Editing Third Epistle of John (section)

== Content ==
There is no doctrine laid out in 3 John, which is strictly a personal letter, but the overall theme is the importance of hospitality, especially when it comes to men who were working to spread the gospel. Third John is the shortest book of the Bible by word count,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kranz|first1=Jeffrey|title=Word counts for every book of the Bible|url=http://overviewbible.com/word-counts-books-of-bible/|website=The Overview Bible Project|date=29 May 2014 |access-date=2014-10-31}}</ref> though 2 John has fewer verses.<ref name="Painter361">Painter, 361</ref> 3 John has 15 verses in the critical [[SBL Greek New Testament]] text,<ref>{{bibleverse|3|John|1:15|SBLGNT}}: SBL Greek New Testament</ref> or 14 in the [[Textus Receptus]].<ref>{{bibleverse|3|John|1:14|tr1550}}: Textus Receptus</ref>

It is the only New Testament book which does not contain the names "Jesus" or "Christ". The original Greek uses the term Ὀνόματος (Onomatos, verse 7) generally translated "Name" and referring specifically to the "Name of Jesus", but the text does not say "Jesus" or "Christ".<ref>Brown, 727</ref>

===Greeting and introduction===
The letter is written to a man named Gaius.<ref name="Stott 217">Stott, 217</ref> Gaius seems to have been a wealthy man, since the epistle's author, who identifies himself only as "the Elder", did not think it would impose unduly on him to host some traveling preachers for a short time.<ref name="Dodd156">Dodd, 156</ref> The Elder may have converted Gaius, since he calls Gaius his "child" in the faith.<ref name="Dodd156"/> The ''[[Apostolic Constitutions]]'' VII.46.9 records that Gaius was made bishop of [[Pergamon]], though there is no early support for this statement.<ref name="Dodd156"/>

The name Gaius occurs four other times in the New Testament. First, a Christian Gaius is mentioned in [[Macedon]]ia as a traveling companion of Paul, along with Aristarchus ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 19:29). One chapter later, a Gaius from [[Derbe]] is named as one of Paul's seven traveling companions who waited for him at [[Troad|Troas]] (Acts 20:4). Next, a Gaius is mentioned residing in [[Roman Corinth|Corinth]] as being one of only a few people there (the others being Crispus and the household of Stephanas) who were baptised by [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]], who founded the Church in that city ([[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] 1:14). Lastly, a Gaius is referred to in a final greeting portion of the [[Epistle to the Romans]] (Romans 16:23) as Paul's "host" and also host of the whole church, in whatever city Paul is writing from at the time (probably Corinth).<ref name="Stott 217"/> However, there is no reason to suppose that any of these men were the Gaius of 3 John.<ref>Stott, 217–218</ref>
[[File:MEIJI-MOTOYAKU 3John.png|thumb|Japanese translation of 3 John (1904)]]
===Verse 2===
:''Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.''<ref>{{bibleverse|3|John|1:2|NKJV}}</ref>
This verse, where the author wishes material prosperity upon Gaius similar to the prosperity of his soul, is a commonly used proof text within [[prosperity gospel]] teachings; opponents of the prosperity gospel consider the verse to be little more than well-wishing.{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=October 2016}}

===Missionaries===
The Elder continues the letter by commending Gaius for his loyalty and his hospitality towards a group of traveling "brothers".<ref>Painter, 371</ref> The "brothers" are brothers in the faith or [[missionary|missionaries]], who in accordance with Jesus's command in [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 6:8–9 have set out on a journey without any money.<ref name="Dodd160">Dodd, 160</ref>  The Elder then goes on to request that Gaius provide for the brothers to continue their journey.<ref name="Dodd160"/>

===Opposition of Diotrephes===
The Elder next describes his conflict with [[Diotrephes]], who does not acknowledge the Elder's authority and is [[Excommunication|excommunicating]] those, like Gaius, who welcome missionaries sent by the Elder.<ref>Painter, 374–375</ref> In verse 9 the Elder mentions a previous letter which he has written to the church which was suppressed by Diotrephes, and says that he intends to visit the church and to confront Diotrephes.<ref>Painter, 374–375; Stott, 227</ref> "The church" is apparently known to Gaius, but he is likely not a member of it, since otherwise the Elder would not need to provide him with information about Diotrephes's activities.<ref name="Dodd160"/> The dispute between Diotrephes and the Elder seems to be based on church leadership and authority rather than doctrine, since the Elder does not accuse Diotrephes of teaching heresy.<ref>Dodd, 165</ref>

Most scholars do not connect the letter the Elder mentions with 2 John, since 3 John does not contain any reference to the doctrinal controversy described in 2 John, and argue that the Elder is here referring to a previous letter of recommendation.<ref>Dodd, 160; Painter, 363</ref> [[John Painter (theologian)|John Painter]], however, argues the Elder is in fact referring to 2 John, since there is overlap between 2 John 9 and the theme of hospitality in 3 John.<ref>Painter, 374–376</ref>

The Elder closes this section with an entreaty to Gaius: "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God."<ref>3 John 11, ESV</ref> This injunction is reminiscent of several passages in 1 John (2:3–5, 3:4–10, 4:7).<ref>Dodd, 165–166</ref>

===Final greetings and conclusion===
Verse 12 introduces another man named Demetrius, who according to the ''Apostolic Constitutions'' VII.46.9 was ordained by John as bishop of [[Amman#Classical_period|Philadelphia]] (modern [[Amman]], Jordan).<ref name="Dodd166">Dodd, 166</ref> Demetrius was probably a member of the group of missionaries discussed earlier in the letter, and 3 John likely serves as a [[recommendation letter]] to Gaius about Demetrius.<ref name="Dodd166"/> Recommendation letters were quite common in the early church, as evidenced by 2 Corinthians 3:1, Romans 16:1–2, and Colossians 4:7–8.<ref name="Dodd166"/>

The Elder, before ending the letter, says that he has many other things to tell to Gaius, and plans to make a journey to see him in the near future, using almost the exact language of 2 John 12.<ref>Painter, 380</ref> The closing verse, "Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, one by one", is typical of contemporary correspondence, with "[[Shalom aleichem|Peace be to you]]" a greeting adopted by Christians from the Jews.<ref>Dodd, 168</ref>