Love and Discernment | Pastor Raph | Jan. 26, 2025

Love and discernment

The letters of John provide insight into the tension and conflict present within the early Christian churches. In this context, the Third John can be understood as a form of literary damage control, addressing theological and relational challenges among believers.

It complements the teachings on Christian hospitality in 2 John, focusing on both the virtues and challenges of the early church. 

The letter applauds Gaius, a faithful believer, for living out the apostolic teachings by welcoming traveling Christian missionaries into his home. His actions exemplify love, hospitality, and a commitment to the gospel's truth.

In contrast, the letter condemns Diotrephes, a self-centered and divisive church leader. Diotrephes refused to assist the godly teachers, slandered others, and used his position to oppose those who disagreed with him. 

The letter, likely written by the apostle John in the late first century A.D., is both an encouragement and a warning. 

From doctrine to relationship

There is progress in the focus of the writings of John: from the divinity of Jesus in the Gospel of John to the explanation of Jesus' humanity in 1 John to the community conflicts addressed in 2 and 3 John. Let's unpack these layers:

1. Jesus as Divine

The Gospel of John presents the divinity of Jesus Christ, that He is full God:

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 

Jesus is the preexistent Word.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Gospel of John emphasizes the heavenly origin of Jesus as a "descending and ascending Redeemer" and the One who has power over life and death.

This is true Christology, whereby Jesus is not proclaimed to be just a human teacher or a prophet but as God incarnate, fully divine in the world.

2. Making Sense of Jesus' Humanity

In 1 John, the emphasis shifts to Jesus' humanity as a response to some bringing Jesus' divinity to extremes. 

Possibly due to Docetism, there were people in that community arguing that Jesus only "appeared" as a man and was not born of blood and flesh.

The first letter insists on the full humanity of Jesus and states,

1 John 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

This shows that as much as the Gospel mainly points to the divinity of Jesus, 1 John has come to clarify the misconceptions about his incarnation, and he declares Jesus both human and divine.

3. Prevent those who reject the true gospel. 

Once we reach 2 and 3 John, we will move on to practical matters of community concern, especially leadership and hospitality.

Second John warns a church, termed "the elect lady," against false teachers denying Christ's humanity Jesus.

Guarding your family and church with truth

There is no neutral theology. How you deal with the gospel will be expressed in how you relate with people. 

John speaks of three men in this short letter.

One is the defender, the protector of the church. The second is an example to follow. A third is something a person must avoid and even resist.

Gaius (One Beloved in Truth)

Gaius was a faithful and spiritually mature Christian who demonstrated remarkable hospitality, a commitment to truth, and love for fellow believers. 

Gaius is a Latin (Roman) name that could connote “one who rejoices” or “joyful.”

- Beloved

Gaius is addressed as “beloved” multiple times, showing that he was highly regarded and loved by John and others in the Christian community.

3 John 1:1-2 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 John 1:5: “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are.”

3 John 1:11: “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

Every person will behave according to their sense of themselves.

Beloved conveys that we are linked by the love God has shown us in Christ. 

1 John 4:9-11 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. 10 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. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

There is no other way to prosper in life unless you are sure that you are beloved. Insecurity about God’s love will make you fear. Consequently you don’t dare to try. The fear of committing mistakes and facing the effects of that is all because of the lack of confidence in God’s unchanging love.

- Walking in the Truth

Gaius was deeply committed to living out the truth of the gospel. 

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

Psalm 86:11 “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” (ESV)

John 8:31–32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (ESV)

- Faithful in Hospitality and Generosity

Gaius displayed faithfulness by showing hospitality to traveling Christian missionaries, even those he did not know personally. He supported them materially and spiritually, exemplifying Christlike love and service.

3 John 1:5–6: “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.”

3 John 1:8: “Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

John contrasts Gaius’ good works with the actions of those who oppose the gospel, encouraging others to imitate Gaius’s example of godliness.

Demetrius (One found in Truth and Integrity)

3 John 1:12: “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.”

Demetrius is briefly mentioned as someone with a strong reputation for living in alignment with the truth and is commended by the apostle John.

Demetrius is derived from the Greek goddess Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility in Greek mythology.

Demetrius is affirmed as a faithful and trustworthy individual whose life and character are widely recognized as consistent with Christian truth. That speaks of integrity.

Demetrius’s life and actions appear to be in harmony with the gospel's teachings (“the truth itself”). This indicates that his character and conduct reflected Christian virtue, making him an example worth following.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of integrity is as follows: Firm adherence to moral values. Incorruptibility. The one that can’t be corrupted.

Soundness refers to the quality of being whole, complete, or undamaged, and it can apply to physical objects or abstract concepts.

The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness, consistency between values and actions.

Proverbs 28:18 “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” 

The one who “Puts his money where the mouth is.”

Proverbs 20:7: “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”

The only way to be loyal to someone is by being a person of integrity. That means you will have to take sides. It is impossible to honor your church, your family, or your country. 

Loyalty means sticking with someone or something you believe is walking in the truth even when things get complicated. It means staying by their side and keeping promises. If you’re playing on a team, loyalty means cheering for your teammates and working together, even if you’re losing.

When John was looking for a role model to give to Gaius, he mentioned Demetrius.

3 John 1:11: “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

Ultimately, integrity does good. And whoever does good is from God.

-Seek those examples

It may seem complicated to find people with integrity nowadays. 

Moses had to “look for” this type of man before edifying a nation. 

Exodus 18:21 1 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Seeking and looking for means it is not casually found. It is not the standard and ordinary man. Still, they exist and are being raised by God to be leaders. 

In a church auditorium with many chairs, saying, “Let's all look for a chair here does not make sense.” Because it is everywhere, but if I tell you a special chair has a $20 bill underneath it. Now, that specific chair requires a search.

Leaders, if you are not a person of integrity, loyalty, or seeking to please God above all, please do not take this title just because you think the church may need your help or because you like the status quo. Lead because you were found by God, and there is no way to run from that calling in your life.

But, in the same verse, John says, whoever does evil has not seen God.”

 Who is that person?

Diotrephes (The Slenderer)

3 John 1:9-10 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 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.

Diotrephes is a negative example of church leadership. He is self-centered, divisive, and opposed to apostolic authority.

Paul’s writings were the Greek and he uses the word διάβολος (diabolos), often translated as “devil,” which literally means “slanderer” or “accuser.” Paul uses diabolos in several places to describe people who engage in slander or malicious gossip. People can act in ways that resemble the devil’s work by spreading lies or causing harm through their words.

2 Timothy 3:1–3 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good.” (ESV)

And I know for some of you, it may be very strange, but John mentioned the name of that divisive brother in the church. That also amazes me, but that seems to be how the apostles resolve the problems against the division of the church.

2 Timothy 2:16–18 “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” (ESV)

Yes, they really call them out.

2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.”

Why is that concern? 

Titus 3:10–11 “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

I understand Paul named people such as Hymenaeus, Alexander, Philetus, and Demas in his personal and pastoral letters, not on the public church epistles. 

Diotrephes not only failed to welcome traveling missionaries but also discouraged others in the church from doing so. This lack of hospitality demonstrates a failure to love and support the work of the gospel.

3 John 1:10 … he refuses to welcome the brothers.”

Diotrephes goes beyond rejecting the missionaries and actively seeks to prevent others in the church from supporting them. 

3 John 1:10 …And also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”

Additionally, he exerts control and fear by threatening those who disobey his commands. Have you ever had a friend who intimidated you into leaving the friendship because you wanted to do the right thing? It may be time to let it go.

Why do those people not give place for humility and teachability? Why did Diotrephes’ heart become like that?

- Bitterness

Proverbs 10:18: “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.” (ESV)

Hebrews 12:14-15 4 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled

• Loves to Put Himself First

3 John 1:9: “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.”

Diotrephes is prideful and self-centered. His desire for personal prominence and control is evident.

Proverbs 16:28: “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (ESV)

He prioritizes his authority over serving others and submitting to apostolic leadership.

- Rejects the gospel

3 John 1:9: “Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.”

Diotrephes refused to acknowledge or submit to God's word. His rejection of John’s Christology (Jesus, the one, fully God and fully man, who can redeem and save the lost) reflects his rejection of the apostolic teachings, the gospel. 

He spreads malicious and false accusations against John and his companions.

This slander likely undermined John's credibility.

3 John 1:10: “So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us.”

Diotrephes exemplifies a poor model of leadership. True, he was part of the church as well. However, his pride, rejection of the gospel, slanderous attitude, refusal to show hospitality, and divisive actions highlight the risks of selfishness and unchecked power within the church. His behavior stands in stark contrast to the faithfulness and humility of Gaius and Demetrius.

John warns us against individuals like Diotrephes, whose self-serving behavior disrupts unity and opposes the mission of the gospel.

I want to encourage you, though. In the church, we may have Diotrphes. But Gaius, Demetrius and John are also here to serve and to love you.

3 John 1:13-15 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.