the three men of 3 rd john

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The Three Men Of 3 rd John 1

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The Three Men Of 3 rd John. Theme of the book – Christian hospitality Purpose of book – To commend Christian f aithfulness and hospitality & to condemn those in the church who act like Diotrephes. 3 John. Key word(s) – Truth; . 3 John. I . Introduction 1-4 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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The Three Men Of 3rd John

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3 John

• Theme of the book – Christian hospitality

• Purpose of book – To commend Christian faithfulness and hospitality & to condemn those in the church who act like Diotrephes

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3 John

• Key word(s) – Truth;

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3 John - Brief outline:

• I. Introduction 1-4• II. Commendation of Gaius 5-8• III. Condemnation of Diotrephes

9-10• IV. Recommendation of

Demetrius 11-12• V. Conclusion 13-14

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Introduction

• 1. Third John is a neglected epistle

• 2. It is a meaningful letter – full of tenderness

• 3. It is a look into the lives of early Christians – Christians like you and me

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Introduction

• 4. It centers around the lives of three major characters:

• Gaius• Diotrephes• Demetrius

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(Verses 1-2)

• The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

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8I. Introduction To Letter – Vs. 1-4

• The elder (v. 1) – reference to the aged John, who wrote the letter

• V. 2 – All things should be gauged by spiritual prosperity – John prayed that Gaius would prosper physically as he did spiritually

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(Verses 3-4)

• For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

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10I. Introduction To Letter – Vs. 1-4

• Vs. 3-4 “Walk in truth” - Following faithfully the word of God

• Gaius was a beloved man and a truth follower

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(Verses 5-6)

• Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

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12II. Gaius – Lover Of Hospitality Vs. 5-8

• Traveling preachers needed help – place to stay – food – support

• Gaius was hospitable toward all men (Vs. 5-6)

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(Verses 7-8)

• Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

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14II. Gaius – Lover Of Hospitality Vs. 5-8

• He was encouraged to continue supporting preachers (Vs. 7-8)

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(Verses 9-10)

• I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words:

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(Verses 9-10)

• and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

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17III. Diotrephes – Lover of First Place – Vs. 9-10

• What he did:• He had turned away traveling

preachers• He had turned out of the church

those who were helping traveling preachers

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18III. Diotrephes – Lover of First Place – Vs. 9-10

• Characteristics of Diotrephes:• He put himself first• He spoke evil of John• These two characteristics often

go together – lovers of first place are often critical of others

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(Verses 11-12)

• Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

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20IV. Demetrius – Lover Of Faithfulness – Vs. 11-12

• Demetrius had a good report of others, of the truth and of John

• His life showed that he followed God’s word

• He appears to be offered as a pattern for Gaius and others to follow

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•Lessons For Us

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1. We are to be hospitable

• 1 Pet. 4:9• “Use hospitality one to another

without grudging.”

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2. We must “walk in truth”

• 2 Jn. 4, 6• 4 - I rejoiced greatly that I found

of thy children walking in truth,…

• 6 - And this is love, that we walk after his commandments…

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243. Sinful pride can cause us to lose our good judgment

• Proverbs 11:2• “When pride cometh, then

cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

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254. Christians are not always what they should be

• We may have to serve in the face of opposition from others

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265. Christians often imitate other Christians

• What example are we setting in the local church?

• Who are we imitating?• Gaius had Diotrephes and

Demetrius – who would you have followed?

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276. We must not let the “spirit of Diotrephes” dominate our lives• Micah 6:8• “He hath shewed thee, O man,

what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

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287. We must follow that which is good

• 3 Jn. 11• “Beloved, follow not that which

is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

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Conclusion

• If John had written a letter in which your name was mentioned, what would he have said about you?

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References

• The Three men of Third John, outline by Winfred Clark (Expositions of the Expositor)

• “The Third Epistle of John, Mark Copeland, (executableoutlines.com. )

• The Third Epistle of John, Know Your Bible, by Frank J. Dunn, 1997