Chapter 334 of 379

3 John

See

; see also
.

Genre

See

. This may be a “letter of recommendation” (see note on ) for Demetrius (), who may be a traveling missionary (see vv. ). Such travelers depended on the hospitality of local house churches while evangelizing in their area (cf. notes on , , , ). For the first three centuries of the church’s existence, congregations usually met in homes (see note on ).

Situation

In this letter to Gaius, a house-church leader, John is apparently attempting to counter the opposing influences of Diotrephes, a different house-church leader who is asserting his own authority and rejecting emissaries backed by John’s apostolic authority. ◆

Quick Glance

The apostle John

Audience:

Gaius, perhaps a leader of one of the churches in western Asia Minor

Date:

Between AD 85 and 95

Theme:

John writes this letter to commend Gaius for supporting traveling teachers and to rebuke Diotrephes for refusing to welcome them.

↑ Back to top