The Third Epistle of John or III John, usually referred to as 3 John, is a book of the New Testament, written by Apostle John to his friend Gaius. It is the shortest book in the Bible, having only 14 verses and totaling only 219 words.[1] This is the only New Testament book that does not mention "Jesus" or "Christ", even though the Apostle John used both terms repeatedly in all his known works.
This book, 3 John, is also the only work attributed to the Apostle John which uses the term "Gentiles" and in an odd way ("accepting nothing from the Gentiles"[2]). In addition, there is no reference to "eternal life" in this book, which John references repeatedly in the Gospel of John and 1 John.
This book lashes back at Diotrephes in a style uncharacteristic of John, and with a reference to "our authority" that is also anomalous:
| “ | Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.[3] | ” |
The author identifies himself as John, historically considered to be the Apostle John who also wrote the Gospel of John along with I John, II John, and the Book of Revelation. Some theologians disagree, contending that only all three Epistles shared authorship by the same individual, or that only 2 John and 3 John had a common author.
John wrote this book to:
- Greet Gaius.
- Thank Gaius for his good work.
- Tell that Diotrephes was living badly.
- Tell all Christians to act with goodness.
Despite the denial of traditional authorship, Johannine attribution can find some support in tone and writing style with Chapter 21 of the Gospel of John (but see John ending):
| “ | This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. | ” |
| —John 21:24[4] | ||
| “ | 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. | ” |
| —3 John 12[5] | ||
Language and style
Like the rest of the New Testament, III John is written in Koine Greek, and was originally penned as a letter. In the Epistle, John only addresses himself as "the elder," since church leaders were called elders when he wrote III John. As in II John, he writes that he does not want to write all he wants to tell in a letter, which may explain the short length of III John.
See also
References
- ↑ word length of each book in the Bible. The Holy Word Church of God.
- ↑ ESV
- ↑ 3John 9-10 (ESV.
- ↑ John 21:24
- ↑ 3 John 12
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