Third John Bible Studies

This is the page for all my resources and documents for the book of Third John. The first section contains documents that survey the entire book. The second section has a survey video lecture covering the entire book. The next section is broken down by each passage. Click the label of any document or video to expand for access. Click the label of any passage to expand for access to documents and information about each individual passage. In each section, you can also click to see a detailed, annotated outline of this section. Feel free to use and distribute any information you find helpful as long as you give credit where appropriate.

General Documents

Outline

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Outline of Third John

Intro 1-4

Salutation 1

Blessing 2

Thanksgiving 3-4

Body 5-12

Gaius's hospitality 5-6

The Traveler's Worthy Work 7-8

Diotrephes's Arrogance 9-10

Encouragement to receive Demetrius 11-12

Conclusion 13-15

Intended visit 13-14

Peace wish 15

Greetings 15

Summary

Introduction Presentation

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Survey Video

Third John Survey

Watch on YouTube

Download Audio

Individual Passages

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1-4 Introduction

Detailed Outline Expand All + All Collapse All X All

1 Salutation

1a From: The Elder

i.e. John

1b To: Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth

Nothing more is known about Gaius except this letter

2-4 Thanksgiving/Prayer Report

2 I desire you to be blessed in all things

2a Beloved, I desire concerning everything

2b-d What I desire

2b-c You will succeed and be healthy

2b You would succeed

Literally "prosper"
There is no room for prosperity gospel nonsense in this verse
Just a standard blessing, "I want things to go well with you"

2c And be healthy

2d Just as your soul is succeeding

3-4 Reason: Because I rejoice that my children are walking in truth

3I rejoice that you are walking in truth

3a I rejoiced greatly

3b-d Reason: The brothers told me you are walking in truth

3b When the brothers came

3c-d They testified that you are walking in truth

3c And they testified to your truth

3d Just as you are walking in truth

"walking" = lifestyle

4 My greatest joy is that my children are walking in the truth

4a I have no greater than this joy

4b That I hear my children are walking in the truth

5-12 Body

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5-11 Being a good leader and avoiding bad leadership

5-10 Good and bad leaders

5-8 Good leaders

5-6a Gaius' Hospitality - You are a good leader, supporting the brothers

5 You are faithfully helping the traveling brothers

5a Beloved, you are doing a faithful thing

5b-c In what you are doing, even for strangers

5b In the thing which you are doing for the brothers

5c And this for strangers

6a Result: these testified about your love before the church

6b-8 The traveling brothers are good leaders, worthy of support

6b-7 Helping them is doing good

6b-c You did well to support them on their way

6b You did these things well

6c By sending them on in a way worthy of God

7 Reason: They went out for Christ without support from Gentiles

7a For they went out for the sake of the Name

7b Receiving nothing from the Gentiles

8 Therefore: We should receive them to partner in the truth

8a Therefore, we ought to receive such as these

8b Purpose: So that we will be fellow workers in the truth

9-10 Diotrephes is not a good leader

9 I tried to help the church, but Diotrephes opposed me

9a I wrote something to the church

9b But Diotrephes, the one loving to be first, did not receive us

"loves to be first" - control freak
Tragic description - it is horrible in a church, especially in a leader
But it is sometimes a reality in our broken world
Rather, we should follow Jesus' example and serve others

10 Therefore: I will deal with him

10a If I come

10b-hBecause of this, I will expose his works

10b Because of this, I will draw attention to his works

10c-hExplanation: How he is working against us and the traveling brothers

10cThe things which he is doing

10d-hSpecifically: He works against us and the traveling brothers

10d Talking malicious nonsense about us with evil words

10e-hAnd he works against the brothers

10e And not being content with this

10f-hResult: He keeps the brothers from being received

10fNeg:Neither does this one receive the brothers

10g-h Pos: And he stops others from doing so

10gHe is preventing those who want [to receive the brothers]

10hAnd he throws them out from the church

Classic selfish control freak
Hindering others to make himself seem important

11Therefore: Imitate the good, not bad

11a-bDon't imitate the bad, but the good

11aNeg: Brothers, do not imitate the bad

11bPos: But [imitate] the good

11c-dDoing good is from God, doing bad is not from God

11c Pos: The one doing good is from God

11d Neg: The one doing bad has not seen God

12 Demetrius is a verified/validated leader

12a It has been testified about Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself/Himself

12b-d We also are giving true testimony

12b We also are testifying

12c-dTherefore: You know our testimony is true

12c And you know:

12d That our testimony is true

13-15 Conclusion

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13-14 John's intended visit

This section is very similar to the same section in 2 John

13Neg: I don't want to speak to you primarily through writing

13aEven though I have many things to write to you

13bI don't want to write to you with ink and pen

14 Pos: I want to speak to you face to face

14aI hope to see you at once

14bAnd we will speak face to face

Literally - "mouth to mouth"

15Epistle Conclusion

15a Peace wish: Peace to you

15b-c Greetings:

15bThe friends greet you

i.e. Those at my end send their greetings

15cGreet the friends by name

i.e. Greet those at your end for me