforts to spread the Gospel and build up the body of Christ deserved the generous support of those who benefited from their work. Those who had been blessed were to be a blessing, and Gaius provided a tangible expression of faithfulness to God by exhibiting gratefulness to the servants of God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

A Greater Love

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 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. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 John 1:1-4 ESV

Of the three letters John penned, this one appears to be the most personal in nature. It is addressed to someone called Gaius, an individual for whom John held strong affection. He refers to him as “beloved” Gaius. The Greek word John used is agapētos, which means “well-loved.” We know nothing about the relationship between these two men, but Gaius was obviously someone John loved dearly.

This letter is considered to be one of the pastoral epistles, written by an apostle to an individual. Like the letters Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus, this letter was meant to be circulated and shared. While its message was intended for Gaius, it was meant to benefit all believers. John’s heartfelt words were written with Gaius in mind but the Holy Spirit superintended his message so that it had universal appeal and application.

During the 1st century, Gaius was a common Greek name, and there are a number of men mentioned in the New Testament who share that appellation (Acts 19:29, 20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23) . We have no way of knowing who this particular individual was or the nature of his relationship to John. It is likely that he lived somewhere in Asia Minor and had a connection to the local congregation to whom John wrote in his second letter.

Nowhere in this letter does the author mention his name; he simply introduces himself as “the elder.” This is the same way the Book of 2 John begins. His reticence to mention his name may be due to the growing threat of persecution which had become a pressing problem for the early church.

While the letter does not explicitly state its author, church tradition has long considered it to be the work of the apostle John. This letter bears all the hallmarks of John’s unique writing style. While 2 John and 3 John are both anonymous, they were included in the canon of Scripture with the understanding that John was their author.

In his salutation to Gaius, John utilizes the same wording he used in his second letter. He describes Gaius as someone he loves “in truth” (3 John 1:1 ESV). Four times in four verses, John brings up the topic of truth; something he also addressed in his second letter. John is not simply saying, “I love you, and that’s the truth;” he is making a theological statement. In his second letter, he qualified his greeting to the local congregation to whom he wrote by adding, “because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever” (2 John 1:1 ESV).

John was letting Gaius know that his love for him was based on far more than brotherly affection. This was not phileo love but agape love. The Greek language has four basic words that can be translated into our English word “love,” but they each carry a different meaning. Storge was used to refer to the kind of affection love one might have for their spouse or child. The Greek word eros was used when referring to passionate or sexual love. Phileo was typically reserved for describing the deep-seated affection between two friends. Philadelphia means “brotherly love.”

But John specifically chose the word agape to describe his love for Gaius. In fact, he used the agapētos which means “well-beloved,” and he adds that this love was in truth. This wasn’t a self-manufactured love or a love based on Gaius’ loveable personality. It was a gift from God and solely based on God’s love for sinful humanity. John wanted his friend to know that his love for him went well beyond mere brotherly affection. It was deeper and more significant than that.

John knew that he was loved by God and he was passing that love on to his friend. God’s gracious, unmerited love, as displayed in the gift of His Son, is what made it possible for John to love others, including Gaius. He was able to love because God had first loved him (1 John 4:19). God had showered John with His unconditional love and filled him with the Holy Spirit, providing him with the capacity to love others more completely and compassionately. John’s love for Gaius was a lay-it-all-on-the-line kind of love. It was sacrificial and not superficial. It was permanent and not passing. It was the love of one redeemed and forgiven sinner for another. They shared a common faith in Jesus Christ and had been adopted into the same family by God the Father. Paul describes this unique, shared relationship this way:

…you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. – Romans 8:15-17 NLT

So, John wanted Gaius to know that their mutual love was based on the truth of God’s love for them. God had loved them enough to send His Son to die for them. John wrote about this marvelous display of God’s love in his first letter.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:7-11 ESV

John’s love for Gaius extended to his desire that his brother and friend experience health and wholeness, both physically and spiritually.

I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul… – 3 John 1:2 ESV

For John, spiritual well-being superseded physical health and prosperity. He knew that growth in godliness was not a guarantee of physical comfort and ease. As he knew from personal experience, a life of Christlikeness was often accompanied by pain and suffering. John could still recall the words of Jesus declaring the reality of hardship for those who place their faith in Him.

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NLT

John was probably familiar with the words of Paul and Barnabas, spoken to the saints in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. As these two men traveled through these regions, visiting the local churches, “they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22 NLT).

John knew suffering and sorrow were common features of the walk of faith. But he let Gaius know that he was praying for his health. He had no wish to see his friend suffer hardship, so he made it a habit to ask God to protect and prosper Gaius physically and spiritually.

But John was especially grateful to hear of Gaius’ spiritual growth. He rejoiced greatly upon receiving news that Gaius was “walking in the truth” (3 John 1:3 ESV). This young man’s life was marked by a commitment to the truth of the gospel. The love of God, as exhibited in the sacrifice of His Son for the sins of man, was making a difference in Gaius’ life. It permeated every area of his life. His faith in Christ, marked by his belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, had proven to be all-encompassing. His behavior was consistent with his professed belief in the saving work of Jesus.

And John let Gaius know just how much this pleased him.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 John 1:4 ESV

Paul expressed a similar sentiment to the believers in Philippi:

…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:2-4 ESV

Gaius was living out his faith in tangible ways that others could see. His belief in Christ was radically altering his behavior, and this brought great joy to his friend and mentor. As an apostle of Jesus Christ and an elder with oversight for the body of Christ, John found great satisfaction in witnessing believers live out their faith in daily life. He expressed this sentiment to the local congregation to whom he wrote his second letter.

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. – 2 John 1:4 NLT

While John could not guarantee Gaius a life free from trouble and marked by physical health and prosperity, he could encourage his friend to continue in the faith, allowing the truth of the Gospel to saturate and sanctify his every thought and deed. His desire for Gaius’ spiritual growth echoed the sentiment of Paul for the believers in Philippi.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. – Philippians 1:27 ESV

Gaius was loving and living in the truth of the gospel and John was pleased. Like a proud father, John expressed his admiration for his young friend and encouraged him to stay the course. Life would be difficult but Gaius was headed down the right path.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Imitate Good

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 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.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. – 3 John 1:11-15 ESV

John has managed to pack a lot of information into the closing verses of his third and final letter. After portraying the actions of Diotrephes in stark contrast to those of Gaius, John turns his attention back to his dear friend. He reminds Gaius to model his life after those who do good and not evil. John has clearly established Diotrephes as someone whose actions are evil, but he is not declaring Diotrephes to be an unbeliever. The Greek word John used is kakos, and it can refer to someone behaving in a manner that is unacceptable or not as it should be. Their actions are wrong and, therefore, harmful. 

The habit of Diotrephes to put himself first was unacceptable because it was antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus regularly instructed His disciples to pursue a life of humility and service, and He provided His own life as a model for this kind of behavior.

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” – John 13:34 NLT

“Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:12-13 NLT

Jesus did that which is good (agathos). The actions of His life were admirable, pleasant, upright, and honorable. Jesus was the consummate servant, giving His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). And the apostle Paul provides a sobering reminder that, as followers of Christ, we are to share the mindset of Christ.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. – Philippians 2:3-5 NLT

That is exactly what John means when he tells Gaius to imitate that which is good. Jesus, though God, displayed no illusions of grandeur and refused to flaunt His divine glory in the face of sinful men. Instead, He willingly took on the nature of a slave, laying aside His divine privileges in order to serve the needs of humanity. Paul explains the mindset that drove the behavior of Jesus.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

And this is the very mindset that John desired his dear friend to emulate. Diotrephes was modeling his life after the manner of this world. He was following the example of leadership, as displayed in the culture. But Paul told the believers in Rome to let God transform their way of thinking.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2 NLT

Only God can produce in His children the kind of behavior that is good, pleasing, and perfect in His sight. And He does so through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. The actions of Diotrephes were the normal and natural outflow of a heart that was under the influence of the sin nature rather than the Spirit. The apostle Paul provides an extensive, yet not an exhaustive list of the “evil” actions that flow from a flesh-based heart.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. – Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

Notice his mention of jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, and division. These were the very kinds of things evident in the life of Diotrephes. But Paul provides a list of the kinds of characteristics that mark the life of someone who is living in the power and under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

John told Gaius, “Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God” (3 John 1:11 NLT). In a sense, he was reminding Gaius of the teachings of Jesus: A tree is known by its fruit.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” – Luke 6:43-44 NLT

Only a good heart can produce good fruit. Again, John does not seem to be insinuating that Diotrephes was unsaved, but that his behavior was evidence of a flawed relationship with God.  He claimed to know God but failed to live in obedience to the commands of God. And John addressed this problem in his very first letter.

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. – 1 John 2:4-6 NLT

As far as John was concerned, there was only one way to truly know God, and that was through a relationship with Jesus Christ. In his gospel account, John opened with the bold and exclusionary claim: “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us” (John 1:18 NLT). But this was not something he made up. He had heard the claims of Jesus Himself:

“Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.).” – John 6:45-46 NLT

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7 NLT

Jesus made it perfectly clear: No one could truly know God without coming to a knowledge of Jesus as the Savior sent from God. He was the conduit of God’s grace, providing a means by which sinful men could be restored to a right relationship with their Heavenly Father. And the “good” actions of Gaius were evidence of his newly restored relationship with God. His changed behavior was proof that he had seen God, and it was because he had believed in the One sent by God. 

John wraps up his letter to Gaius by encouraging him to extend hospitality to Demetrius. We have no idea who this individual was, but it is clear that John held him in high regard, noting that he had “received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself” (3 John 1:12 ESV). In other words, Demetrius, like Gaius, walked the talk. He was walking according to the truth of the Gospel, allowing his behavior to flow from his beliefs.

John closed his letter with a declaration of his desire to see Gaius face-to-face. While writing a letter of encouragement was helpful, he would much prefer an up-close and personal visit with his brothers and sisters in Christ. The growing number of faith communities springing up all over Asia Minor and the rest of the world made personal visits by the apostles nearly impossible. Travel was arduous and expensive. Driven by their pastors’ hearts, they longed to personally visit each and every congregation, but it was physically impossible. So, they wrote, encouraged, admonished, and prayed. And they continued to perform their God-given responsibility “to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson