3 John

THIRD LETTER OF JOHN

Recipients and Content of the Letters. Unlike John’s first letter, these two short notes are personal messages addressed to a specific community under the author’s responsibility. Instead of letters, they should be called “short notes or notices” that precede a visit where the issues will be discussed in detail face to face (2 Jn 12; 3 Jn 14).

Third Letter of John. The third letter deals with an internal problem of abuse of authority. It is addressed to a certain Gaius, whom he praises for his welcome and hospitality to itinerant missionaries, including a certain Demetrius (12), sent by “the elder.” At the same time, he condemns the conduct of the supposed leader of the local community, Diotrephes, “who wants to put himself first.” For that reason, “he also refuses to accept the friends and even tries to prevent those who want to welcome them, expelling them” from the community (9f). It is likely that with this warning, the author is preparing the ground to make a clean break and remove Diotrephes from his position.