Title: Truth, Love, Joy, Blessing/3 John 1
The author of 3 John is also the apostle John. The apostle also referred to himself as an elder (1 Peter 5:1, 2 John 1). The theme and content of 3 John, like 2 John, are truth, love, and joy.
1 “I am very glad that you are walking in the truth” (1-4)
The Apostle John, as in 2 John (4), took the greatest joy to see the saints walking in the truth. “I am very glad that you are walking in the truth” (3). Gaius was a man who walked in the truth. There is no greater joy and joy for apostles and ministers than to see the saints walk in the truth, that is, in Jesus Christ and his teachings. In other words, there is no greater joy than to see the saints following the Lord's teachings, striving for prayer and giving, imitating meekness and humility, and living like salt and light in the world.
2 “They testified of your love before the church” (5-8)
Gaius treated the traveling evangelists with love as well as the strangers. He pointed out that serving evangelists means participating in their ministry together. It is not clear whether Gaius in Romans 16:23 is the same person as Gaius here, but it may be the same person. Gaius even served as food for all the members of the church. So was Lydia, so was Priscilla, and so was Martha and Mary of Bethany. What remains forever is the practice of love.
3 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, as your soul prospers” (2).
4 "Do not imitate what is evil, but imitate what is good" (9-15).
Finally, the apostle John pointed out the fault of Diotrephes and exhorted him not to imitate him. Diotrephes liked to be supreme and did not treat the apostles and the Lord's servants and brethren, and reproached the apostles and the Lord's servants with useless words. The Apostle John said he would not forget the evil deeds he had done. The Apostle Paul also remembered Alexander for his harm and pointed out that the Lord would repay him for what he had done (2 Tim. 4:14). Do not imitate the evil Diotrephes, but imitate the good Demetrius. He also wished to see Gaio face to face and prayed for peace (15).